Zaabalawi

“Zaabalawi” is a 1961 short story by writer Naguib Mahfouz, who in 1988 became the first Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Like his father, an Egyptian civil servant, Mahfouz dedicated his life to serving his country, exploring Cairo’s rich culture in over thirty novels, hundreds of short stories, and several stage plays. His prolific body of work made him a pioneer of existentialist, religious, and political thought but also stirred controversy, as it often recontextualized Islamic teachings and criticized organized religion. Mahfouz’s novel Children of Gebelawi, which reimagined central figures of Abrahamic tradition as ordinary men, garnered so much backlash that President Nasser had to intervene to secure its publication. In 1994, Mahfouz also survived an assassination attempt by a religious extremist; nevertheless, he continued to publish novels and speak out against radical religious censorship, which he referred to as “ideological censorship.” “Zaabalawi” reflects this interest in and willingness to interrogate Islamic tradition and practice. This summary references the 2021 Kindle edition of The Time and the Place: and Other Stories.

“Zaabalawi” begins when the story’s unnamed narrator falls ill with an incurable disease. Recalling the lyrics to a popular song from his youth, the narrator remembers Zaabalawi, a holy man who had healed his father from a terrible affliction. The narrator decides to search for Zaabalawi in the hopes of finding his own cure.

The narrator begins by visiting Sheikh Qamar, a lawyer in religious courts, because his father had met Zaabalawi in the lawyer’s home. The luxury of Qamar’s office impresses the narrator: “[Qamar’s] manner of sitting was that of someone well satisfied both with himself and with his worldly possessions” (2). The lawyer’s demeanor cools when he learns that the narrator is not a client, but he allows that the narrator’s father was a “fine man.” When the narrator asks about Zaabalawi, Sheikh Qamar says that the meeting was so long ago that he scarcely remembers it; however, he recalls Zaabalawi’s address. Qamar leads the narrator to the door, and the narrator leaves, so dizzy with shame that he can hardly hear.

When the narrator arrives at Zaabalawi’s former home in Al Azhar, he finds that it is being used as a dump. In the building’s entrance, a vendor peddles books on spirituality. The narrator asks about Zaabalawi, and though the vendor recalls the man fondly from his youth, he does not know where he is today. The narrator then asks other shopkeepers about Zaabalawi; most believe Zaabalawi is a “charlatan” and suggest that the narrator seek medical help. Finally, the narrator sees the district magistrate, who confirms that Zaabalawi is alive but difficult to find. The magistrate encourages the narrator to proceed scientifically and draws a detailed map of the district.

As the narrator resumes searching, the owner of a small ironing shop directs him to a calligrapher named Hassanein. Hassanein confirms that he was once Zaabalawi’s friend, and that the holy man’s presence energized his best works of art. However, Hassanein laments that he has not seen Zaabalawi recently.

Next, a lupine vendor directs the narrator to a famous composer named Sheikh Gad. He greets the narrator jovially and confirms that Zaabalawi has visited him, though he doesn’t know when he’ll return. When the narrator laments that he has come in vain, Sheikh Gad rebukes him for ignoring the blessing of their chance meeting. He directs the narrator to Negma Bar in Alfi street, where a man named Hagg Wanas al-Damanhouri is said to know Zaabalawi.

When the narrator finds Wanas, he is seated alone in the bar with two bottles of wine. Wanas covers his ears, refusing to speak to the narrator until he becomes as drunk as he is. The narrator partakes until he passes out, slipping into a dream of an idyllic garden. The past and future fall away, as does the narrator’s sense of self, and everything seems to be in its proper place.

When the narrator wakes, he learns that Zaabalawi has been there and departed; in fact, it was Zaabalawi who woke the narrator by sprinkling water on his head. Dismayed, the narrator demands that Wanas send someone to stop Zaabalawi from leaving, but Zaabalawi is already gone. When the narrator says that he would pay any price for Zaabalawi to cure him, Wanas tells him that Zaabalawi doesn’t care about payment—only that others love him.

Wanas confirms that Zaabalawi has been at Negma Bar for the last three nights, so the narrator returns the following evening. Zaabalawi doesn’t appear, and Wanas eventually says he must go; he will not be back until he sells his stock of cotton. More time passes and the narrator hears nothing from Wanas. The narrator tells himself that he cannot lose hope, and that he must content himself with the knowledge that Zaabalawi has affection for him and might cure him if they ever meet again.