Religious patterns in the Clay and Fire series

Abstract

Because religion is an innate tendency in man, no one can be devoid of it, including the writer, as it governs his behavior, shapes his literary personality, and enriches his literary themes. Among the writers is the writer Ahmed Al Hamdan. In our research into the religious systems included in his novel series “Clay and Fire,” we noticed a close connection between religion and literature, which appeared in five religious systems that carried political and social implications, including the system of Qur’anic intertextuality in its direct and indirect forms. The Quranic narrative as an implicit story or reference from which the writer derived his narrative event, such as the story of the Prophet Dhul-Nun (peace be upon him), and also Islamic religious rituals had a striking presence, such as prayer and healing with verses from the Holy Quran. Some atheistic ideas and opinions were presented and discussed rationally in a style that departs from the debates of contemporary religious philosophy. The mind, which atheists have used as a means to deny the existence of a Creator, the writer turned it into proof of the existence of the One God. After that, the writer did not neglect to point out the authority of the clergy in society and politics in a sarcastic manner, making these pretenders to religion and piety into talking mice seeking to serve their interests by exploiting the ignorance of the people and the stupidity of kings. This is some of what is revealed to us of the implications carried by the religious systems in the text under study.