While living in Toronto, Canada we went to visit Montreal for a few days in 2013. An acquaintance was supposed to interview a 92-year-old man named Sa’id Zulfikar, who is the nephew of the Egyptian painter, Mahmoud Sa’id, and who is also the brother of Queen Farida, the wife of King Farouk I. Having a knack for storytelling and older people as well as for history and the [once] Kingdom of Egypt, I decided to hop along.
I did not really know what to expect on that chilly October morning. Though I was surprised that after calling him as we arrived, Mr. Zulfikar went down to the building entrance to let us in. We went up to his well-lit flat where we spent about a couple of hours with him. His wife was visiting Egypt at the time so he was alone.
The man has a cute face, pleasant smile, and seemed physically fit and healthy. He is also quite alert for such age as he is a natural conversationalist. We first started talking about his uncle — mother’s brother — Mahmoud Sa’id and how they all lived in their palace in Alexandria. Said (April 8, 1897 – April 8, 1964) was an Alexandrian judge and modern painter, and was the son of Muhammad Sa’id Pasha, a former Prime Minister of Egypt.
Speaking of, Echoes From The Past — Alexandria in Photos (2015) is a photo-article conjured after revisiting the Mediterranean jewel after 35 years long years.
Mr. Zulfikar’s father, Youssef Zulficar Pasha (June 1866 – after 1952) was also an Egyptian judge who became the father-in-law of King Farouk I after marrying his daughter Queen Farida on 20 February 1938. He was also the first Egyptian ambassador to Iran when appointed on March 13th 1939.
Youssef Zulficar was married to Zeinab Sa’id, the daughter of Muhammad Sa’id Pasha and sister of the renowned artist Mahmoud Sa’id. Zeinab served as lady-in-waiting to Queen Nazli — seen sitting down in the middle of the photo below. She had one daughter, Safinaz (born in 1921), as well as two sons; our host Muhammad Sa'id and Sherif.
Since I got this latter information from Wikipedia, I am assuming that his first name is double-barreled as it is Muhammed-Said, a common practice in Egypt at the time. My own maternal grandfather was actually Mohamed-Yehia Hassan, though everyone called him Yehia Hassan.
So, after her son Farouk ascended the throne as King of Egypt, Queen Nazli urged him to take Zulficar’s daughter Safinaz as his wife. According to Mr. Sa’id as well as other sources, Zulficar was wary at the prospect of his daughter becoming part of the Royal Family and feared the outcome of the marriage. Nevertheless, the wedding eventually took place; Safinaz became Queen of Egypt while her name was changed to Farida to match the rest of the ‘F’ daze — since it was Fouad’s lucky letter.
Farouk’s siblings were Fawzia, Faiza, Faika, Fathia. Then Farouk kept on with the tradition and had Farial, Fawzia, Fadya, and Fouad II.
When telling us about how his sister’s name change, I couldn’t help but notice there was a certain kind of subtle sadness underlined in the man’s words... and eyes.
“They changed her name,” he told us, even repeating it twice.
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| Queen Nazli (9), her brother Sherif Sabry (8), and Mahmoud Said (6) |
The conversation carried on seamlessly as it led us to Ancient Egyptians and how some of the Hieroglyphic language — as in certain words — survived to this very day.
He also spoke of how Jews lived peacefully in Egypt when he was a child. Then again, he asked us not to mention anything regarding the topic, fearing for his own safety. He even referenced the sad and tragic ending of the life of Ashraf Marwan, whose life and death were recently featured in the 2018 Netflix show The Angel. Despite the fact that all he said was common knowledge, I still promised him not to write anything.*
Hearing Mr. Zulfikar speak gracefully for about an hour, the times he is reminiscing about, along with some of the names and places compelled me to ask him if he knew of my paternal family, the Cherif. Since there are family ties to the Egyptian Royal Family, notably through the brother of Queen Nazli, Sherif Pacha Sabry (pictured above) whose mother-in-law was Zeinab Hanem Cherif. Unsurprisingly, he did, mentioning a few family members by name.
Mr. Zulfikar seemed like a distinguished man of knowledge who has seen quite a bit during his life. Fortunately, few years afterward while residing in Venice Beach, Los Angeles I came to meet another 87/92-year old, Lonnie Jones Sr., This time, though, the drummer and I became actual friends. A Random Call That Hit Me In The Feels tells the story of our friendship.
Throughout the visit I recall sensing another moment of melancholy; it was when he was telling us how after the 1952 coup d’état, their lands, properties, cars, and jewellery were all taken from the family. That is certainly understandable.
“They came in the house and took what they please. I was young and I tried to hide one of the cars but they found it and took it. One of the times I had a golden ring on, which belonged to the family, and when a soldier saw it he took it off my finger.”
Mr. Zulfikar left Egypt to Montreal sometimes after and never looked back. He Later donated the family villa — including the art work of Mahmoud Said — to the government. Eventually it was converted into a museum.
Yet another example of old families which were literally dismantled by that so-called “revolution”. Although I never lived these days myself but both of my families were deeply affected. I have thereby heard many different versions of the same ordeal, so I could somewhat relate to his chagrin.
At the end of this unique and lovely encounter, I took a few photos of Mr. Zulfikar. I also photographed the above black-and-white capture of the Royal Family with his uncle Mahmoud Said. We then said thank you and left. As we exited his flat, it felt like coming out of a time capsule frozen inside a moment of history.
Long Live Military Regimes!
*The few lines were only added following his passing as to respect his wishes.
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| Mahmoud Said Museum in Alexandria on 6 Mohamed Pasha Said St. in the Gianaclis neighbourhood where a young Sa’id lived with his uncle |
EDIT (May 2, 2016):
I was notified that Mr. Mohamed-Sa’id Zulfikar passed away. This is his obituary from Egyptian newspaper clipping Al Ahram sent by my father while I was in Los Angeles. May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.
EDIT (2023):
I received an email from his grandson, asking if I had more photos of Mr. Sa’id as he doesn’t have many. Checking the older external hard drive, I was able to locate few additional ones which were not included herein before sending them his way. I was actually grateful to help him remember or reconnect with the memory of his late grandfather. He also complimented me on the article.
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Echoes From The Past — Alexandria in Photos
The Doctor Who Wittily Saved Two Lives in 1956 —الدكتور الذي بَرَعَ في إنقاذ حياتين سنة ١٩٥٦
Echoes From The Past — Alexandria in Photos
The Doctor Who Wittily Saved Two Lives in 1956 —الدكتور الذي بَرَعَ في إنقاذ حياتين سنة ١٩٥٦
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