The profound impact of colonialism and Westernization has often been overlooked in studies examining the portrayal of Eastern identity in Arabic literature. This research examines two novels by Najib Kailani, Al-Yawmu Al-Maw'ūd (1960) and Mawakib Al-Ahrār (1985), which reconstruct two distinct colonial periods using Egypt as a narrative setting. The primary aim of this study is to identify and analyze the narrative techniques employed by Kailani to depict Eastern societies and his endeavor to construct and preserve an Eastern identity. Using a qualitative method grounded in the theoretical approaches of narratology, representation, identity, and Occidentalism, this research addresses an urgent and novel gap by elucidating how Eastern identity is constructed in Arabic literature as a response to colonialism and the hegemony of Western discourse. In doing so, it adopts an epistemological approach rooted in Eastern perspectives. The study argues that the novels reaffirm the role of Arabic literature as a medium of resistance and a means of strengthening the collective identity of Eastern societies in the face of colonial and cultural hegemony.

The role of women in Arabic literature has been pivotal, marked by their active participation across diverse literary genres throughout history. From ancient times, women have made remarkable contributions not only in poetry but also in other forms such as storytelling and intellectual discourse. In the pre-Islamic era, figures like Safiyyah al-Bahiliyya, Hind bint Utbah and Barra bint Abdul Muttalib emerged as distinguished poets. Beyond poetry, women contributed significantly to storytelling, and in the early Islamic era, notable figures such as Aisha bint Abi Bakr played a critical role in the transmission of Islamic knowledge and culture. In the modern era, women's roles have flourished, particularly in the field of fiction. Women have made invaluable contributions to the development of modern Arabic fiction, establishing themselves as key figures in contemporary literature. They have become integral to the thematic and aesthetic foundations of fiction, addressing diverse issues and experiences. In Kuwaiti literature, women have played a transformative role, both as writers and as central themes in novels and short stories. This article focuses on the contributions of Kuwaiti women writers, with particular emphasis on Laila al-Othman, a renowned fiction writer whose novels and short stories have significantly shaped the literary landscape. The study examines women's impact both as creators and as subjects within narrative structures, exploring the diverse roles of female characters in Laila al-Othman’s works and their broader implications for contemporary Arabic fiction.

ABSTRACT Narratives of tragic love featuring classical Arab poets are found in many literary sources, such as al-Shiʿr wa-al-shuʿarāʾ, Kitāb al-Aghānī and Maṣāriʿ al-ʿushshāq. There are striking similarities between these narratives. The love story frequently takes the form of a tragedy in which the lover is separated from his beloved and then pines for her until he dies. The repetition of this pattern suggests that most of these stories imitate a single model. This paper argues that the literary tradition followed a model derived from one of the oldest love stories, attributed to the pre-Islamic poet al-Muraqqish al-Akbar. This paper examines two versions of al-Muraqqish al-Akbar’s romance and studies its impact on the story of the Islamic poet ʿUrwah ibn Ḥizām ibn Muhāṣir, who himself became a model for lover-poets who followed.

This study explores travel discourse through the dual lenses of realism and symbolism by comparing Ibn Battuta’s Rihla and Naguib Mahfouz’s The Journey of Ibn Fattouma. It examines how journeys are represented as narratives that integrate lived experience, moral reflection, and symbolic imagination within Arabic literature. The research addresses the overarching question: How do these two journeys articulate human experience through realism and symbolism? Specific questions include: 1. What realistic and symbolic elements characterize each narrative? 2. How are titles, characters, temporal-spatial settings, events, and language employed as semiotic systems? 3. In what ways do the two journeys converge and diverge in their narrative and symbolic functions? Using a comparative semiotic approach, the study analyzes the texts as interconnected systems of signs, highlighting the interplay of reality and imagination in constructing meaning. Findings reveal that Ibn Battuta’s travels document lived reality through historical and geographical observation, while Mahfouz’s narrative employs symbolic representation to explore ethical, existential, and spiritual dimensions. The analysis underscores the dual function of travel discourse: documenting experience and engaging with moral and imaginative insights. The study concludes that travel literature, whether historical or fictional, reflects humanity’s pursuit of knowledge and transcendence, and recommends integrating travel narratives into educational contexts to foster intercultural awareness, ethical reflection, and empathy.

This study analyzes the representation of environmental resilience in two modern Arabic novels—Hānī al-Rāhib's Al-Wabā' and Ḥannā Mīnah's al-Maṣābīḥ al-Zurq—by focusing the unit of analysis on narrative elements such as characters, settings, symbolic events, and ecological metaphors that describe the community's response to environmental pressures. The purpose of this research is to explore how the representation of literature can enhance the understanding of sustainability dynamics relevant to rural development. Using a qualitative-descriptive method, this study applies three analytical approaches: ecocriticism, environmental sociology, and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. The findings suggest that figures such as al-Shaikh and Sheikh Abdel Jawad represent a shift away from traditional agrarian values to new forms of adaptation shaped by political instability, resource scarcity, and changes in social structures. Both novels reveal patterns of vulnerability, resilience, and livelihood strategies that reflect real processes in dealing with environmental changes. The contribution of this research lies in the designation of the role of literary works as a medium that reflects ecological pressures, as well as a conceptual tool that can enrich cross-disciplinary discussions on sustainability and provide interpretive insights that complement empirical studies of rural development.

This research investigated the predictive relationship between Creative self-efficacy and Spatial visualization ability among gifted high school students in Saudi Arabia, in light of the knowledge transformation required to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The study utilized Bandura's social-cognitive theory framework to address a notable gap in Arabic literature regarding the interplay between cognitive experience and affective belief. The study used a descriptive correlational approach, applying the Revised PSVT:R and the Creative Self-Efficacy Scale to a sample of gifted high school students. The descriptive results showed that the sample had very high levels of both creative self-efficacy and spatial visualization ability, confirming the superior affective and cognitive characteristics of this group. The results of the correlation analysis showed a positive and statistically significant correlation between creative self-efficacy and spatial visualization ability. (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). More importantly, linear regression analysis revealed that spatial visualization ability statistically significantly predicts creative self-efficacy (B= 0.49, p < 0.001), with spatial visualization explaining approximately 23% of the variance in creative self-efficacy among gifted students. The study concludes that cognitive superiority in spatial ability acts as a cognitive lever that enhances students' affective confidence in their ability to innovate, supporting the hypothesis of reciprocal interaction between creative self-efficacy and spatial visualization ability. The study recommends the integration of intensive and systematic spatial visualization training programs into gifted education curricula, not only to improve technical skills, but also to enhance their creative self-efficacy and support the development of creative human capital to achieve national development goals.

Ibn al-Jazzār’s Zād al-musāfir wa-qūt al-ḥāḍir. Provisions for the Traveller and Nourishment for the Sedentary. Books I and II: Diseases of the Head and the Face, edited by Michael R. McVaugh, Gerrit Bos et Fabian Käs

ABSTRACT The seminal works of Taha Hussein, the Egyptian writer who was sobriquetically labelled ‘The Dean of Arabic Literature’, include the autobiographical trilogy, The Days, and his novel, The Call of the Curlew. Both present complementary explorations of disability narratives and sensory perception in literary expression. This study examines Taha Hussein’s autobiographical and fictional works through a disability studies framework, analyzing how blindness shapes literary production and metaphorical construction in early 20th-century Arabic literature. As the output of a late-blind writer, Hussein’s work offers a compelling case study of the persistence of visual memory, the integration of synesthetic sensory experiences, and the use of cognitive metaphors across both autobiographical and fictional modes. This study compares Hussein’s narrative techniques to those of his sighted contemporary, Abbas al-Aqqad, the Egyptian writer and literary critic, and examines whether the cognitive and structural patterns in Hussein’s work represent intentional literary strategies or reflections of memory processes shaped by his disability. Through systematic analysis of perception-based, visual, and cognitive metaphors in contrasting genres with disparate narrative imperatives in both works, we challenge prevailing assumptions about ‘blind writing’ and its alleged sensory distinctiveness.

Summary. Ibn Hamdis' ancestors settled here in the early 9th century after the Arab conquest of Sicily. Ibn Hamdis studied language, literature, mathematics, jurisprudence and philosophy from scholars who contributed to the scientific and cultural development of Sicily. He began writing poetry at a young age. After the Normans occupied Sicily, he moved to Tunis in 471 (1078), and a year later went to Andalusia, where he died. Although he spent a significant part of his life in Andalusia, Ibn Hamdis could not forget his homeland Sicily and wrote poems about Sicily. In his poems from this period, he enthusiastically described the defense of Sicily by Muslims against Christian attacks and the wars that took place. He highly appreciated the bravery and successes of his people. In the part of his work dedicated to homesickness, the poet describes how he suffered the pain of exile, addresses his people, and advises them to protect their homeland and continue their lives there. The second group of poems in the collection of poems called "Sigilliyyat" was written after the fall of Sicily. In the poet's other poems from the Sicilian period, descriptions of love and fun predominate. However, the fall of his homeland into enemy hands caused him to lose his previous joy and gradually change his spiritual life and artistic line. Keywords: Sicilian literature, Sicily under Arab rule, Arabic literature that originated in the West, Ibn Hamdis

Objective: This study aims to determine the urgency and function of Arabic language learning in educational institutions, emphasizing its importance in developing religious understanding, intercultural connections, and opportunities in various areas of life. Method: The research uses a qualitative descriptive method with a library research approach, which means it is conducted in a library or through library resources such as books, journals, databases, and other information sources to support or develop specific arguments or research. Result: The findings show that Arabic has significant urgency in educational institutions for several reasons, including its role as the language of the Quran, its importance in religious education, classical Arabic literature, international communication, higher education, intelligence enhancement, employment opportunities, and cultural diversity. Arabic also serves multiple functions in education, especially within the context of the Arab world and Islamic studies, such as facilitating Quranic interpretation, supporting Islamic scholarship, promoting international relations, preserving literary heritage, enhancing cognitive skills, expanding job opportunities, fostering cultural understanding, and maintaining cultural identity. Novelty: This study highlights a comprehensive view of the dual role of Arabic—as both a medium of religious and intellectual enrichment and as a bridge to global communication and cultural preservation—underscoring its irreplaceable value in modern educational contexts.

Since its emergence over a quarter of a century ago, cyberspace has played a transformative role in Arab societies, serving as a powerful tool for dissemination of knowledge and enlightenment. Its revolutionary nature carried the potential to catalyze profound changes across the Arab world, extending beyond social and political spheres to influence literature, the publishing industry, and the marketing, distribution, and translation of books into various languages. While the sociopolitical implications of cyberspace have been widely studied, its impact on literature—particularly on the Arabic literary movement and the female literary scene—has received scant attention. This gap in scholarship is significant, as the internet has not only created new spaces for writing but has also fundamentally altered the form, language, and reception of literary texts, giving rise to what is now known as hypertext literature. These changes have reshaped both the perspectives of writers and the expectations of readers, fostering the emergence of a new kind of reader attuned to this new kind of text. Additionally, the processes of promoting and distributing literary works have been revolutionized, introducing marketing concepts previously unfamiliar in Arab culture, such as “best-seller lists,” “most popular fiction,” and “celebrity authors.” Cyberspace has also given birth to new platforms for writing, including blogs, forums, and online literary clubs, which have evolved into distinct literary genres in their own right. The literary texts emerging from these digital spaces have not only influenced the form and language of contemporary Arabic literature but have also demonstrated their potential to reach vast audiences, encouraging writers to serialize their works—novels, short stories, and poetry—online. This practice has enabled writers to engage directly with readers, cultivate new audiences, and explore innovative markets. .

The results of this study show that Andalusian literature constituted a fundamental pillar in the development of Arabic literature, characterized by innovation and creativity as a result of the cultural diversity and intellectual interaction that Andalusia witnessed throughout its various eras. Andalusia was a cultural crossroads that brought together Muslims, Jews, and Christians, contributing to the formulation of diverse literary and intellectual styles. Andalusian literature was influenced by Persian, Indian, and Greek literatures, which helped in developing various literary genres, most notably philosophical prose and narrative literature (Siraj, 2011).The study also revealed the impact of cultural interaction between Arabs, Jews, and Christians on Andalusian literary thought, reflected in the diversity of literary texts. Andalusian literature included multiple styles such as emotional, philosophical, and narrative poetry, and was distinguished by the use of new poetic forms like muwashshah, which blended Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin, giving Andalusian literature a unique character distinct from traditional Arabic literature (Peroz, 2016).Intellectually, the study showed that the works of philosophers like Ibn Rushd and Ibn Zaydun are rich in rational elements influenced by Persian and Indian thought, where they developed. Ibn Rushd developed the ideas of Ibn Sina, contributing to the enrichment of Islamic philosophy and expanding its influence on Western philosophy in the Middle Ages (Mahmoud, 2008).Graphical Analysis (First Curve):The graphical curve indicated that the influence of Andalusian literature on Arabic poetry began to rise in the 9th century AD, peaking during the Abbasid and Mamluk periods (13th-14th centuries), before gradually declining while still maintaining its literary impact. As for the influence on Persian poetry, it was slow at first but then clearly increased with the onset of the Safavid era (16th century), reaching its peak in the 17th and 18th centuries. The curve also shows that the influence of Andalusian literature on classical Spanish literature peaked in the 16th-17th centuries, as seen in the works of Cervantes, before declining in the 18th-19th centuries, only to witness renewed interest in the 20th century.

This study examines the rise of dystopian imagination in modern Arabic literature through three novels: Utopia (Towfik, 2008), The Queue (Abdel Aziz, 2016), and Otared (Rabie, 2016). Using close textual analysis within a comparative literary framework, it identifies a three-part pattern of suffering, i.e., material deprivation (Utopia), temporal suspension (The Queue), and bodily collapse (Otared). Unlike Western dystopias that focus on technological speculation or ideological control, these works emphasize lived realities, making structural, bureaucratic, and physical suffering central to their aesthetic and political messages. The novels act as testimonies, giving voice to marginalized experiences and transforming everyday suffering into ethical and narrative engagement. The study also suggests expanding the collection of Arabic dystopias, situating them within global and postcolonial debates, and incorporating them into world literature courses. By doing so, it examines how Arabic literature reconfigures the dystopian imagination through representations of human suffering, thereby contesting Eurocentric conceptions of the genre.

This article examines the phenomenon of hybridity in modern Arabic literature through a comparative analysis of Egyptian, Palestinian, and Algerian texts. The aim of the research is to explore how hybridity shapes national identity in postcolonial Arab societies and whether it serves as a space of cultural negotiation or systemic exclusion. The study is significant as it challenges the dominant postcolonial narrative that often celebrates hybridity as inherently liberating. The scientific novelty lies in the comparative approach that analyzes representations of hybridity across three different Arab regions using a unified theoretical framework. The study offers a new perspective on how hybridity functions in the works of Alaa Al-Aswany ( The Yacoubian Building ), Ibtisam Azem ( The Sleep Thief ), Sayed Kashua ( Dancing Arabs ), Kamel Daoud ( The Meursault Investigation ), and Nina Bouraoui ( Tomboy ). The main research task is to identify the manifestations of hybridity in the selected texts and to assess their impact on the construction of modern Arab identity. The practical significance of the study is in its contribution to postcolonial literary studies and the broader discourse on Arab identity formation. The methodology combines comparative literary analysis and postcolonial theory, drawing on the works of Homi Bhabha, Stuart Hall, and Charles Taylor. These theoretical perspectives provide the framework for analyzing hybridity, identity negotiation, and the struggle for cultural recognition. The analysis shows that hybridity in modern Arabic literature often leads not to cultural synthesis but to social fragmentation, psychological dislocation, and persistent exclusion. In Egyptian, Palestinian, and Algerian contexts, hybridity reflects unresolved tensions between colonial memory, globalization, and the search for belonging. The study concludes that hybridity in these narratives is not a final solution but an ongoing and often painful process of identity negotiation.

While Kemalism (Atatürkism) and Mustafa Kemal’s (Atatürk) legacy tend to be confined to the Republic of Turkey, they have a transnational impact and influence perceptions abroad. Some literature investigates this topic in various parts of the world. Yet, little attention is focused on the Middle East, particularly the Arab world and more so in the realm of Turkish–Arab relations and communication. The article explores how Kemalism and Atatürk’s legacy are perceived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s contemporary public discourse through content analysis methods from canonical and discourse approaches of published texts in Alriyadh . The article begins by highlighting the historiography of Kemalism and Atatürk’s legacy in Turkey and beyond, particularly in the Arab world. Then, it sheds light on the historicity and contemporary nature of the Turkish–Saudi relationship, and later explains the methodology, findings, and analysis. The findings show that Kemalism and Atatürk’s legacy are perceived mainly in association with contemporary Turkish politics, particularly regarding Recep Erdoğan, and less with history and culture. While the perception of Kemalism is somewhat unclear, Atatürk’s legacy is perceived critically, neutrally, and positively, challenging the common negative perception in Arab literature.

Technological innovations have significantly influenced language learning approaches, particularly among Arabic Literature students. Duolingo, a gamified language learning application, has gained popularity for vocabulary development. However, its effectiveness in academic contexts remains underexplored. This study employed a mixed-methods design to assess Duolingo’s impact on vocabulary acquisition among 50 Arabic Literature students at Hasanuddin University. Participants completed pre- and post-tests over a two-week period of Duolingo use. Additionally, a questionnaire was administered to collect students’ perceptions of the app's usability and educational value. Findings revealed that 74% of students improved their vocabulary scores, with an average increase of 4.8 points. Students reported that Duolingo’s spaced repetition and gamification features enhanced motivation and vocabulary retention. However, 24% showed slight score declines, attributing this to the app’s limited focus on grammar, writing, and speaking—skills essential for academic success. While Duolingo supports vocabulary development through engaging and interactive methods, it falls short in providing comprehensive language instruction. These limitations suggest the necessity of integrating supplementary learning tools to support grammar and productive language skills. Duolingo can serve as a valuable supplementary tool for vocabulary learning but should not replace holistic language instruction. Future research should investigate the incorporation of artificial intelligence to enhance its capabilities in grammar and speaking skill development.

This article examines the forms of domination and marginalization of subaltern female characters in the novel Lail wa Qudhban by Najib al-Kailani, using a postcolonial literary criticism approach, especially Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's subaltern theory. This research uses a qualitative-descriptive method through critical reading techniques and textual analysis. The primary data in this research is the novel Lail wa Qudbhan by Najib al-Kailani. In contrast, the secondary data in this research are books, scientific works containing Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's postcolonial and subaltern theory, Najīb al-Kaylānī's biography and thoughts, and relevant references, both previous studies or research on this novel. Data collection uses documentation techniques, hermeneutic reading, and recording and classification of quotations. The data analysis technique uses descriptive-analytical. The results of the study show that the female character (Inayat) in the novel experiences structural and layered domination and marginalization, which originates from four main factors: (1) gender-biased interpretation of religious teachings, (2) customs that legitimize inequality, (3) social construction that silences women, and (4) negative stereotypes against women. The character of Inayat in the novel is presented as a subject who experiences symbolic and social limitations, but at the same time has hidden potential for resistance. This study emphasizes the importance of a postcolonial approach in revealing the layers of power hidden behind the representation of women in modern Arabic literature.

Abstract The reception of classical Greek authors such as Aristotle into Arabic literature through translations is well known. The presence of Arabic literature in the Byzantine capital is much less attested, nor is it widely expected. Could Aristotle have returned to the center of Greek culture in Arab garb? Who would have been the audience of this translation? Who would have brought it there and for what purpose? A famous manuscript now preserved at the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris shows that, indeed, at least one Anatolian Muslim scholar studied his Arabic Aristotle in Constantinople long before it was conquered by the Ottomans. The article uses minute manuscript notes as a means to provide surprising context for the literature that scholars tend to study as disembodied texts.

ABSTRACT The Israeli-Palestinian border conflict has continued to shape discourse in border studies, playing up the various ramifications by which borders are legitimized and performed in contemporary times. This perennial conflict has also set the tenor of Arab literature, casting a distinguishing profile of literary expediency on the tradition. However, most border-focused criticisms of Arab literature, as well as the literary representation of the border issue, tend to overlook the complexity posed by the lived experience. Habiby’s The Pessoptimist situates itself within this complex dynamic of lived border experience, problematizing the question of belonging and unbelonging through the everyday realities of Saeed, the protagonist, and the Palestinian Arabs in the State of Israel. This research, therefore, draws insights from Nira Yuval-Davis’s theory of belonging to interrogate the dynamic experience of un/belonging, while paying attention to how the narrative foregrounds it as a dialectical mode of being. We argue that although the novel complicates the question of belonging and unbelonging, the analysis of Saeed's experience and that of other Palestinian Arabs reveals that these two existential situations are not so opposed, but can be understood dialectically as a mode of living following the divide created by the Israeli-Palestinian border conflict, which serves thereby as a new mode of belonging.

<p><strong>The novel <em>Sayyidat al-Qamar</em> by Jokha Alharthi represents modern Arabic literature that captures the historical reality of Oman, particularly the issues of slavery, limited access to education for women, and marriage traditions rooted in patriarchal values. This study aims to examine humanitarian facts, encompassing both individual and social dimensions, through Lucien Goldmann’s genetic structuralism approach. A Descriptive Qualitative Method was employed, using thematic classification of selected excerpts that depict inner conflicts and social contexts, with close reading and note-taking as the primary data collection techniques. The findings reveal that the novel’s social realities shape how the characters think, act, and respond to their surroundings. The individual facts emerge through characters’ emotional struggles and inner conflicts, while the social facts are reflected in the portrayal of slavery, educational inequality, and restrictive marriage practices in pre-reform Oman. Therefore, <em>Sayyidat al-Qamar</em> serves not only as a literary work but also as a reflective medium that highlights the dialectical relationship between social structure, history and individual consciousness within modern Arab society.</strong></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong> - <em>Arabic Novel, Genetic Structuralism, Human Facts.</em></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>