The Rise of Islam and Islamic Literature

Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian writer who, 1988, got a Nobel Prize for Literature. He is considered as the initial modern writer of Arabic literature. He published more then 350 stories, almost 50 novels and various scripts for movies in a span of 70 years. numerous movies have been made based on his stories. the prose of Mahfouz is distinguished through the blunt expressions of his concepts. He has covered a number of different topics even some topics that were considered as taboo in Egypt like God, homosexuality, socialism etc. Parallel to his sympathies for democracy and socialism was his opposition regarding the extremism in Islam as portrayed by his Muslim Egyptian brothers. He criticized strongly the fundamental Islam in his work and made a contrast amongst the socialism merits and Islamic extremism demerits in his intitial two writings. His western and modern thoughts have been depicted in many of his writings merged with the Islamic values.

The story "Zaabalwi" by Nagub Mahfouz is about a narrator's quest for Zaabalwi. The story takes place in Cairo where the narrator is trying to seek Zaabalwi due to a disease he has acquired. This disease is not curable by any doctors available in the area. This is the reason why he seeks Zaabalwi, whom he believes can cure him. numerous of the individuals living in Cairo recommend the narrator to Zaabalwi as they believe him to be a saint who has powers for physical healing, and religious salvation. The values and traditions of Islam as depicted in the story have made an incredible impact on the culture of the Arab. Dring the time of Mahfouz, the practices of Islam merged with the relevance of politics which proved to be a foundation for both greater powers and anguish ...