Suddenly and unexpectedly, Nawal (Hawa), a private nurse in Jordan, becomes a widow. She then discovers her husband Adnan (Suleimon) was in debt; worse, he had made no provisions for her and their young daughter Nora (Rababah). Soon her brother-in-law Rifqui (Omari) threatens to take her home and custody of Nora. Desperate, Nawal says she’s pregnant, placing all legal proceedings on hold; if she produces a son, Rifqui’s claims are moot. But the clock is ticking, and Nawal may not even be pregnant, much less with a boy.

Both riveting thriller and potent family drama, “Inshallah” exposes the injustice of a patriarchal society, as a widow finds her whole existence threatened by traditional laws and customs which inherently favor men. A subplot involving Lauren (Marwan), the “modern” Christian daughter of Nawa’s employer who’s seeking an abortion, only reinforces the central theme. A superb, highly sympathetic Hawa carries the film, but the whole cast excels, particularly Omari in an unsympathetic turn. Watch “Inshallah” for an eye-opening examination of women’s role in Muslim society.