A short story collection by playwright Tawfiq al-Hakim was translated in English for the first time by Abdul Rahman Chamseddine, a member of the faculty at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and an Arabic language instructor at the university.

TShow me God - translation by Abdul Rahman Chamseddinehe collection is titled Show Me God (Arini-Allah) and includes twenty short stories that combine a curious exposition of the human psyche and the intriguing issues and inclinations surrounding human existence. The stories are examples of Al-Hakim’s ability to unleash his imagination to bring the reader to awareness and certainty.

The translator chose words that reflect the depth of the meaning Al-Hakim wished to convey, allowing English readers to enjoy the short stories as much as the Arabic readers since the publication of the series of stories in 1953.

In his translation, Chamseddine, who specialises in Arabic idioms of the early Islamic period, was keen to preserve the style of Al-Hakim as a cynical, yet profound storyteller, utilising symbols to bring the reader to a conclusion touching the truth characterised within the story. For more information about the translated stories of Tawfiq al-Hakim, visit qatar.georgetown.edu