Taha Hussein
Encyclopedia
Dr. Taha Hussein ˈseːn, tˤaːha ħusajn) (nicknamed "Dean of Arabic Literature") was one of the most influential 20th century Egyptian
writer
s and intellectuals, and a figurehead for the Arab Renaissance
and the modernist
movement in the Arab World
.
in central Upper Egypt
. He went to a kottab
, and then was sent to Al-Azhar University
, where he was educated in religion and Arabic literature
. From his childhood days he was reluctant to engrave the traditional education in his heart. Hussein was the seventh of thirteen children, living in a lower-middle class family. He became blind at the age of three due to a faulty treatment by an unskilled practitioner and was dealt with a great deal of anguish throughout his entire life.
Hussein met and married Suzanne Bresseau while attending the University of Montpellier
in France. She was referred to as “sweet voice”. This name came from her ability to read to him as he was trying to improve his grasp of the French language. Suzanne became his wife, best friend, mother of his two children and mentor throughout his life.
Taha Hussein’s children, his daughter Amina and her younger brother Moenis, both were important figures in Egypt. Amina, who died at the age of 70, was among the first Egyptian women to graduate from Cairo University. She and her brother, Moenis, translated his Adib (The Intellectual) into French. This was especially important to their father, who was an Egyptian who moved to France and learned the language. Even more importantly, the character of Adib is one of a young man who, like Taha Hussein, had to go experience the cultural shock of an Egyptian studying and living in France.
was founded in 1908, he was keen to enter, and despite being blind and poor he earned a place. In 1914, he became the first graduate to receive a Ph.D.
, with a thesis on the skeptic poet and philosopher Abu-Alala' Al-Ma'ari. He went on to become a professor of Arabic literature there. In 1919, he was appointed a professor of history at the Cairo University
. Additionally, he was founding Rector
of the University of Alexandria. He wrote many novels and essays, though in the West he is best known for his autobiography, al-Ayyam which was published in English as An Egyptian Childhood (1932) and The Stream of Days (1943).
An important episode in his life was the writing in 1926 of On Pre-Islamic Poetry في الشعر الجاهلي in which he expressed doubt about the authenticity of much traditional Arabic poetry, claiming that it may have been faked during ancient times due to tribal pride and competition between those tribes. In this book, he also hinted indirectly that the Quran should not be taken as an objective source of history. Naturally this book aroused the intense anger and hostility of al-Azhar and many other traditionalists, and he was prosecuted with the accusation of insulting Islam, but the public prosecutor stated that what Taha Hussein said was the opinion of an academic researcher and no legal action was taken against him, although he lost his post at Cairo University
in 1931. His book was banned but was later published with slight modifications under the title "On Pre-Islamic Literature".
Taha Hussein was an Egyptian renaissance intellectual and a proponent of the ideology of Egyptian nationalism
along with what he called Pharaonism, believing that Egyptian civilization was diametrically opposed to Arab civilization, and that Egypt
would only progress by reclaiming its ancient pre-Islamic roots.
After Hussein obtained his MA from the University of Montpellier
, one of Europe's oldest universities, he continued on with his academics and received another Ph.D at Sorbonne University, which is considered to be one of Europe's most prestigious universities. With this accomplishment, Hussein became the first Egyptian and member of the mission to receive an MA and Ph.D from France. For his doctoral dissertation, written in 1917, Hussein wrote on Ibn Khaldun
, a Tunisian historian, believed to be the founder of sociology. Two years later, in 1919, Hussein made his way back to Egypt from France with his wife, Suzanne. In Egypt, he was appointed to be professor of history at Cairo University
.
In 1950, Hussein was appointed as the Minister of Education, and from there was able to put his motto into motion: "Education is like the air we breathe and the water we drink." Without Taha Hussein and his willingness to promote education, millions of Egyptians would never have become literate.
of history
, Greek
and Roman literature in Cairo University
following his return from France
. He worked as a professor of Arabic literature
in the Faculty of Arts
. In 1930, He was dismissed from the university following the in 1926 publication of his controversial book "On Pre-Islamic Poetry" or " On The poetry of the period of ignorance" , but the American University in Cairo appointed him and in 1942 he became an adviser to the Minister of Education and a director of the University of Alexandria until he retired on October 16, 1944. In 1950, he became a Minister of Knowledge (Ministry of Education nowadays) where he led a call for free education and the right of everyone to get educated. Additionally, he was an advocate against the confinement of education to the rich people only. In that respect, he says, "Education is as water and air, the right of every human being". Consequently, on his hands, education became free and Egyptians started getting free education. He has also transformed many of the Quranic schools to primary schools,was credited with establishing a number of Egyptian universities and converting a number of high schools to colleges such as the Graduate School of Medicine, Agriculture and others.
Taha Hussein held the position of chief editor of a number of newspapers and has written numerous articles in addition to membership in several scientific academies, whether inside or outside Egypt
.
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
s and intellectuals, and a figurehead for the Arab Renaissance
Al-Nahda
Al-Nahda was a cultural renaissance that began in the late 19th century and early 20th century in Egypt, then later moving to Ottoman-ruled Arabic-speaking regions including Lebanon, Syria and others...
and the modernist
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
movement in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
.
Biography
Taha ( he-sein ) was born in the village of Izbet el Kilo in Minya GovernorateMinya Governorate
Minya Governorate is one of the governorates of Upper Egypt. The name originates from the chief city of the governorate, originally known in Sahidic Coptic as Tmoone and in Bohairic as Thmonē , meaning “the residence”, in reference to a monastery formerly in the area...
in central Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt is the strip of land, on both sides of the Nile valley, that extends from the cataract boundaries of modern-day Aswan north to the area between El-Ayait and Zawyet Dahshur . The northern section of Upper Egypt, between El-Ayait and Sohag is sometimes known as Middle Egypt...
. He went to a kottab
Kottab
Al Kottab is an old-fashioned method of education in Arab countries in which a sheikh teaches a group of students who sit in front of him on the ground. The curriculum includes Islam and Arabic, but focused mainly on memorising the Koran. With the developlement of modern schools, the number of...
, and then was sent to Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
, where he was educated in religion and Arabic 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....
. From his childhood days he was reluctant to engrave the traditional education in his heart. Hussein was the seventh of thirteen children, living in a lower-middle class family. He became blind at the age of three due to a faulty treatment by an unskilled practitioner and was dealt with a great deal of anguish throughout his entire life.
Hussein met and married Suzanne Bresseau while attending the University of Montpellier
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
in France. She was referred to as “sweet voice”. This name came from her ability to read to him as he was trying to improve his grasp of the French language. Suzanne became his wife, best friend, mother of his two children and mentor throughout his life.
Taha Hussein’s children, his daughter Amina and her younger brother Moenis, both were important figures in Egypt. Amina, who died at the age of 70, was among the first Egyptian women to graduate from Cairo University. She and her brother, Moenis, translated his Adib (The Intellectual) into French. This was especially important to their father, who was an Egyptian who moved to France and learned the language. Even more importantly, the character of Adib is one of a young man who, like Taha Hussein, had to go experience the cultural shock of an Egyptian studying and living in France.
Academic career
When the secular Cairo UniversityCairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
was founded in 1908, he was keen to enter, and despite being blind and poor he earned a place. In 1914, he became the first graduate to receive a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, with a thesis on the skeptic poet and philosopher Abu-Alala' Al-Ma'ari. He went on to become a professor of Arabic literature there. In 1919, he was appointed a professor of history at the Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
. Additionally, he was founding Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the University of Alexandria. He wrote many novels and essays, though in the West he is best known for his autobiography, al-Ayyam which was published in English as An Egyptian Childhood (1932) and The Stream of Days (1943).
An important episode in his life was the writing in 1926 of On Pre-Islamic Poetry في الشعر الجاهلي in which he expressed doubt about the authenticity of much traditional Arabic poetry, claiming that it may have been faked during ancient times due to tribal pride and competition between those tribes. In this book, he also hinted indirectly that the Quran should not be taken as an objective source of history. Naturally this book aroused the intense anger and hostility of al-Azhar and many other traditionalists, and he was prosecuted with the accusation of insulting Islam, but the public prosecutor stated that what Taha Hussein said was the opinion of an academic researcher and no legal action was taken against him, although he lost his post at Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
in 1931. His book was banned but was later published with slight modifications under the title "On Pre-Islamic Literature".
Taha Hussein was an Egyptian renaissance intellectual and a proponent of the ideology of Egyptian nationalism
Egyptian nationalism
Egyptian nationalism is an ideology that rose to prominence in Egypt before the British occupation to Egypt.- History :It is first used to refer to the native officers’ movement, led by Col. Ahmad ‘Urâbî, against Egyptian government policies that favored officers of Turkish, Circassian , or other...
along with what he called Pharaonism, believing that Egyptian civilization was diametrically opposed to Arab civilization, and that 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...
would only progress by reclaiming its ancient pre-Islamic roots.
After Hussein obtained his MA from the University of Montpellier
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
, one of Europe's oldest universities, he continued on with his academics and received another Ph.D at Sorbonne University, which is considered to be one of Europe's most prestigious universities. With this accomplishment, Hussein became the first Egyptian and member of the mission to receive an MA and Ph.D from France. For his doctoral dissertation, written in 1917, Hussein wrote on Ibn Khaldun
Ibn Khaldun
Ibn Khaldūn or Ibn Khaldoun was an Arab Tunisian historiographer and historian who is often viewed as one of the forerunners of modern historiography, sociology and economics...
, a Tunisian historian, believed to be the founder of sociology. Two years later, in 1919, Hussein made his way back to Egypt from France with his wife, Suzanne. In Egypt, he was appointed to be professor of history at Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
.
In 1950, Hussein was appointed as the Minister of Education, and from there was able to put his motto into motion: "Education is like the air we breathe and the water we drink." Without Taha Hussein and his willingness to promote education, millions of Egyptians would never have become literate.
Positions and Tasks
Dr. Taha Hussein was appointed in many positions including working as a professorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, Greek
Greek literature
Greek literature refers to writings composed in areas of Greek influence, typically though not necessarily in one of the Greek dialects, throughout the whole period in which the Greek-speaking people have existed.-Ancient Greek literature :...
and Roman literature in Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
following his return from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He worked as a professor of Arabic 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....
in the Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts was one of the four traditional divisions of the teaching bodies of medieval universities, the others being Theology, Law and Medicine...
. In 1930, He was dismissed from the university following the in 1926 publication of his controversial book "On Pre-Islamic Poetry" or " On The poetry of the period of ignorance" , but the American University in Cairo appointed him and in 1942 he became an adviser to the Minister of Education and a director of the University of Alexandria until he retired on October 16, 1944. In 1950, he became a Minister of Knowledge (Ministry of Education nowadays) where he led a call for free education and the right of everyone to get educated. Additionally, he was an advocate against the confinement of education to the rich people only. In that respect, he says, "Education is as water and air, the right of every human being". Consequently, on his hands, education became free and Egyptians started getting free education. He has also transformed many of the Quranic schools to primary schools,was credited with establishing a number of Egyptian universities and converting a number of high schools to colleges such as the Graduate School of Medicine, Agriculture and others.
Taha Hussein held the position of chief editor of a number of newspapers and has written numerous articles in addition to membership in several scientific academies, whether inside or outside 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...
.
Works
Taha Hussein's literary works can be divided into 3 categories:- Studies of Arabic and Islamic literature and culture.
- Fictional literary works centered on social commentary attacking poverty and ignorance.
- Political articles published in the two journals of which he was editor-in-chief.
- Complete Works of Taha Hussein 1-16 http://wbpbooks.com/detail_ar.asp?PRODUCT_ID=110101004
- The Memory of Abu El Alaa 1915
- Selected Poetical Texts of the Greek Drama 1924
- Ibn KhaldunIbn KhaldunIbn Khaldūn or Ibn Khaldoun was an Arab Tunisian historiographer and historian who is often viewed as one of the forerunners of modern historiography, sociology and economics...
's Philosophy 1925 - Dramas by a Group of the Most Famous French Writers 1924
- Pioneers of Thoughts 1925
- Wednesday Talk 1925
- Pre-Islamic Poetry 1926
- In the Summer 1933
- The Days "3 Volumes" 1933
- Hafez and Shawki 1933
- The Prophet's Life "Ala Hamesh El Sira" 1933
- Curlew's Prayers 1934
- From a Distance 1935
- Adeeb 1935
- The Literary Life in the Arabian Peninsula 1935
- Together with Abi El Alaa in his Prison 1935
- Poetry and Prose 1936
- Bewitched Palace 1937
- Together with El Motanabi 1937
- The Future of Culture in Egypt 1938
- Moments 1942
- The Voice of Paris 1943
- Sheherzad's Dreams 1943
- Tree of Misery 1944
- Paradise of Thorn 1945
- Chapters on Literature and Criticism 1945
- The Voice of Abu El Alaa 1945
- Osman "The first Part of the Greater Sedition
- "El Fitna Al Kubra" 1947
- Spring Journey 1948
- The Tortured of Modern Conscience 1949
- The Divine Promise "El Wa'd El Haq" 1950
- The Paradise of Animals 1950
- The Lost Love 1951
- From There 1952
- Varieties 1952
- In The Midst 1952
- Ali and His Sons (The 2nd Part of the Greater Sedition" 1953
- (Sharh Lozoum Mala Yalzm, Abu El Alaa) 1955
- (Anatagonism and Reform 1955
- Criticism and Reform 1956
- Our Contemporary Literature 1958
- Mirror of Islam 1959
- Summer Nonsense 1959
- On the Western Drama 1959
- Talks 1959
- Al-Shaikhan (Abi Bakr and Omar Ibn El Khatab) 1960
- From Summer Nonsense to Winter Seriousness 1961
- Reflections 1965
- Beyond the River 1975
- Words 1976
- Tradition and Renovation 1978
- Books and Author 1980
- From the Other Shore 1980
Translations
- Jules Simon's The Duty 1920-1921
- Athenians System (Nezam Al-Ethnien) 1921
- The Spirit of Pedagogy 1921
- Dramatic Tales 1924
- Andromaque (Racine) 1935
- From the Greek Dramatic Literature (Sophocle) 1939
- Voltaire's Zadig or (The Fate) 1947
- André Gide: From Greek
- Legends' Heroes
- Sophocle-Oedipe 1947.
See also
- Taha Hussein Museum - Historic house and biographical museum in Cairo
- List of Egyptian authors