Before the Throne by Naguib Mahfouz 1983

Joe الأحد, يوليو 06, 2025

 


Before the Throne by Naguib Mahfouz


Before the Throne is built around a fictional trial of Egypt’s rulers across history, from King Menes (the unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt) to President Anwar Sadat. This trial takes place in the afterlife before the ancient Egyptian gods:

The trial unfolds as a series of critical dialogues between rulers and the gods, and among the rulers themselves, with each leader held accountable for their achievements and failures toward Egypt and its people.

Literary Structure and Artistic Features

  • A Unique Structure: The book defies classification, being neither a traditional novel, nor a play, nor a short story collection. It is instead a blend of history, philosophy, and literature.

  • Mythological Inspiration: The concept of the trial draws from the ancient Egyptian belief in justice and judgment after resurrection, grounding the work deeply in Egyptian identity.

  • Dialogue-Driven Narrative: Events unfold through dialogues between rulers and gods, and side conversations among rulers themselves (e.g., Ramses II with Sadat, or Saad Zaghloul with Menes).

Main Characters and Historical Scope

The book features dozens of rulers, including:

  • Pharaohs: Menes, Khufu, Ramses II, Akhenaten

  • Islamic Era Rulers: Ahmad ibn Tulun, Muhammad Ali Pasha

  • Modern Leaders: Saad Zaghloul, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat

Evaluation Criteria:

  • The Immortals: Those who made significant contributions to Egypt (e.g., Muhammad Ali, Saad Zaghloul).

  • The Trivial: Those who ruled without meaningful impact.

  • The Guilty: Those who caused destruction or corruption.

Key Themes and Ideas

1. Expansive Egyptian National Identity

Mahfouz broadens the notion of “Egyptian” to include non-Arabic speakers who served Egypt faithfully, such as Muhammad Ali Pasha.

2. The Relativity of Judging History

The book emphasizes that evaluating rulers is complex, as even the immortalized leaders have their faults (e.g., Nasser’s neglect of domestic development while supporting global revolutions).

3. Continuity of Egyptian Civilization

Dialogues between rulers from different eras highlight Egypt’s enduring identity as a civilization, despite changes in its governing systems.

Reactions and Controversies

  • Omission of Muhammad Naguib: The exclusion of Egypt’s first president post-revolution sparked reader curiosity.

  • Political Critique: The book offers sharp criticism of leaders like Nasser (for the Yemen war and neglecting education) and Sadat (for the Camp David Accords).

  • Relative Neutrality: Mahfouz aimed for balanced judgment, though his personal views surface in verdicts, such as relegating Psamtik II to the “trivial” despite his peaceful rule.

Notable Quotes from the Book

“Mustafa al-Nahhas said to Gamal Abdel Nasser:
Developing the Egyptian village is more important than supporting revolutions abroad...
Encouraging scientific research is more important than the Yemen campaign,
And fighting illiteracy is more important than fighting imperialism.”

Impact and Importance

  • Serves as a concise historical reference, offering a panoramic view of 5,000 years of Egyptian history in a single literary work.

  • Reinforces Egyptian identity by linking Pharaonic heritage to modernity.

  • Demonstrates Mahfouz’s courage in critiquing contemporary leaders (Nasser and Sadat).

Comparison with Mahfouz’s Other Works

  • Difference: Moves away from the realism of The Cairo Trilogy or the allegory of Children of Our Alley.

  • Similarity: Revisits history as in The Struggle of Thebes, but through a philosophical, dialogue-driven framework.

Reader and Critic Responses

  • “It feels like watching an Egyptian panorama of history, distinguishing between the immortal and the trivial.”

  • “A brilliant idea that presents history swiftly, leaving the reader wondering: What would Mahfouz have written about today’s rulers?”

  • The closing spirit of reviews often echoes the novel’s patriotic undertone:

    “Egypt, to you I give my life...
    With my heart and resolve, I am ready for the struggle.”

Literary Vision

Before the Throne transcends historical narration to contemplate the philosophy of leadership and justice. Mahfouz offers a tribute to eternal Egypt, asserting that the true measure of a ruler is their service to Egypt and its people, regardless of time or ideology. This renders the novel a mirror not just of Egypt’s past, but of its present and future as well.

Joe

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