Chosen isolation is a door that opens and closes, teaching us to approach the world with greater awareness

From Mecca and Damascus to Cairo, travellers across the centuries recorded the rhythms of Ramadan, documenting lantern-lit mosques, night prayers, learning circles, and the generosity of shared iftars

The holy month comes to the Saudi capital, threading itself through its rhythms and leaving its mark.

For International Women's Day 2026, we tour the newest movie releases by female directors, while also reviewing an older classic for good measure

The iftar table, if it still exists, no longer represents joy, but anxiety and scarcity

It grasps the logic of an earlier age from within, reveals how power works through language and conduct, and shows how justification enters common speech and obedience settles into habit

Indian author Ruchir Joshi discusses his 920-page reimagining of 1940s Calcutta, its mosaic structure, and the enduring roots of violence and division that continue to shape the present

For years, a wealth of literary talent from a vast stretch of Africa has been pigeonholed into a marginalised sub-category, but change is afoot

There are plenty of opportunities to showcase Arab heritage, literature, and culture around the world, but as this special report shows, they are not being fully seized

Palestinian novelist Nader Rantisi has spent years tackling weightier themes, from history to identity, while also examining the mundane aspects of everyday life