Maqamat Al-Hariri

When the four students Mohammed, Al-Anoud, Adel, and Ward receive an anonymous invitation to a heritage library, they are unexpectedly pulled into a mysterious literary adventure. After some investigation, they discover the invitation comes from their teacher Amal and Mr. S, the librarian of the “wonder library.” They soon learn that the experience will take them into the world of Maqamat al-Hariri, the celebrated work of Arabic literature by Abu Muhammad al-Qasim al-Hariri, where they will encounter the tradition of maqamat and meet its famous figures, Abu Zayd al-Saruji and his narrator al-Harith ibn Hammam.

As the journey begins, the students are transported across different times and places, following the witty and imaginative tales of a clever storyteller who survives through eloquence and ingenuity. Guided by the narrator, they move through several of al-Hariri’s maqamat, including the Sana’ani, Maraghi, Baghdad, and Maghrebi episodes. Along the way, they gain a vivid glimpse into life in the 5th and 6th centuries AH, discovering how they respond to the unique surprises and challenges of each setting.