IT has been said that opening a school is the first step toward closing a prison. In the same way, I must add, the opening of a library is a step toward knowledge, education, development and civilization.
In our own country up to 20 years ago, Tihama Bookshops published the writings of Saudi authors. Unfortunately, they abandoned the practice and in so doing, forced many of our writers and thinkers to go abroad in search of publishers. We readers were left with no choice but to search for new works in foreign lands but not everything that has been published or everything that is desired is found.
Within the Kingdom, Jarir is considered one of the best bookshops as far as providing all kinds of books including those from abroad. In my hometown — Madinah — there are many bookshops, especially religious ones. The majority of them, however, do not stock the newest editions or the latest works. The exceptions are Dar Al-Zaman and Dar Al-Shorouq which keep up with new publications and update their stocks.
No doubt in this technological age, books are no longer the only source of knowledge but they remain an important source. And are treated as such in most countries. When I hear of a new bookshop opening, I feel happy and by the same token, when I hear of one closing, I feel sad. A window to knowledge has been closed.
The latest blow that I have received is the closure of Taiba Bookshop in Madinah. This shop used to be an oasis for me and I dealt with it for many years when I was the superintendent of an intermediate school and later when I was head of a high school. Its closure means that not only a window to knowledge has been closed but several doors as well.
In any case, as this article is dedicated to books, I wish someone would please explain something to me. I am puzzled and mystified by one fact. Why are the works of our contemporary writers and thinkers absent from the shelves of our local bookshops while the works of other Arab writers are thinkers are there? How can a city be selected as the capital of Arab culture if the works of its native writers and thinkers are forbidden? Moreover, why are the works of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, Abdullah Al-Jifry, Turki Al-Hamad, Abdullah Al-Muajel available?
Let us look at one of the above writers, Ghazi Al-Gosaibi; some of his works are available and others are not. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi is our ambassador in London. What is there in his writings that make some of them forbidden? His latest book was published abroad and sold abroad; it was not on sale in the Kingdom though copies were smuggled in. What was wrong with it? Then the same book was scrutinized by a number of committees which checked every page and then granted it an “iqama” and allowed it into the Kingdom. It is now on sale in many bookshops. Why are the books of the Algerian novelist, Ahlam Mustaghanmi, on sale in the Kingdom when those of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi are banned? Surely our bookstores should be allowed to sell the writings of our own authors and thinkers so long as they do not contradict our religion.
Moreover, the Internet has opened all doors for those who want to know. A book may not be available here but the same book is probably available on the Net. Why is this so difficult for us to understand? — [email protected]