The Sufi Dimension in the Novel “The Heirs of Al-Sheikh” by the Egyptian Novelist Ahmed Al-Qarmalawi

Abstract

This study seeks to confirm the presence of the Sufi dimension in the novel “The Heirs of Al-Sheikh” by the Egyptian novelist Ahmed Al-Qarmalawi. The Sufi dimension became clear through a group of signs، which helped us، from the beginning، in revealing the writer’s attempt to include a Sufi dimension in his novel. The most important of these thresholds are the title and the dedication. In addition، the novelist employed a Sufi dictionary that enriched the presence of the Sufi dimension in his novel. Moreover، the names of the characters came to highlight the presence of the Sufi dimension in the narrative. The concept of “isomorphism” helped in studying the Sufi dimension in the novel.

Almost all of the characters bore names with a Sufi connotation، such as: Irfan، Fadhel، Rawhiyyah، and others. The writer employed the Sufi dimension of these characters as one of the sources of his writing of this novel. Consequently، the novelist relied on the Sufi characters' prophecies and visions. Hence، he presented to his readers a Sufi world of the conditions and positions of these characters during their journey of Sufi passage towards certainty.