Abstract

Statement of the Problem and Objective: In the contemporary era, where environmental crises have confronted nature with serious challenges, examining the relationship between human and natural world in literary works holds significant importance. Ecocriticism is an emerging discipline in literature that, through a critical approach and with the aim of raising awareness of environmental issues, investigates and analyzes the relationship between human and environment, critiques anthropocentrism, explores the representation of nature in literary texts, and examines environmental ethics. In this mode of critique, nature is not a passive backdrop but an active and dynamic agent that does not remain silent in the face of human-caused destruction and instead reacts to it. The depictions of nature and its elements is noticeable in the works of many writers, underscoring the intertextual connection between literature and the environment. Taghribāt al-Qāfir, one of the recent novels by the renewned Omani writer Zahran Qāsimi in Arabic literature, employs elements of magical realism to explore concepts such as water, human exploitation of nature and its resources, human intervention in natural cycles and its consequences, environmental challenges such as drought and its impacts. This novel narrates the life of a character named Sālim bin ʿAbdullāh, who from birth possesses a profound and inseparable bond with water. Endowed with an innated affinity for nature and water, he is gifted with the ability to hear the whispers of underground streams, enabling him to help his community during environmental crises. However, this intrinsic and spiritual connection with nature becomes strained when his excessive extraction of groundwater and extensive digging of qanāts (underground water channels) alters the face of the land. This intervention disrupts the natural order of the earth; consequently, nature does not remain silent in the face of his actions and responds firmly in its own defense. The intensifying environmental crises, human disregard for nature, and the existing research gap concerning Taghribāt al-Qāfir from this perspective highlight the necessity of such a study. This article aims to uncover the hidden semantic layers of the novel and explain the complexities of human-nature interaction and conflict. Therefore, It seeks to answer two Key questions: How does the transformation of the protagonist’s identity progress from individuality toward unity and harmony with nature? And How is nature portrayed in the novel as a powerful, life-supporting, and at the same time punitive force?
Methodology: Using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing upon the fundamental concepts and terminology of ecocriticism—such as intrinsic and instrumental value, anthropocentrism versus ecocentrism, and interconnectedness—this study examines the human-nature relationship in Taghribāt al-Qāfir from an ecocritical perspective. To this end, the article first provides a brief overview of Zahran al-Qāsimi’s life and works, followed by introduction to ecocriticism and its key terms. Finally, the analysis is conducted in three main sections: contemplation of birth from water and primordial unity with nature; examination of conflict between human and nature; and ultimately, the protagonist’s return to an eco-centered identity in the embrace of natural world.
Discussion and Analysis: In Taghribāt al-Qāfir, the protagonsit’s unique connection with nature initially grants him superiority over other characters. At first, he attributes intrinsic value to nature. However, as the narrative progress, he becomes a symbol of modern humanity, exploiting the land through excessive extraction and thus dominating nature. His behavior reflects an anthropocentric worldview, one in which humanity is considered as the ultimate end and nature merely a means to achieve human goals. In this narrative, nature emerges as an active agent, responding forcefully to the transgressor. The protagonist’s entrapment in the water well is neither accidental nor incidental; rather, it represents a direct and intentional response to his disruptive actions. This situation compels him to encounter the forces of nature. During the struggle, he becomes aware of his own existential limitations and turns for help—regarding basic needs such as water and food—to the very nature he had wronged. This confrontation exemplifies the fundamental conflict between human will and the overarching order of natural world. According to the authors’ interpretation, this confrontation gradually shifts his perspective from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism. In fact, his captivity in the well grants him the opportunity to rediscover his true self and to develop a deeper understanding of humanity’s place within the natural world. The novel’s open ending leaves the protagonist’s the fate uncertain. Yet, given the textual indications of his evolving perspective on nature and his recognition of himself as a part of it, one may conclude that nature either grants him a second chance at life or draws him into death—where his demise can be considered as a form  of metamorphosis and existential unity with nature.
Findings: In Taghribāt al-Qāfir, nature is portrayed as an active agent that simultaneously challenges and sustains the protagonist. On the one hand, it confronts him with the consequences of his misguided actions; on the other hand, it provides the vital resources essential for his survival. The outcome of this confrontation is the protagonist’s transformation from an anthropocentric to ecocentric identity, which underscores the inseparable bond between human and nature. Through this transformation, he distances himself from an instrumentalist view of nature and ultimately attains a state of unity with the natural world—whether in life or in death, his destiny becomes intertwined with nature itself.