The discussion was moderated by Professor Heba Safy Eldeen as part of her talk series on architecture, history, and Egyptian cities, exploring how urban spaces reflect Egypt’s cultural evolution.
“I perceive Reem Bassiouny as a woman of literature, not just a skilled novelist,” Safy Eldeen told Ahram Online. “Her works contribute to cultural development. She knows how to tell gripping tale without altering real historical settings or context.”
Reem Bassiouny, a professor of linguistics, is celebrated for her award-winning novels. Her Mamulk trilogy titled Welad El-Nas won the Naguib Mahfouz Literature Award in 2020.
In 2024, she received the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for her Al-Halawany trilogy on the Fatimid era.
Bassiouny’s writing stands out for its simple yet profound storytelling that brings Egypt’s rich historical eras to life.
Her passion for Sufism also extends beyond fiction; she wrote books reflecting Sufi philosophy, particularly that of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali. Her latest book, Eslah Al-Qalb (Reforming the Heart), delves deeply into human nature and self-improvement through Al-Ghazali’s perspective.
Healing gardens of Matarya
The talk began on a light note as Bassiouny recalled how a friend researching the Mamluk era told her about the Balsam Gardens.
“These gardens were established during the reign of Sultan Al-Ghouri, the same ruler who built this dome, and were used for healing. Remnants still exist in the Matarya district, near the Virgin Mary’s Tree, yet few people know about them,” she said.
Al Ghazali’s steadfastness
“I believe I loved Al-Ghazali since I was 17,” Bassiouny said, explaining how his philosophy has shaped much of her writing.
Her novel Sabil El-Ghareq (Fountain of the Drowning) explores Al-Ghazali’s ideas about attachment and detachment.
The story follows Ahmed Beih, who seeks guidance from Sheikh Zamzami and begins a journey of solitude accompanied by a young servant. The sheikh explained to him that the idea is to serve oneself and look after the child he brought along.
As the journey unfolds, their roles reverse; the boy becomes like a son to Prince Ahmed and gains confidence, while the prince discovers purpose. “Here, Al-Ghazali’s message is about detachment from worldly desires and the inner peace that follows,” Bassiouny noted.
Mario and Abul Abbas
In her novel Mario and Abul Abbas, Bassiouny weaves a unique tale about Italian architect Mario Rossi and Sufi saint Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi.
Set in cosmopolitan Alexandria, her hometown, the novel connects the lives of the Italian architect who designed many of Egypt’s modern mosques, including the Abu Al-Abbas Mosque, and the Spanish Sufi who became one of Alexandria’s most revered figures.
“The fact that Alexandria is identified with Abul Abbas Al-Mursi, a non-Egyptian, reflects how devotion and sincerity made him so loved and how it influenced so many people,” Bassiouny explained, adding that Rossi incorporated symbolic details from the Sufi’s life into the mosque’s design.
Deep diving
In Rewayet Al-Ghazali, Bassiouny drew inspiration from an old Arabic writing titled Al-Asad wal-Ghawas (The Lion and the Diver), a symbolic fable from the late fifth to early sixth century of the Hijra.
The story follows a wise diver who befriends a king and often seeks his counsel, but jealousy drives others to turn the king against him, leading to the diver’s imprisonment and, ultimately, his journey of profound self-discovery
"The writer of The Lion and the Diver was anonymous, and I believe the only reason for the author not to write their name is that they might be a woman who does not want her identity to be exposed," she said.
Bassiouny then discussed the main theme of her book In Search of Happiness, which explores the key ideas of a Sufi master’s philosophy. “The central message,” she explained, “is that it is better to be happy with God than to live in sadness.”
Reformation of the heart
In her latest book, Reformation of the Heart, Bassiouny revisits the thoughts of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, reflecting on his seminal work Ihya Ulum Al-Din (Revival of Religious Sciences). Each chapter unpacks key ideas about refining the soul and striving toward a higher, purer state of being.
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