Musa Maarafi’s book rekindles the values of ‘Old Kuwait’
Book features a collection of heartfelt reflections and stories that serve as powerful "cries" for the preservation of Kuwait’s moral fabric. It is both a tribute and a testament to a time when values were clear, communities were close-knit, and Kuwait was truly the "mother of all
The changes in societal values that we witness today — shifts from the principles on which Kuwaitis were raised and the emergence of unfamiliar behaviors foreign to the Kuwait of yesterday — prompted writer Musa Maarafi to take a nostalgic journey into the past.
Motivated by this cultural transformation, he traveled back through decades, revisiting neighborhoods, wandering alleys, standing behind old shopfronts, attending diwaniyas, and breathing in the scent of family bonds. He sought to relive and document the values instilled in him by his family and the noble men of Kuwait’s past—values rooted in honesty, unity, and love, according to Al-Jarida daily.
In his recently published book, Thoughts of the Beautiful Time, Maarafi paints a vivid portrait of Kuwait in the 1950s and 1960s. Through stories and events that unfold across its pages, he highlights the lives of pioneering figures who left a lasting imprint on the nation.
As noted in the book’s foreword by Engineer Nader Maarafi, the author is deserving of two tributes: the first, for his pioneering career and patriotic service, and the second, for his heartfelt contribution in preserving the legacy of a cherished era through this book.
Thoughts of the Beautiful Time serves as a stirring call to conscience — a reminder to today’s Kuwait of the enduring values of our ancestors. It seeks to awaken the spirit of unity that once made Kuwait feel like a single family, where people of all backgrounds lived in harmony under one national roof.
Among those who witnessed Maarafi’s early development is Professor Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Mufrij, who supervised his scholarship in the Department of Education in the Salhiya district.
Maarafi was sent as a student to the United States to study engineering, eventually graduating in 1968 and returning home to contribute to his country’s progress through various responsibilities and leadership roles.
Al-Mufrij commended his national service and his literary contribution, which captures the spirit of an era we long for.
The book — published by Al-Alfain Library and reviewed by Nader Abu Al-Qasim Maarafi and Fawzia Abel — features a collection of heartfelt reflections and stories that serve as powerful “cries” for the preservation of Kuwait’s moral fabric. It is both a tribute and a testament to a time when values were clear, communities were close-knit, and Kuwait was truly the “mother of all.”
