Suwar wa Khawatir
- Author died
- 1420 AH
- Editions
- Dar al-Manarah li-l-Nashr wa-al-Tawzi'
Suwar wa Khawatir (Scenes and Reflections) is an Arabic essay collection by the Syrian scholar, judge, and author Ali al-Tantawi (1327–1420 AH / 1909–1999 CE), first published in 1958 CE .
Background and Composition
The book compiles literary, social, and contemplative articles that al-Tantawi composed over several decades . While the initial edition was issued in 1958 CE (and recorded in another bibliography as 1982 CE), the author subsequently expanded the work in later editions by incorporating additional essays . Some of these additions originated as radio addresses—such as broadcasts delivered on the Sawt al-Islam radio station—or as periodical contributions published in magazines such as al-Wa'y al-Islami .
Contents and Themes
The essays in Suwar wa Khawatir address a wide range of moral, intellectual, and observational themes written in al-Tantawi's accessible prose style:
- Existential and Spiritual Reflections: In pieces such as 'Am Jadid ("A New Year"), written at the turn of the Hijri year in 1966 CE, the author contemplates the fleeting nature of time, the deceptive pursuit of worldly ambition, and the necessity of preparing for the afterlife . Within these reflections, he touches upon insights from his earlier work Min Hadith al-Nafs and his commentary on Ibn al-Jawzi's Sayd al-Khatir regarding the transient nature of worldly pleasures .
- Historical and Social Criticism: Other essays offer critical perspectives on contemporary and historical issues, such as Raqm Maksur ("A Broken Number"), which examines modern appraisals of late Ottoman history and criticisms directed against Sultan Abdulhamid .
Publication History and Editions
Suwar wa Khawatir has been published in multiple editions across the Arab world . For a major reprinting by Dar al-Manara in Jeddah, al-Tantawi provided a signed authorial preface written in Mecca dated 1 Shawwal 1408 AH . A subsequent revised and annotated edition was edited by the author's grandson, Mujahid Mamun Dayraniyyah, reaching its tenth printing in 2011 CE through Dar al-Manar .
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