THIS BOOK is a fairly English translation of ‘An-Naẓarāt’ (‘The Reflections’), penned ab initio by Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaluti—one of the early prominent essayists of the period of the Nahda (i.e., Modern Arabic Literary Renaissance) in Egypt. Al-Manfaluti’s ‘An-Naẓarāt’ (‘The Reflections’) per se came out first in al-Mu’ayyad newspaper of Egypt, and which were then compiled in three volumes, first published in 1910.

With his keen reflective eye, al-Manfaluti unveils the kaleidoscopic tapestried fabrics of life, beckoning readership to delve into the rich interplay of cultural identity and the ever-evolving dynamics of society, and leaving an indelible mark on the readership’s legs of contemplative journey.

THIS BOOK is, by all means, a revealer of the early 20th-century zeitgeist in Egypt: political nationalism, pan-Islamic aspirations and religious reform had found expression herein.