الف ليلة وليلة – A Collection of Popular Folk Tales

الف ليلة وليلة, also known as Arabian Nights, is a diverse collection of popular folk tales consisting of around 200 stories interspersed with poetry in about 1420 pieces. The tales are known for their literary characters such as Aladdin, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Ma’roof the Cobbler, Al-Zeebaq, and Sinbad the Sailor, who have inspired many artists and musicians. The stories are believed to have originated from India and Arabia and were compiled over time from various sources.

The book was first translated into French by the French Orientalist Antoine Galland in 1704, and most translations of the book since then have been based on his version. The tales have been widely imitated and used in the creation of stories, especially children’s stories. The stories are set in various imaginary and realistic environments, with the most prominent being in Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. The current form of the stories is believed to have been written in the 14th century ADSeveral adaptations of the tales have been produced, including a radio drama directed by Mohamed Mahmoud Shaaban and a television series directed by Abdul Latif El-Sayed.