RIP Ahmed Bahgat

Late Ahmed Bahgat "1932-2011"

Egypt , the Arab and Muslim world have lost today one of the best writers and journalists ever , the Arab literature has lost today another giant and that giant’s name was Ahmed Bahgat.
Ahmed Bahgat was born on November 15th,1932 in Cairo. Despite he was graduated from the faculty of law , Cairo university he started his long career in journalism in Akhbar Al Youm newspaper in 1955 before moving to Sabah Al Kheir magazine in 1957 then to Ahram newspaper in 1958 where he worked there till death.
My generation knows Ahmed Bahgat as a novelist and a columnist , as a sarcastic critic and a poetic Sufi
Bahgat had that daily column in the second page of Daily Ahram newspaper which millions read and followed everybody including me that used to be called “Sandok El Donia” or “The Universe’s box” where he spoke about everything as I recall especially religion from a Sufi perspective.
Bahgat also wrote the script of a short daily radio show “Kilmitein Wa Bass” {Two words} that used to be narrated by Fouad El Mohandes in early morning which we used to hear when we were in our way to school and our parents were in their way to their work. The show used to criticize sarcastically the conditions in Egypt.
His book “Allah’s prophets” is still one of the best selling books in Egypt , Dar Al Shorouk publishing house printed from it 36 editions. Bahgat wrote the stories of prophets starting with Adam and ended by prophet Mohamed peace upon them from the Holy Quran perspective. He dedicated this book to Archangel Gabriel.
His  book “The stories of animals in the Holy Quran” for children was another best selling in Egypt and the Arab world and was translated to French and German. It was presented in animated series last Ramadan. It is about the stories of the animals mentioned in the Holy Quran like Prophet/King Solomon's hoopoe and Prophet Jonah’s whale.
Bahgat wrote for children this simplified series of illustrated Prophets’ stories with the help of legendary illustrator and cartoonist Mustafa Hussien , I am from the generation who had these stories.
Unlike what you think Bahgat  wrote wonderful books as well columns about Sufism and Sufi poetry like “Love for Sufis”
Ironically today we are celebrating the centennial of our famous Naguib Mahfouz and unfortunately after this sad news I can’t celebrate , I just can’t May Allah bless their souls both.

Links :

• Ahmed Bahgat’s entry in Arabic Wikipedia.
• Omar Taher’s column about Ahmed Bahgat in Tahrir last August
• Collection of PDFs from Bahgat’s work
• Sarcasm and Sufism about Ahmed Bahgat , Ahram weekly’s profile about late Bahgat. 

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