"Zaabalawi" by Naguib Mahfouz

I see a connection between Zaabalawi and the idea of God for a number of reasons. For one, no one knows of Zaabalawi's whereabouts except for the fact that one can find him at the Negma Bar every evening. This is similar to the idea that no one can find God physically on earth, but he resides in churches, or the houses of God, and that to commune with him people visit the churches every Sunday. Second, he performs miracles that can cure people of their illnesses, which is like the stories of people who mysteriously recover from terminal illnesses with no logical explanation, but rather with the explanation that God performed a miracle on him or her. Third, Zaabalawi helps people whom he loves, which is the same with God; supposedly, one has to believe in Him in order to be in his graces and receive his help. Finally, the reactions of the various people that the protagonist meets is similar to modern society's varying opinions on God: some, like the protagonist's father, know of him and think highly of him, claiming that he saved their lives, which is similar to real life devout believers; some "made fun of him" and thought that the protagonist should see a doctor, which brings up the science versus religion idea; and some do not even know of him, which perhaps reflects the part of the population that don't believe in God.

Obviously there are some flaws with this connection, such as the fact that God already exists in this story and that Zaabalawi is merely a saint who serves under him, or that there are a few people in the bar who actually did see his physical form. Perhaps he could better be associated with Jesus, who, like Zaabalawi, was a divine man who could perform healing miracles on people and cure them of their illnesses.

Also, I think that the illness that the protagonist has is a metaphor for a lack of spirituality in his life. I have read about how some scientists believe that humans need spirituality in their lives, that it activates some part of the brain that non-spiritual activities don't. This does have some basis; after all, why is it that most, if not all, cultures in the world have some sort of belief in a higher power? Of course there are exceptions to this idea (myself included), but for Egyptians this is probably an important issue considering how nearly the entire population is religious. In the story, details of the illness are never described; he just feels that there is something wrong with him. At the end of the story, even though the protagonist was "cured" of this disease once by Zaabalawi, there is a part of him that still craves meeting him again, which leads him to commit himself to finding Zaabalawi. If Zaabalawi is an allegory for God or some other figure of spirituality, then it makes sense that the protagonist would pursue him in search of a cure for his lack of spirituality.

I was not in class on Friday, so it is hard for me to comment on how the story relates to Egyptian culture, but I'll do my best!

I, too, see a strong connection between Zaabalawi and G-d, or at least between the idea of Zaabalawi and G-d. From the beginning of the story, the main character doesn't even know who Zaabalawi is, but he knows that he has to find him. He knows that Zaabalawi graces people with his presence and he is determined to search for him. He believes that once he finds Zaabalawi all of his problems will be solved. He searches for a connection to Zaabalawi much like people search for a connection to G-d.

I would say the story's theme is very universal. I think that everyone at sometime in their life seeks a greater meaning to their existence and goes in search of some kind of guidance like protagonist goes searching for Zaabalawi. Not everyone finds their guidance, but I think that often people find, like the protagonist, that often their "meaning" can be found in an internal "wise man" like Zaabalawi. I think it is very interesting to note who amongst the individuals the protagonist meets knows or has met Zaabalawi. Only the calligrapher, drunk, and musician seem to know the truth surrounding Zaabalawi. Maybe it is because these individuals have seen some kind of higher truth?

I agree with Garseng and Laurel that Zaabalawi seems to be God or Jesus. What I think is interesting about this is that when you assume that Zaabalawi is God the ending of the story becomes very interesting. I feel like you could take the ending one of two ways (specifically these lines).

"sometimes, however, the long delay wearied me. I would become beset by despair and would try to persuade myself to dismiss him from my mind completely. How many weary people in this life know him not or regard him as a mere myth! Why, then, should I torture myself about him in this way? No sooner, however, did my pains force themselves upon me than I would again begin to think about him, asking myself when I would be fortunate enough to meet him... the truth of the matter was that I had become fully convinced that I had to find Zaabalawi. Yes, I have to find Zaabalawi"

Mahfouz could have been saying "look at this devoted man! We should all be as devoted as him" or "don't be an idiot like this guy who waits for a God that will never come". I would argue that the meaning we are supposed to take from the ending is the later (since the discussion questions ask how Mahfouz criticizes traditional religion).

It seems significant that the protagonist never actually describes his illness. We don't know what it is exactly, only that he feels unbearable pain every so often. Clearly this is intentional, and the idea of a spiritual sickness fits quite well into the idea of Zaabalawi as God. But there are complications. Everyone else in the town can clearly see the man's illness. Does this mean the man is clearly a sinner? Zaabalawi is being pursued by the police. Yet the Egyption government was established under Islamic law. The first man the protagonist asks clearly fears this character to some extent or wishes not to remember past experiences concerning him. How does this relate to the savior the others always see? Further more, Zaabalawi is known to all sorts of people. That is, he's not unobtainable to those who aren't looking for him. So the message of waiting for a God that will never come seems not quite to fit.

Perhaps the illness is more about obsession. From the beginning, the man is unable to stop thinking about Zaabalawi. Is the unending pain really just his unending search? In the same way perhaps Zaabalwi represents religious obsession or fundamentalism. Constantly searching for God, Mahfouz says, can never give you spiritual peace.

The bar scene is the most peculiar element in the story, and must hold some sort of important symbolism. For the life of me, though, I can't get my head around what this might be. The protagonist can only talk to the wealthy man when he's drunk. He sleeps for a long time, is 'in need of sleep', after he looses his inhibitions to alcohol. Zaabalawi tries to wake him up, the water thrown into his face penetrating into the dream. Does Zaabalawi disapprove of the slumber then? Is the slumber a metaphor for single minded religious obsession? At the same time, the drunk is a drinking buddy of Zaabalwi, so he seems to encourage the behavior as well. I'm confused.

Zaabalawi interacts with each character in a different manner. As I've mentioned before, the calligrapher seems to fear him. The seller of holy texts seemed fond of him, but never regarded him with much reverence. Others in the area he used to live, while familiar with him personally, didn't believe in his ability to heal at all. The musician found he could compose much better however, with Zaabalawi's influence. The drunk didn't really seem to care. The point is, no standard reaction to this guy ever seems to be present. No one seems to know him in the same way. His role as a religious figure fits for some, but seems very misplaced in others.

I understand what Sam is saying, the characters in the story do react very differently to Zaabalawi. However, I would argue that that is more reason to suggest that he is a religious figure. When you look at religion today, it means different things for everyone. Everyone observes their religion differently and it holds different weight for each person. I think that the fact that they respond differently to Zaabalawi makes Zaabalawi appear as more of a religious figure.

I think it's an interesting point Sam makes about Zaabalawi's varying influence on all the other characters and the possibility that he is a sort of God figure. It seems to me a curious possible synthesis of these notions is to imagine Zaabalawi as not simply a manifestation of God but rather an embodiment of existance itself, as a concept. Zaabalawi is life. Under this theory it would make sense that the different people react to him differently, some with fear, some with fondness and some through a drunken haze. I find this a fascinating device for the author to use and needless to say have never encountered quite such and imaginative anthropomorphism before.

Another interesting consequence of this little idea is that, if we accept Zaabalawi as life, so many people, both characters and readers, react to him as a religious or divine figure. I think this says much about the way we perceive religion and, indeed, what religion really consists of at its core. Just like the bible can be interpreted in a myriad of ways, so can life be led pretty much as one chooses to lead it. Just like the koran can be read as both gentle and terrifying, so can Zaabalawi be seen as both kind and imposing.

Naturally Zaabalawi's illness is life. Life is constantly being killed by the very act of living. A delicious and undeniably real-world irony. I would extrapolate that the sudden pangs Zaabalawi feels are those moments when we stop for a moment and realize that life is irrevocably passing us by. But that is pure speculation. Not that any of the above isn't.

When I say Zaabalawi's illness, I do mean the illness he is purportedly able to cure. And the pangs that the protagonist feels, not Zaabalawi.

I just realized that I had put all that incorrectly. My apologies.

Well, it may be in response to any of the questions listed, but I found it interesting the way in which he interacted with all the people he was asking information from. The respect he showed them, and the countless situations where he described himself standing around waiting for an appropriate time because he didn't want to interrupt the person. And especially one of his first interactions with Sheikh Qamar, where all these subtle things happen and then the main guy feels extremely embarrassed. "I bowed nty
head in thanks, apologized several times for disturbing him, and left the office, my head so buzzing with embarrassment that I was oblivious to all sounds around me." Really this isn't relevant to any of the questions whatsoever but it stuck out to me so... yeah.

The part I found most interesting in Zaabalawi, like Sam, was the bar scene. I like many others have heard mostly of the more orthodox islamic sects so I was sort of shocked for there to be a guy consuming alcohol, much less enough to get drunk. I found it interesting that the main character in contradiction to the drunk man says he doesn't drink, I think this would imply that our protagonist is of one of the more orthodox muslims in the story. This makes me wonder if the drunk man's statement of "You must get drunk or I will not talk to you, as we both should be on equal levels" is talking not about reason or comprehension levels but instead spiritual levels. By drinking therefore our protagonist is able to let go of his strict religion and therefore comes to see the world in a more beautiful light, allowing him to find Zaabalawi. If this is true I would say Zaabalawi is not the embodiment of g-d but instead maybe a figure that represents a more liberal version of spirituality.

Also Sam I believe the reason that Zaabalawi sprinkles water on the protagonist head is suppose to symbolize a baptism as after being drunk our protagonist becomes very devoted to finding Zaabalawi symbolizing some sort of spiritual rebirth.

Also the ending was a troll, if you start a quest you need to finish it already!!!!

The part I found most interesting in Zaabalawi, like Sam, was the bar scene. I like many others have heard mostly of the more orthodox islamic sects so I was sort of shocked for there to be a guy consuming alcohol, much less enough to get drunk. I found it interesting that the main character in contradiction to the drunk man says he doesn't drink, I think this would imply that our protagonist is of one of the more orthodox muslims in the story. This makes me wonder if the drunk man's statement of "You must get drunk or I will not talk to you, as we both should be on equal levels" is talking not about reason or comprehension levels but instead spiritual levels. By drinking therefore our protagonist is able to let go of his strict religion and therefore comes to see the world in a more beautiful light, allowing him to find Zaabalawi. If this is true I would say Zaabalawi is not the embodiment of g-d but instead maybe a figure that represents a more liberal version of spirituality.

Also Sam I believe the reason that Zaabalawi sprinkles water on the protagonist head is suppose to symbolize a baptism as after being drunk our protagonist becomes very devoted to finding Zaabalawi symbolizing some sort of spiritual rebirth.

Also the ending was a troll, if you start a quest you need to finish it already!!!!

First off, my favorite quote: "conscious¬ness struck at me like a policeman's fist"
Second off, I disliked the ending. Of course, it was kind of predictable because this story would hardly be as mystical if the narrator had indeed found Zaabalawi. If he had found him and he did not manage to cure him, well, good bye magic and all hope, if he did indeed manage to heal him then the reader would be left with a bad taste in their mouth because everything would be fixed in one sentence. So this sort of cliff hanger, as unappreciated as it is, is probably the best way to end it. What is also curious is how the narrator at the end places all his hope in Zaabalawi, there doesn't seem to be any hope in God, which is just sort of weird... Anyways, I feel like this almost non-existant figure was simple an inside joke of all the people he talked to. I don't think he was actually real. Maybe a metaphor for getting drunk or high since the drunkard was "with" Zaabalawi the night he was drunk; the musician made his best work when he was "with" Zaabalawi... It just all seems oh so sketchy.

5. How does this story criticize traditional religion and beliefs? Examples of Islam, Christianity, Mysticism? What message is Mahfouz trying to get across concerning religion?

The story seems to criticizes the growing modernization culture of Egypt and consequently, and how that pushes away the old mysticism, and religion. The businessman clearly favoring wealth and success. But as a true sign of how deep these traditions run in Egyptian culture most at least know of Zaabalawi the people in the shop, some had meet Zaabalawi and enjoyed it, others didn't believe in his magic and pointed the narrator to modern means of curing himself. As he moved further and further away from the modern world, meeting with the Caligrapher whose reverence for god is clearly seen in the way he choses to live, and the way he speaks. The people who hold on to traditional values seem to be the only ones who holds on the mysticism. The question seems to be whether there is room for the old culture in a modernizing world.

8. Comment on the end of the story. What does it leave the reader thinking?

It definitely gives us the impression that no matter how much searching, the man can never find Zaabalawi, Mafouz gives the impression that what ever the man's illness is he needs to search for some spiritual meaning in life. Possibly a commentary on Mafouz's ranks spirituality as a cure for this illness.

That or that he doesn't love Zaabalawi enough as he heals people that he senses loves him.

7. What is significant about the bar scene and the protagonist getting drunk? How are the narrator's visions and experiences during the dream connected to human social life and its possibilities?

I feel that the scene make a comment on that you need to have an altered perception on reality before spirituality can come, the spirits was metaphorical for purging the normal societal views on spirituality, and when he wakes up he finds out his true purpose, and starts his search for Zaabalawi.

5. How does this story criticize traditional religion and beliefs? Examples of Islam, Christianity, Mysticism? What message is Mahfouz trying to get across concerning religion?

The story seems to criticizes the growing modernization culture of Egypt and consequently, and how that pushes away the old mysticism, and religion. The businessman clearly favoring wealth and success. But as a true sign of how deep these traditions run in Egyptian culture most at least know of Zaabalawi the people in the shop, some had meet Zaabalawi and enjoyed it, others didn't believe in his magic and pointed the narrator to modern means of curing himself. As he moved further and further away from the modern world, meeting with the Caligrapher whose reverence for god is clearly seen in the way he choses to live, and the way he speaks. The people who hold on to traditional values seem to be the only ones who holds on the mysticism. The question seems to be whether there is room for the old culture in a modernizing world.

8. Comment on the end of the story. What does it leave the reader thinking?

It definitely gives us the impression that no matter how much searching, the man can never find Zaabalawi, Mafouz gives the impression that what ever the man's illness is he needs to search for some spiritual meaning in life. Possibly a commentary on Mafouz's ranks spirituality as a cure for this illness.

That or that he doesn't love Zaabalawi enough as he heals people that he senses loves him.

7. What is significant about the bar scene and the protagonist getting drunk? How are the narrator's visions and experiences during the dream connected to human social life and its possibilities?

I feel that the scene make a comment on that you need to have an altered perception on reality before spirituality can come, the spirits was metaphorical for purging the normal societal views on spirituality, and when he wakes up he finds out his true purpose, and starts his search for Zaabalawi.

Like everyone else, I believe that Zaabalawi seems to fit very well as an allegory for god. The narrator's search for him and the fact that everyone he talks to at least seems to know something about him plays in to the whole search for spiritual understanding/fulfillment. His sickness is probably a metaphorical one, relating to a sickness of spirit. The fact that the narrator doesn't find him also makes sense in regards to this idea, as most people consider the search for god/spiritual fulfillment to be a constant and eternal quest.

I agree with Erik though I would replace God with mysticism and the unknown. In the story there is a large connotation of urbanization causing the death of mysticism and the unknown with the city being a place where everyone knows everyone. For example the corrupt business man is shown as not knowing about religion and the vendor disrespecting the concept of mysticism. As he leaves the city he encounters the musician a man not only wise but also at peace with life due to his connection to mysticism.