Children of the Alley is one of Mahfouz's most controversial novels and was banned for many years. It was also the main motivation behind his assasination attempt. The novel follows Gabalawi's family, who lives in a huge house separated by gardens and high walls, while his sons and gransons are quarreling over the endowment. This happens as the Fetewas dominate the neighborhood and prevent the sons of Gabalawi from his earthly paradise. But they don't lose hope and patiently wait from him to distribute the endowment and rid them of the tyranny of the Fetewas.