Humanism and Social Responsibility in the works of Tawfiq al-Hakim: A study of human values and moral responsibility

Abstract Tawfiq al-Hakim (1898–1987) occupies a significant position in the development of modern Arabic literature, particularly in the fields of drama, fiction, and intellectual writing. His literary works frequently engage with the relationship between the individual and society, human freedom, moral responsibility, social injustice, and the conflict between ideal values and social realities. This article examines the humanistic and ethical dimensions of selected works of Tawfiq al-Hakim namely Ahl al-Kahf (The People of the Cave), Awdat al-Ruh (The Return of the Spirit), and Yawmīyāt Nāʾib fī al-Aryāf (The Diary of a Country Prosecutor). The study argues that al-Hakim's humanism extends beyond an abstract concern for human existence and is closely connected with social responsibility and ethical consciousness. Through existential questions in Ahl al-Kahf, collective identity and social solidarity in Awdat al-Ruh, and social injustice and institutional failure in Yawmīyāt Nāʾib fī al-Aryāf, al-Hakim presents literature as a means of examining the moral condition of both individuals and society. The study further demonstrates that his literary vision does not merely describe social problems but encourages readers to reflect upon the ethical responsibilities of individuals, communities and institutions. Thus, al-Hakim's works can be read as an important contribution to humanistic and socially conscious Arabic literature.