A Correlation Study between the Theme of Egyptian Novel “Zaynab” and Malaysian Novel “Faridah Hanom”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosni bin Samah, Normazla Ahmat Mahir

Abstract
Arabic literature had played an important role in contributing to the spread of Islamic knowledge and culture among the Malay society. Its contribution continues until the development of modern Malay literature. Most literary researchers agree that the novel entitled Faridah Hanom (1926) represents the first Malay novel. Nevertheless, the novel which was written by Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi, a prominent Islamic reformist in the country in the early twentieth century, has long been debated by scholars for its authenticity, whether the novel is originally written by the author, or it is merely a translation of the famous Arabian novel, Zaynab. Thus, it is the purpose of this study to examine the impact of novel Zaynab’s theme in the emergence of Malaysian novel’s theme. Based on the results obtained, it is found that theme of novel Zaynab contributed to the emergence of the theme of novel Faridah Hanom.

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