Awn Alsharif Qasim
Encyclopedia
Awn Al-Sharif Qasim (June 16, 1933 – January 19, 2006) - * website - was a prolific Sudanese writer, encyclopedist, a prominent scholar, a powerful community leader, a man of charity and one of Sudan's leading experts on Arabic language
and literature
.
He was a strong advocate of Arabic/Islamic culture and its interweaving with Sudanese culture
. Qasim authored more than 70 books in the area of Islamic history and civilization, Arabic literature, studies in the Sudanese dialect languages.
Along with Professor Abdalla Eltayeb
and Professor Abu Saleem, Qasim was considered one of the scholars who shaped the Sudanese academic scene during the last 3 decades of the 20th century.
Professor Qasim was born in Sudan's
ancient city Halfayat Almilook in 1933. His father immigrated to Sudan from Yemen
in 1925 and settled in the city of Halfayat Almilook in Khartoum North
and became a known religious figure in the area teaching and educating on Islamic sciences. Due to this background, Qasim was exposed to a heritage of Islamic and Arabic culture
education since his early childhood that later on shaped his life.
He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Khartoum
in 1957. He earned his masters degree in 1960 majoring in Arabic and Islamic studies
from the School of Oriental and African Studies
, University of London
. In 1967, he earned his PhD
from the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland
.
, a pioneer, state of the art series of books for the different Sudanese tribes, their roots and origins. This project has entitled him to earn Az-Zubair Prize for Innovation and Scientific Excellence
, the highest prestigious prize awarded by Sudanese government. He was also awarded the Egyptian prestigious First Class Golden Award for scientific achievements in 1992 by Egypt
ian President Muhammad Husni Mubarak
.
Qasim also authored Dictionary of Sudanese Dialects another valuable source of information on Sudanese culture. His dictionary is used world wide by scholars as a valuable reference on Sudanese dialects.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
.
He was a strong advocate of Arabic/Islamic culture and its interweaving with Sudanese culture
Culture of Sudan
Sudanese culture melds the behaviors, practices, and beliefs of about 578 tribes, communicating in 145 different languages, in a region microcosmic of Africa, with geographic extremes varying from sandy desert to tropical forest.-Ethnicity:...
. Qasim authored more than 70 books in the area of Islamic history and civilization, Arabic literature, studies in the Sudanese dialect languages.
Along with Professor Abdalla Eltayeb
Abdalla Eltayeb
Abdalla Eltayeb was born in Sudan, in Temirab in the west of Damer City , His father is Eltayeb Abdalla Eltayeb and his mother is Aisha Galal Eldeen....
and Professor Abu Saleem, Qasim was considered one of the scholars who shaped the Sudanese academic scene during the last 3 decades of the 20th century.
Early life and education
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ancient city Halfayat Almilook in 1933. His father immigrated to Sudan from Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
in 1925 and settled in the city of Halfayat Almilook in Khartoum North
Khartoum North
Khartoum North is a city close to, but distinct from, Khartoum in central Sudan. The city is close to the confluence of the White and Blue Nile on the eastern bank of the Blue Nile. The city, which had in 1993 a rapidly growing population of 900,000, is connected by bridges to Khartoum and Omdurman...
and became a known religious figure in the area teaching and educating on Islamic sciences. Due to this background, Qasim was exposed to a heritage of Islamic and Arabic culture
Arabic culture
Arab culture refers to the culture in Arab countries of West Asia and North Africa, from Morocco to the Persian Gulf. Language, literature, gastronomy, art, architecture, music, spirituality, philosophy, mysticism are all part of the cultural heritage of the pan-Arab world.-Language:The Arabic...
education since his early childhood that later on shaped his life.
He graduated from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Khartoum
University of Khartoum
The University of Khartoum ia a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Khartoum. It is the largest and oldest university in Sudan. UofK was founded as Gordon Memorial College in 1902 and established in 1956 when Sudan gained independence...
in 1957. He earned his masters degree in 1960 majoring in Arabic and Islamic studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
from the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. In 1967, he earned his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Career
Qasim Served as a minister of religious affairs for 10 years (1971-1981) the longest period served by a minister in all Sudanese governments. During this period he demonstrated exceptional qualities as a leader and political religious figure and soon became one of the most popular and beloved ministers in Sudan's 1970s government for his strong work ethics, humbleness and honesty. He was able to connect with different religious groups and to promote ideas of peace and harmony among these groups. Qasim continued to write during this period and published dozens of books for the public.Writings
In the mid nineties, he authored the Sudanese Encyclopedia of Tribes and GenealogiesSudanese Encyclopedia of Tribes and Genealogies
Sudanese Encyclopedia of Tribes and Genealogies by Awn Alsharif Qasim, printed in Khartoum by Maktabat Afiruqraf in 1996.This encyclopaedia consists of seven volumes that embrace 2628 pages. In his 12-page introduction, which is incorporated in the first volume, Qasim states his purpose and...
, a pioneer, state of the art series of books for the different Sudanese tribes, their roots and origins. This project has entitled him to earn Az-Zubair Prize for Innovation and Scientific Excellence
Az-Zubair Prize for Innovation and Scientific Excellence
Az-Zubair Prize for Innovation and Scientific Excellence is an annual Sudanese scientific prize awarded by the President of Sudan for scientific innovation and creativity in applied and technological fields.- History :...
, the highest prestigious prize awarded by Sudanese government. He was also awarded the Egyptian prestigious First Class Golden Award for scientific achievements in 1992 by Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian President Muhammad Husni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
.
Qasim also authored Dictionary of Sudanese Dialects another valuable source of information on Sudanese culture. His dictionary is used world wide by scholars as a valuable reference on Sudanese dialects.
Professions and affiliations
- 1960 - 1961 University Lecturer, University of London UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- 1961 - 1971 University Lecturer, University of Khartoum Sudan
- 1971 - 1981 Minister of Religious Affairs, Sudan
- 1975 Founded Institute of Islamic studies, Khartoum Sudan
- 1981 President Award for Scientific achievements
- 1982 - 1984 Professor, University of Khartoum, Sudan
- 1984 - 1995 Lecturer, Khartoum International Institute for Arabic Language, 1988 Head of Institute.
- 1990 - 1994 President, University of Khartoum, Sudan
- 1993 First Honor Golden Science Award for Excellence in Writing, Egypt awarded by President Mohammad Husni Mubarak.
- 1996 President, Omdurman Ahlia UniversityOmdurman Ahlia UniversityOmdurman Ahlia University is a community non-profit university in Omdurman, Sudan.It was opened on 1 November 1986 as Omdurman Ahlia College, and was upgraded to University status on 7 May 1995....
, Sudan - 2000 Az-Zubair Prize for Innovation and Scientific Excellence at the Scientist Level
Special notes
- Prof. Qasim first intended to study medicine, however the Halfayat Almilook's bus was late that day, that he was late for the medical school physical exam. He then shifted his dreams and career into Arabic Literature.
Books
- Qamus al-lahjah al-‘ammiyah fi al-Sudan (قاموس اللهجة العامية في السودان ) Dictionary of Slang Dialect in Sudan ISBN 977-353-010-8..
- Al-Din fi Hayatina (الدين في حياتنا) Religion in our life
- Fi ma‘rakat al-turath (في معركة التراث ) In War of Culture
- Mawsu‘at Al-qaba’il wa-al-ansab fi al-Sudan wa-ashhar asma’ al-a‘lam wa-al-amakin (موسوعة القبائل والأنساب في السودان وأشهر اسماء الاعلام والأماكن ) Encyclopedia of Tribes and families in Sudan with most famous names and places
- Al-Risalah Al-khatimah (الرسالة الخاتمة ) The Final Message
- Doblmaciyat Mohammed (دبلوماسية محمد ) Diplomacy of Mohammed