The Experience of Coexistence and Love: A Critical Study of Al-Muqri’s The Handsome Jew

Abstract

This study aims at exploring issue of coexistence and love in Yemeni society in the seventeenth century represented in Al- Muqri’s The Handsome Jew by the prominent characters Fatima, a Muslim, and Salem, a Jew. The experience of coexistence is still controversial that has not received enough study in the light of the complexities that are involved in understanding the reasons of violence, social and religious conflicts in order to accept the culture and ideas of the other. The objective of the study is to show how this issue affects Muslim- Jewish women and men in a city that opens its doors for all people. Coexistence theory has often shed light on the language and practice of living together and love stories between Muslim women and Jewish boys and vice versa that stemmed from the social, cultural and religious coexistent in Yemeni society. Al-Muqri’s novel depicts Muslim-Jewish love relation in a way that counters religious and conventional ideas. It is concluded that Ali Al-Muqri addresses the issues of tolerant and peaceful love of human beings that transcends religion, sects and classes. In this sense, he tries hardly to consolidate not only his views, but also all views about the values of cultural, religious and social tolerance and coexistence away from stereotypes, intolerance, racial discrimination and ideological hatred that leave nothing, but destruction to all of humanity.