God's World

Author: Naguib Mahfouz

Considered by many to be Mahfouz's most important collection of short stories, it gathers fourteen tales that largely revolve around the essence of life and death. It raises many questions that occupied Mahfouz throughout his life, such as the questions of existence, the absolute, and faith. An example is the story "Zaabalawi," which profoundly expresses the human existential crisis through a journey undertaken by the protagonist, searching for Sheikh Zaabalawi, known for his miracles and believed to hold the cure for his suffering. The Sheikh eventually appears to him in his sleep without being seen with his own eyes, yet he ultimately finds reassurance in his reality. Thus, this story serves as an example of Naguib Mahfouz's intellectual journey, like the rest of the unique stories in the collection.