Sabil of Naguib Mahfouz in Cairo, Egypt

by Robin Graham

I dreamt of my mentor, Shaykh Mustafa Abd al-Raziq
when he was the head of al-Azhar.
As he entered the main office, I rushed to catch up with him,
offering my hand in greeting. Walking along with him,
inside I saw a sprawling, spectacular garden. He told me
that he had planted it himself - half with native roses,
the other half with Western ones.
He hoped the two would give birth to a wholly new kind -
in form perfect, and in fragrance, sublime.
~Dream 180, Dreams of Departure. Naguib Mahfouz.

We look up.

We've come in from the bright hot street and find ou...