The Spirit of Allah

a musical about Ruhollah Khomeini and the Iranian Revolution

Posted by Jew from Jersey
15 July 2003

Scene5. “The Rowzeh-Khan”

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, lower ranking mullahs, peasants and townspeople, gendarmes

[Background is dark. Foreground is lit to reveal the interior of a large mosque, full of peasants and townspeople in holiday clothes and good cheer. At the pulpit stands ARK, looking slightly like Santa Claus and surrounded by lower-ranking mullahs. Gendarmes stand at the doors, looking bored or partaking in the holiday spirit.]

• ARK: Hello good people of Iran
• Hello folks from town and city
• Hello butchers, bakers, firemen
• Hello mothers and dads and kiddies

• It’s so wonderful to see you all here
• And I know you’re in the mood for some
• holiday drama cuz it’s time to hear
• The story of good old Hossein and his martyrdom

[People settle down.]

• ARK: It was over in Karbala, not so far
• That our boy Hossein set out to fight
• That evil old usurper Omar
• And all the armies of his caliphate

• Now the true caliph was Ali, whom we all loved
• He was of the prophet’s household, and by him chosen
• But Omar had him killed in cold blood,
• Stole his title, and had his assets frozen

• Crowd [half-seriously]: Awwww...

• ARK: O honorable people, Hossein has heard your cries
• And he sets out to put things on the mend
• He is Ali’s nephew and on his horse he flies
• To seek just retribution and a happy end

• But alas! Oh No! What is this? Oh shit!
• There was a spy among Hossein’s trusted
• No good can come from this, not a bit
• He’s stabbed Hossein and now everything’s busted

• Crowd [half-seriously, but with considerable excitement]: A curse upon Omar! A curse upon Omar!

• ARK: O reasonable people, you know right from wrong
• Can we let such villains cavort untouched?
• Omar and his henchmen still are strong
• While we mourn our martyrs and see our young crushed

• Just like Omar, the Shah has usurped our throne
• From those noble sayyeds to whom it really belongs [touches his white turban]
• He has defiled our religion, as noble as stone
• And sold our homeland to foreigners for a song

• Crowd: A curse upon Omar! A curse... [confusion.]

• ARK: Why just last month he passed a bill promoting
• Non-Muslims to run in elections alongside Muslims
• And giving women the right of voting
• Imagine such an insult to your homes and customs

• Why just last week he passed a bill
• Giving foreign diplomats immunity from Iranian law
• Are we waiting for Americans to start to kill
• Before we say...

• Crowd: A curse upon the Shah! A curse upon the Shah!

[Other mullahs look on in horror as riots ensue, the gendarmerie is called out, and several rioters are shot in the turmoil. Khomeini is finally seized and taken away.]