Kodak Agfa presents: Cairo’s Ramadan Bazaar of Ahmed Maher Street or from Bab El-Khalk to Bab Zuweila Gate aka Taht el-Rab’a “Part.2”

It is like the last day of Ramadan, and I am really sorry to publish the second part of this post only now.

I should have posted earlier if it were not for the Ramadan procrastination, health issues, and work-life balance. It is not too late.

I am sorry that I am posting right now just as we are starting to re-watch the second season of the Gaza genocide again and watch live helplessly.

To be honest I am using this post as more of a runaway to escape the yet again footage and photos of killed children in hospitals.

I pray that when I finish this post a Ramadan miracle happens and ends this nightmare as soon as possible.

Now back to That el-Rab’a and that trip in that street from Bab El-Khalk to Bab Zuweila gate.

We stopped last time at the Ramadan Saint Patrons in Egypt: Bogy and Tamtam

Bogy and Tamtam, the saint patrons of Ramadan in Egypt 

Their facial expression may reflect many things in our time whether domestically or regionally or internationally.

Their statues on the street were like two ancient Egyptian statues guarding some ancient Egyptian King's tomb in some irony.

Despite the younger generations did not watch their shows in Ramadan as my generation had, many of them stopped and took photos with Ramadan’s most famous duo.

Snapping a photo with Bogy and Tamtam

Now you will know that you are near Bab Zuweila gate when you reach its famous walls or rather the walls of the Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad.

Ramadan lanterns in the shadow of
Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad Sheikh and Bab Zuweila

Bab Zuwayla or Bab Zuweila (Arabic: باب زويلة) is one of three remaining gates in the city walls of historic Cairo in Egypt. It was also known as Bawabat al-Mitwali or as Bab al-Mitwali or Bab al-Qus.

Gaza War : This is what Hossam Shabat said in his last messages to the world

The Israeli occupation army killed in Gaza on Monday two journalists, 29-year-old Mohamed Mansour and 23-year-old Hossam Shabat.

Late Mansour and Shabat

29-year-old Mansour was a correspondent for Palestine Today TV channel and Japan’s Asahi Shimbun Daily.

Mohamed Mansour was killed in an Israeli missile attack at his house early Monday.

The Israeli army killed Shabat shortly after he mourned his colleague Mansour. Shabat was an Al-Jazeera Mubshar reporter in North Gaza.

Once again Mahmoud Darwish’s “In Gaza, a martyr mourns a martyr” manifests in front of our eyes.

It was not the first time. Shabat mourned his other colleagues who were killed in the past months in North Gaza.

Gaza War: What the Palestinians say on Mother’s Day 2025 in Gaza “March Edition” {Warning: Graphic}

We are back to the war in Gaza and for the second year in a row, Gaza celebrates Mother’s Day in war.

The Arab World celebrates Mother’s Day on 21 March thanks to the Mustafa and Aly Amin brothers.

For the second year in a row, Palestinian mothers and children in Gaza celebrate it under the Israeli shelling as the Israeli government broke the ceasefire “it broke it since day one” and resumed the war.

We are back to see those scenes where a mother mourns her only child or her children or a child mourns his or her child.

Mother and Child by Palestinian renowned artist Silman Mansour 

Those videos were filmed in Gaza in the past five days.

From Khan Younes, a mother woke up to find out that her children and husband were killed in an Israeli airstrike. They were already sleeping without Suhoor.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “” EP.17

Ramadan Kareem

Tonight we will know what will happen to Reema in the realm of Jinn after meeting their Sultan Golan, “Correct spelling” after he claimed to be an apple seller. 

So without further delay, here is the 689th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 17th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima

Episode 17: Rima saves the Sultan of Jinn

And so, on the six hundred and eighty-ninth night, when the new evening arrived, King Shahryar took his seat as he had the night before. No sooner had he settled than Scheherazade entered, greeted him, and took her place before him. She then resumed her tale and continued with the story.

Scheherazade spoke:

*"It has been told to me, O wise and fortunate king, that Rima returned to her old habit of stealing stories, claiming Kareema’s tale as her own and recounting it to the Sultan as if it had happened to her. But at that moment, King Golan revealed his true identity. Without hesitation, he seized Rima and flew with her to the land of the jinn, hiding her from all his servants to catch the Sultan off guard and expose the betrayal. Thus, he remained firm in his plan, concealing her in his chamber until nightfall.

When evening came, the dinner table was set, and the Sultaness dismissed all the servants. She sat alone with the Sultan, and what happened next is what we now witness..."*

Sultan Golan: "So, tell me, my Sultaness, where do we go from here?"

Sultaness Marjana: "Oh, my lord, why not just enjoy the meal?"

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “The Apple seller” EP.16

Ramadan Kareem

Due to technical reasons, I posted this episode a bit late, so I think we will pass tonight's chitchat and continue our tale.

But first refresh your mind and remember how Reema returned to her own old ways.

So without further delay, here is the 688th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 16th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima

Episode 16: The Apple seller 

And so, Scheherazade arrived at the appointed hour, greeted the king, and took her seat beside him. Then, she continued her tale, weaving together the threads of the story.

"It has been told to me, O wise and fortunate king, that when Reema heard Kareema's story, she took Mishkah and made her way to the abandoned ruins. As she conversed with him, a fruit vendor passed by, calling out his wares—apples so fair they rivaled rosy cheeks, apples that blended with peaches. When the vendor caught sight of Reema’s apple, he asked for its tale. Reema, in turn, sent Mishkah to fetch the rest of the apples, while the vendor settled in, eager to listen.

Now, Reema fell back into her old ways—she took Karima’s story and spun it as her own, telling it with such conviction that it seemed as if it had truly happened to her. But as she spoke, the vendor suddenly transformed before her eyes. He was none other than Sultan Jolan himself, the very king Kareema had glimpsed in the garden. His fury was like a raging storm—he seized Reema and took to the skies, carrying her away to the land of the jinn. And thus, the tale unfolds before us now.

Reema: Who… who are you?

Sultan Jolan: Do not be afraid, O daughter of men.

Reema: What have you done to me?

Sultan Jolan: I merely took what was mine. Your tale is not yet complete, and you are here, hidden away where no one knows of your existence—no one but me and the Lord above.

Reema: By your mercy, my lord! I only sought to provide for my children.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “Into the cave of the Ghoul” EP.15

Ramadan Kareem.

Tonight, we will learn what Karima did in the cave of the Ghoul after she found herself in another realm and how one thing leads to another.

But first, a little chitchat, and tonight's chitchat is about the recurring guest star villain of the Arabian Nights tales, the Ghoul.

The ghoul (الغول) is a supernatural creature from pre-Islamic Arabian folklore, often depicted as a monstrous, shape-shifting being that lurks in desolate places, preying on travelers and consuming human flesh. While the legend is deeply embedded in Islamic folklore and 1001 Nights, its origins may trace back to ancient Mesopotamia.

The Gallu demons of Sumerian and Akkadian mythology were terrifying spirits that dragged victims to the underworld, often associated with wilderness and destruction—similar to how the ghoul was feared for lurking in abandoned ruins and deserts.

Additionally, the Mesopotamian Edimmu, restless spirits of the unburied dead, shared the ghoul’s eerie connection to graveyards and the afterlife.

Over time, the ghoul evolved into a prominent figure in Arabic folklore, blending influences from earlier Mesopotamian myths with local Arabian superstitions.

Though ancient Egypt did not have an identical creature, it had Ammit, the "Devourer of the Dead," who consumed the hearts of the impure, reflecting a similar fear of being devoured as punishment.

And that’s it for our chitchat.

So without further delay, here is the 687th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 15th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.

Ramadan Arabian Nights 2025 : The Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima “ Half Apple , Half Peach ” EP.14

Ramadan Kareem

Tonight, we will know not only where Karima had really gone and from where she brought those strange apples.

There is no chitchat tonight due to the length of the episode.

So without further delay, here is the 686th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 14th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.

Episode 14: Half Apple, Half Peach

King Shahryar took his seat as he had the night before, and Scheherazade arrived at her appointed hour. She stepped forward and withdrew, greeted him with a bow, and, when granted leave, began from where she had left off:

It has been told, O wise and just King, that when Fatima returned home without the oil, Rima was seized with fury. She cast upon her niece the weight of her doubts, riddled her with accusations, and hurled words of ill-temper. But Karima, standing between them, said:

"We have no need for oil tonight to light the house, for the moon is full, its glow complete, and I shall spin by its light upon the rooftop."

And Halima, her sister, added, "We have no need for lamps nor even the moon. We shall sleep now and wake at dawn’s first light."

Then Rima retired to her chamber, Halima lay down to sleep, and Karima ascended to the rooftop.

And when the morning came, spreading its light across the land, the two sisters looked about them but found no sign of Karima. Fear clutched at their hearts, and Fatima rushed up to the rooftop, searching high and low, yet she found no trace of her.

At this, Rima was seized by panic, lashing out like a raging beast or a storm-tossed sea. She scorned the innocent girls with cutting words and berated them without end—until they heard a knock upon the door.

They rushed to open it, and lo! It was Karima, standing before them with apples in her hands. At once, all eyes turned to her, and voices clamored for answers.

Rima: "Where have you been? And why have you returned so late?"

Karima: "Hush, Aunt! Let me catch my breath."

Rima: "Me hush? You vanish for a night and return as if nothing happened?"

Fatima: "Karima, where were you?"

Karima: "You wouldn’t believe me if I told you."

Rima: "Listen to her! Speaking as if she did no wrong!"

Karima: "Wrong? What wrong have I done, Aunt? You saw me go up to spin, but you never saw me come down. And yet here I stand! Are you not curious where I have been? And these apples in my hands—do you not wonder where they came from?"

Fatima (in wonder): "Where indeed?"

Rima (mockingly): "Ah yes, you climbed to the rooftop to bask in the moonlight! And did you find the moon, my girl? Did you?"

Karima: "Aunt, what is it you are trying to say? Why do you look at me so?"

Rima: "Don’t you see? Don’t you all see? Ask her! Ask her where she was!"

Karima (whispering): "I was with… Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim!" (seeking refuge in God's name, avoiding mention of the unseen beings)

Rima (echoing in disbelief): "Did you hear her?!"

Halima: "But truly, where were you?"

Karima (firmly): "I told you. I was with… Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim."