*Zaman al-riwayah* (*Time of the Novel*) is an Arabic-language scholarly study by Jabir Usfur on the emergence and development of the novel as a major modern literary form. The work examines the novel within Arabic literary culture, considering how narrative practice, critical discourse, and changing intellectual contexts shaped its rise. It is especially relevant to readers interested in modern Arabic fiction, literary history, and the critical frameworks used to evaluate the novel’s place in Arabic letters. Published by al-Mada in 1999, this edition presents the study as a substantial work of literary criticism rather than a work of fiction. Its focus is analytical and historical, offering context for understanding the Arabic novel’s evolution and its relationship to broader cultural and aesthetic debates.