Behind the backdrop of the customs and philosophy of Islam, human experiences of life are revealed from the pen of Alifa Rifaat in her collection of Egyptian short stories. Islam is Egypt’s state religion and some 90 percent of the population is Sunni. Muslims are bound by a common faith in which all segments of society belonged to a single community. As a devout Muslim, Alifa has separated herself from Western influence; our group aimed to analyze each of Alifa’s themes through our Western understanding of Islam and the culture of Egypt. How different are the guide lines for the roles played by the sexes? Women, historically have been the nurturers responsible for maintain a home, preparing meals, planning the family’s social events
