Mario and Abu al-Abbas

This novel unfolds between the era of the Sufi mystic Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi and the era of the Italian architect Mario Rossi. Despite the vast time gap between the two figures and the events that transpired during their lives, author Reem Bassiouni presents their stories and how the Italian architect, who built numerous mosques for the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments, came to know Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi when he was commissioned to design and construct his mosque in Alexandria in the 1930s. We learn about the life of this Sufi mystic who was forced to emigrate with his family from Murcia in Andalusia to Tunisia, where he met the Sufi master al-Shadhili. He then moved with al-Shadhili to Alexandria, where they lived together and witnessed significant events that profoundly impacted them. We also witness his acquaintance with al-Busiri and the influence he had on him, as well as his relationship with Ibn Ata al-Iskandari, who became a continuation of al-Shadhili's legacy. Abu al-Abbas himself became a symbol whose influence continues to resonate in the lives of Alexandrians. The novel also explores many key moments in the lives of Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi and Mario Rossi.