Many may not realize that the relationship between Egyptian literature and cinema dates back over a century, and that the first Egyptian novel adapted into a film was none other than the novel “Zeinab”, written by the late writer Dr. Mohamed Hussein Heikal in 1914. It is considered the first Arabic novel ever, becoming the first Arab literary work to appear on the silver screen. This historical fact, which may be unknown to some, reveals the significance of the Egyptian novel in establishing the memory of Arab cinema and the pioneering role it played in presenting stories from the heart of Egyptian society and countryside.

The novel “Zeinab” was turned into a silent film in 1930 by director Mohamed Karim, marking one of the most important milestones in the history of Egyptian silent cinema. The screenplay was written and the film produced by Ramses Nagib, starring Bahiga Hafez, Siraj Munir, Zaki Rostom, and Dawlat Abid.

Surprisingly, the lead actress Bahiga Hafez not only performed the main role but also composed the film’s soundtrack, becoming the first Egyptian artist to combine acting and music in one experience.

Interestingly, besides being the first novel adapted into cinema, “Zeinab” is also considered by many critics as the first Arabic novel. It was first published in 1914 under the pseudonym “Masri Fallah” after long hesitation by its author Dr. Mohamed Hussein Heikal, who wrote it between Paris, London, and Geneva during his studies. Although proud of it and believing it represented a new breakthrough in Egyptian literature, his later career as a lawyer made him fear that the title “story writer” might affect his professional status. However, his love for the novel overcame his hesitation, and he eventually published it through the “Al-Jarida” press, revealing only the author’s name and dedication after printing was completed.

The film represented a qualitative leap for Egyptian cinema, as it was the first romantic work based on a purely Egyptian reality, reflecting the details and atmosphere of the countryside that cinema had not approached since its beginnings. The novel inspiring the work reintroduced the image of rural society with its customs and traditions that impose their dominance on individuals’ destinies.

The film’s plot revolves around the rural girl Zeinab (Bahiga Hafez), who works as a laborer in a field and falls in love with Ibrahim (Siraj Munir), the agricultural supervisor. However, traditions stand as an obstacle to their love story, as her family rejects her relationship with Ibrahim and forces her to marry the wealthy Hassan (Zaki Rostom).

Meanwhile, Ibrahim is called up for military service, leaving Zeinab to face the harshness of fate between deprivation from her lover and the tyranny of her husband. Her health deteriorates until illness defeats her, and she dies a tragic end, in a story that truthfully portrayed the heart’s struggle with traditions.

The importance of “Zeinab” did not stop at the first film; the novel was presented again in 1952, this time as a sound version. The screenplay for the sound version was co-written by Abdel Warith Osser, while Raqiya Ibrahim starred alongside Yehia Shahin and Farid Shawqi, which renewed focus on the novel and confirmed its status as one of the most prominent literary works that established the great meeting between literature and cinema.