What period of time does Arabic writing go back to ?
Alongside Maryana Marrash , May Ziade , and Mary ' Ajami , pioneering figures in women 's writing in Arabic are Zaynab Fawwaz ( modern Lebanon / Egypt , 1846–1914 ) , who arguably wrote the first novel in Arabic and was the first woman to write a play in that language ; Aisha Taymur ( modern Turkey / Egypt , 1840–1902 ) ; and Anbara Salam Khalidy ( modern Palestine / Lebanon , 1897-1988 ) ; and Anbara Salam Khalidy ( modern Palestine / Lebanon , 1897–1986 ) .