Khufu’s Wisdom (Mockery of the Fates) by Naguib Mahfouz

Khufu’s Wisdom (originally Mockery of the Fates) by Naguib Mahfouz: The Historic Genesis of the Arab Novel

Naguib Mahfouz’s Khufu’s Wisdom, first published in 1939 under the Arabic title ‘Abath al-Aqdar ("Mockery of the Fates"), is not merely his debut novel—it is the cornerstone upon which the edifice of modern Arabic literature was built.

Written at the youthful age of 28, Mahfouz was then under the intellectual influence of his mentor, Salama Moussa, who encouraged him to explore Egypt’s Pharaonic heritage.

Inspired by the historical novels of Walter Scott, Mahfouz initially envisioned a series of 40 historical novels. Only three were ever completed: Khufu’s Wisdom, Rhadopis of Nubia, and The Struggle of Thebes.

The novel was serialized in Moussa’s progressive literary magazine Al-Majalla al-Jadida. Moussa rejected the original title Khufu for being too plain, and chose the more dramatic Mockery of the Fates instead. Ironically, what began as a modest literary project—Mahfouz was compensated with 500 printed copies instead of money—would later earn the author the highest accolades in world literature, including the Nobel Prize.

Historical Setting: Ancient Egypt as a Stage for Human Struggle

Set during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (c. 2589–2566 BCE), the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the novel revives the grandeur of the ancient capital Memphis with its white walls and opulent palaces. Mahfouz masterfully blends historical fact with myth, using a fictional prophecy to drive the plot forward.

He offers a layered depiction of Pharaonic society:

The Royal Court: A symbol of absolute power, where the pharaoh’s decree determines the fate of thousands.
The Priesthood: Represented by the High Priest of Ra and his family, custodians of divine authority.
Soldiers and Builders: Like Peshawar, the engineer overseeing pyramid construction.
Slaves and Servants: Especially Zaya, a slave girl who becomes a central figure in the unfolding events.

Mahfouz contrasts the majesty of the pyramids—monuments to civilization—with the harsh social system that exploited labor to build them.

Plot Overview: Fate vs. Human Will

The novel opens with a dramatic scene: Pharaoh Khufu summons the sorcerer Dedi, who delivers a chilling prophecy:

"None of your offspring will inherit the throne. A child born today to a priest of Ra will rule Egypt instead."

Shocked, Khufu—once a benevolent ruler—descends into tyranny and resolves to kill the prophesied child himself.

Key plot milestones include:

Chasing Fate: The priest, his wife, and their newborn son flee with Zaya’s help. Khufu’s soldiers pursue them. The priest is killed, and Khufu mistakenly believes he has slain the child after murdering another infant born the same day.
Survival and Upbringing: Zaya escapes with the real child, Djedef-Ra, and after being robbed in the desert, marries Peshawar. Djedef-Ra is raised among Peshawar’s children, unaware of his royal destiny.
Unexpected Rise: Djedef-Ra joins the army, becomes commander of the Crown Prince’s guard, and leads a successful campaign in Sinai. There, he reunites with his birth mother and learns of his true lineage.
Ironic Fulfillment: On returning to Egypt, he thwarts an assassination attempt on Khufu—ironically orchestrated by the pharaoh’s own son—and kills the traitor. Grateful, Khufu rewards him by giving him the hand of his daughter, Princess Meri-Sankh-Ra, and ultimately abdicates in his favor, thus fulfilling the prophecy he tried so desperately to prevent.

"Despite Khufu’s desperate efforts to prevent the prophecy, fate unfolds in the most ironic and compelling manner."

Thematic Analysis: Fate, Power, and the Human Condition

1. Existential Struggle Between Will and Destiny

Mahfouz presents Khufu as a tragic figure—a man determined to defy fate at any cost.

"I challenged the will of the gods and led a personal campaign against a newborn child," he declares. Yet the more he struggles, the more tightly fate grips him. In a masterstroke of irony, Khufu himself crowns the very child he sought to destroy.

2. A Critique of Political Tyranny

Khufu becomes a symbol of authoritarian rulers who commit atrocities in the name of preserving power. The massacre of innocents to protect the throne evokes historical parallels—from King Herod to modern-day despots. Literary critic Mahmoud Amin El Alem commented:

"The novel condemns tyranny and mocks the politics of power."

3. Social Injustice and Class Division

The novel highlights the brutal working conditions of laborers constructing the pyramid—Zaya’s husband dies on the job—while elites live in luxury. Mahfouz subtly underscores how oppression breeds resistance; it is a palace maid, after all, who reveals the prophecy to Khufu in quiet defiance.

4. Women as Bearers of Moral and Emotional Legacy

Zaya emerges as the hidden heroine—risking everything to save and nurture the future ruler. Princess Meri-Sankh-Ra offers a voice of human compassion in a ruthless court. Mahfouz writes:

"A woman without motherhood is like wine without intoxication, or a flower without fragrance."

Literary Style and Structure: From Historical Epic to Philosophical Reflection

Omniscient Narration: A detached, insightful voice explores not just events but the psychological depth of characters.
"Silence fell as the music of the royal guards echoed through the air."
Elevated Classical Arabic: Laced with Pharaonic terms like "Meri-Sankh-Ra" and "Peshawar", the language remains refined and never descends into the colloquial.
Philosophical Dialogue: Conversations carry existential weight, such as Khufu’s discussions with his vizier about the nature of rulership.
Symbolic Imagery: The pyramid becomes a metaphor for power’s illusion—an eternal tomb built by a king trying to outlive his destiny.
Temporal Depth:
"Time marches forward without a glance behind, delivering its judgment upon all creation."

The novel’s pace is brisk; it spans just 215 pages in its original editions, but its impact lingers.

The Title Controversy: From “Mockery” to “Marvels”

In 1989, a youth edition was published under the title “Marvels of Fate”, prompting widespread controversy. Critics accused the publisher, Dar Al-Shorouk, of altering the title for religious reasons. In fact, the change was authorized by Mahfouz himself to make the book more accessible to younger readers, accompanied by illustrations by Helmi El-Touni. The publisher clarified:

"We present to our young readers this revised edition of our Nobel Laureate’s masterpiece ‘Mockery of the Fates’, retitled ‘Marvels of Fate’ with the author’s explicit consent."

A similar issue arose with the 2000 television adaptation, which dropped the word ‘Mockery’ to avoid religious backlash. Foreign translations preserved Mahfouz’s original intent: “Khufu’s Wisdom” in English, and “Cheops” in German.

Legacy: The Seed of a Literary Empire

Though it marked his debut, Khufu’s Wisdom bears the early marks of Mahfouz’s genius:

From History to Realism: After completing his Pharaonic trilogy, Mahfouz turned to modern Egyptian life in novels like The Cairo Trilogy.
Birth of the Arabic Historical Novel: Khufu’s Wisdom predates works like Denshawai’s Brunette by Naguib Kilani.
Foreshadowing Later Themes: The father-son dynamic in Khufu mirrors future conflicts, such as that between al-Sayyid Ahmad and his sons in The Cairo Trilogy.

Critic Gaber Asfour described the novel as “the true beginning of the nationalist historical novel”. Mahmoud Amin El Alem traced Mahfouz’s critique of authoritarianism from Khufu to later characters like Alaa al-Din in The Thief and the Dogs.

Human Folly, Divine Wisdom

Ultimately, Khufu’s Wisdom is not just a tale set in ancient Egypt—it is a philosophical meditation on power, fate, and the human condition. Mahfouz leaves us with timeless truths:

Absolute Power Is an Illusion: Even the greatest pharaoh is powerless before destiny.
Oppression Breeds Resistance: Khufu’s persecution of the weak inadvertently births his own successor.
True Wisdom Lies in Surrender: As Khufu admits near the end:
“Some twenty years ago, I declared war on the fates.”

Translated into at least five languages (including English, French, German, and Spanish), the novel remains a staple on must-read lists of Arabic literature.

While not Mahfouz’s most polished work, it planted the seed of the literary tree that would define an entire tradition. For though fate may appear cruel or absurd to man, it often conceals a wisdom that reveals itself too late.

As Mahfouz himself once said:

"Fate mocks our plans and laughs at our attempts to defy it."

The Original summary in Arabic