Descendants of Ismail
Years ago, on a dark night when the candles of your face seemed to have dimmed, as if it were a night of farewell, you spoke about your latest novel to the lovers of Ismail Fahd Ismail. Here, I do not wish to review what has passed, because you were, and remain, stronger than death.
Today, on the eighth anniversary of your passing, I pause to reflect on much of what I encountered in this bitter life, interspersed with numerous situations that revealed the role of Ismail’s novel, his approach, and his search for the marginalized, as he walked the path of social justice, serving as both a researcher and a guide so that the compass would not be lost for some who followed his path. And you know, O sir, O Imam, that the novel teaches us that some did not preserve the legacy; rather, they denied it and acted unjustly, seeking to gain some of the pleasures of this world. But because Ismail is greater than this, the magic turned against the magician.
Behold, those who wrote and affirmed that Ismail is writing itself and action. Although the years of separation may be long, Ismail’s beacon continues to illuminate the path for those who follow his way, immortalizing his name through his literary legacy, which is eternity.
Here, I must note that some writers view honoring literary figures after their death as a disregard for life. However, I find that Ismail is still alive, and honoring him is not a luxury or a mere traditional obligation, but rather an act of loyalty and repayment of a debt to this great man. Moreover, Ismail remains alive; his physical death does not diminish his continued existence through the immortality of his cultural legacy.
On this anniversary, I must mention a part of this loyalty. During this period, a group of Ismail’s admirers, each writing in their area of expertise, contributed narratives about this inspiring figure for generations, as follows:
- The novelist Khaled Al-Nassrallah: Khaled, who considered Ismail Fahd Ismail his spiritual father and teacher of the basics of the novel, remained loyal, waiting for the opportunity to crystallize a clear, complete, and comprehensive vision of Ismail. He delved into his memories, what had been written about him, visited the place of his beginnings, and placed it before him, identifying with his professor. This resulted in a novel bearing a new language and a special perspective, through which he repaid, albeit partially, the kindness shown to him (the novel being “Tawaf around the Palm Tree”).
- The critic and writer Jamil Al-Shaibi: Jamil, who grew up with Ismail and experienced the pulse of his early writings in Basra, where the café of writers (Tahif Café) served as the forum and cultural gathering place where Ismail developed his first collection and those that followed. Since Jamil remained a loyal friend to Ismail, and Ismail stayed at Jamil’s house during his visits to Basra after settling in Kuwait, Jamil’s vision in his book encapsulates the secret of this relationship and its continuity.
- The third product, which differed in nature and text, carrying interpretation and perhaps critique, is the work of the philosophy researcher Aqeel Aidan and his book “Song of the Sun and Shadow.” He presents it through the model of a scholar of philosophy and a researcher in the field, distancing himself slightly from what some others have done in writing about Ismail Fahd Ismail. He declared that writing about a literary symbol must take a different course in life. I firmly believe that if Aqeel had written this research study during Ismail’s lifetime, he would have received prolonged praise and applause.
Yes, this eighth anniversary feels like yesterday, as if Ismail has not departed. He is the absent presence, the companion of our gatherings, and the story of our seminars when we unite.
O “Ismail,” most Arab countries compete to honor writers after their death, naming cultural institutions or schools after them and reviving their memory by publishing their works. However, I found no such effort except for “Dar Al-Khan,” which sought to republish your creations. Thank you to them.
