Khuda Kay Liye

Mansoor and Sarmad gain fame as successful singers from Lahore. They establish themselves as notable local talents and begin a shared career. This early success sets the backdrop for the later upheavals tied to faith and family.

Influenced by Maulana Tahiri, Sarmad adopts a more conservative Islamic lifestyle and abandons his music career, which is deemed haram. He withdraws from public performance and pursues a different path. The change strains his relationships and foreshadows future conflicts.

In London, Maryam (Mary) falls in love with Dave from the British Pakistani community. Their romance sits at odds with traditional expectations and provokes mixed reactions from family and friends. The affair highlights themes of desire, cultural tension, and independence.

Mary's father plans a trip to Pakistan to introduce her to Sarmad and Mansoor, hoping to secure a socially acceptable match. The plan reveals a clash between Marian independence and paternal control. It also paves the way for the subsequent deception.

During the visit, Mary's father deceives her and moves her across the border to Afghanistan under the pretense of attending a relative's wedding. The move is coerced and marked by a deep betrayal of trust. The unfamiliar land exposes Mary to new dangers.

In Afghanistan, Mary is forced to marry her cousin Sarmad and is left to navigate a harsh household. The arrangement binds her to a husband she hardly knows and erodes her autonomy. It marks a brutal turning point in her life.

Mary attempts to flee the village but is quickly caught by Sarmad. The rape occurs after advice from the Maulana, turning abuse into a weapon to deter escape. The act devastates her and sets the stage for pregnancy.

Mary discovers she is pregnant with Sarmad's child, a development that traps her further in the household. The pregnancy reduces any chance of escape and ties her fate to the family. It illustrates the grim consequences of the coercive system.

Meanwhile, Mansoor attends a music school in Chicago where he meets Janie. They fall in love and Janie stops drinking alcohol to support him. The couple marries, starting a new life far from the Lahore tensions.

After the 9/11 attacks, Mansoor is arrested by the FBI because of his Islamic background. He is detained and subjected to torture in Guantanamo Bay for a year. The experience leaves lasting scars and fractures the family.

Sarmad's father intervenes to rescue Mary, obtaining protection under the British government. The support helps secure her safety after years of captivity. The involvement of international protection shifts the focus to legal battles.

Mary brings her father and husband to court in Pakistan to seek justice for the abuses she endured. Wali, the Maulana, explains how Islam has been misused in the name of war, offering a peaceful counter-narrative. The court scene exposes the clash between faith, power, and accountability.

Traumatized by the suffering he caused, Sarmad withdraws the case. His withdrawal marks a rift between accountability and mercy and signals a shift toward healing. Mary is finally free to return to her village.

Mary returns to the village to educate girls, reclaiming her autonomy and turning pain into purpose. Meanwhile, Mansoor remains in FBI custody, enduring brain damage from torture and eventual deportation. He reunites with his family in Pakistan and begins the slow process of recovery.