Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari
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Al-Ansari, 1960s
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عبد القدوس الأنصاري
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| Born | c. 12 February 1907 Medina, Hejaz vilayet, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 5 April 1983 (aged 76) Jedda, Saudi Arabia |
| Resting place | Jannat al-Mu'alla |
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| Language | Arabic |
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| Years active | 1928–1983 |
| Notable works | The Twins (1930) |
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Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari (Arabic: عبد القدوس الأنصاري, romanized: ʿAbd al-Quddūs al-Anṣārī; born around 12 February 1907 – died 5 April 1983) was an important Saudi Arabian historian, journalist, and writer. He was born and grew up in Medina, a city that was then part of the Ottoman Empire and later the Kingdom of Hejaz. His family, the Banu Khazraj, had a long history in the region.
After finishing school in 1928, he started working for the local government. He held many official jobs until 1954. Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari taught himself about history and archaeology. He wrote many books about the history of Medina and other topics related to his home region, the Hejaz.
In 1937, he started a monthly magazine called "Al-Manhal." He also wrote stories, including The Twins (1930). This book is known as the first novel from the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia. Even though he was very busy with his other jobs, he made a big impact on Saudi literature. He passed away in Mecca at the age of 76 and was buried in Al-Mu'alla Cemetery.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and School
Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari's full name was Abd al-Quddus bin al-Qasim bin Muhammad bin Muhammad al-Ansari al-Barami. Both his parents' families were from the Banu Khazraj, also known as Al-Ansar. He was born in Medina around February 12, 1907, when the area was under Ottoman rule.
His father was a teacher at the Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi). His mother, Aminah bint Muhammad bin Zain al-Ansari, was from Timbuktu. Sadly, his mother died when he was about four years old, and his father passed away when he was about six. After that, his maternal uncle, Muhammad al-Tayyib bin Issaq al-Ansari, became his guardian.
Al-Ansari studied at the Masjid al-Nabawi, learning from scholars who taught in the mosque's courtyards. His uncle was one of his most important teachers. He began learning to read the Quran at seven and memorized the entire Quran two years later. He studied many religious subjects and also learned calligraphy.
When he was sixteen, in 1922, he joined the School of Sharia Sciences in Medina. His uncle was a supervisor and principal there. Al-Ansari finished his studies and graduated in 1927. A high-ranking official, Ismail Hifzi, noticed his success during an exam. He invited Al-Ansari to work for the government. After talking with his uncle, Al-Ansari accepted. The day after his graduation, on February 21, 1928, he started his first government job. He was the youngest employee at the Emirate of Medina.
Career
Government Work
Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari worked for the government for many years. He started at the Emirate of Medina and later became the vice-chairman of its board. He also served on various committees, like the Debt Settlement Committee and the Charity Committee. At the same time, he taught Arabic literature at the school he had graduated from.
In 1940, King Ibn Saud asked for Al-Ansari to move to Mecca. There, he became the editor-in-chief of the government newspaper Umm Al-Qura. He worked to improve the newspaper, adding more literary content and encouraging young writers. From 1942 to 1954, he held several other important government jobs. These included Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Director of State Projects. He also advised the Prime Minister.
His government salary helped him to pursue his passion for writing and intellectual activities.
Journalism
Al-Ansari's first article, "What makes the Arabs rise up?", was published in an Egyptian magazine in 1928. After that, he became a journalist. He wrote for many magazines, including Al-Murshid Al-Arabi, Al-Muqtataf, and Al-Risalah. He was the editor-in-chief for Umm Al-Qura and his own magazine, Al-Manhal.
In late 1936, he started his monthly magazine, Al-Manhal. It became famous for being printed regularly, even when other Saudi magazines struggled. This made it the oldest Arab magazine after Al-Hilal. The first issue of Al-Manhal came out on February 11, 1937, in Medina.
Al-Manhal was known for welcoming young Saudi writers. Many of them later became very famous. The magazine focused on cultural and literary topics. It was also the first Saudi literary magazine to be sent outside the country. It is still an important source for studying literature in the Hijaz region. Al-Ansari continued publishing Al-Manhal until he died, except for a break during World War II due to high paper prices. Through his magazine, he called for important changes, like starting Saudi universities and setting up a scientific research committee. He was also one of the first Saudis to suggest creating a radio station.
Literary Work
Al-Ansari and his friend Ubayd Madani helped bring modern Arabic literature to Medina. They studied new literary ideas starting in the 1920s. After becoming an Arabic teacher, Al-Ansari started a speaking club for his students. They would meet every Thursday afternoon to discuss ideas.
On July 26, 1930, his novel The Twins was published in Damascus. This was Al-Ansari's first attempt at writing fiction. He later wrote another story, Merham Al Tanasi. Al-Ansari said he wrote The Twins to correct misunderstandings about Western society, not to criticize scientific progress. This novel is considered the first novel in Saudi literature, specifically from the Hejaz region.
In 1934, he and his friends created the "Literary forum for the educated Saudi Arab youth" in Medina. They held lectures and discussions there. This was the first time the word "Saudi" was used with a literary group after the country became unified.
Death
Abd al-Quddus al-Ansari became seriously ill and spent time in hospitals in Jeddah and Riyadh. He passed away on April 5, 1983, at the age of 76 in Jeddah. The next day, after a funeral prayer, he was buried in Mecca at the Al-Mu'alla Cemetery.
Works
Literature
- Arabic: التوأمان, lit. 'The Twins', novel, 1928–30
- Arabic: إصلاحات في لغة الکتابة والأدب, lit. 'Reforms in the Language of Writing and Literature', 1933
- Arabic: بناة العلم في الحجاز الحديث, lit. 'Science Builders in the Modern Hijaz', biographical dictionary, 1946
- Arabic: الأنصاريات, lit. 'Al-Ansariyat', poetry collection, 1964
- Arabic: الملك عبد العزيز في مرآة الشعر, lit. 'King Abdul Aziz in the Mirror of Poetry', 1974
- Arabic: مع ابن جبير في رحلته, lit. 'With Ibn Jubayr on his Journey', 1976
History
- Arabic: منى وحدودها, lit. 'Mina and its Limits', 1957
- Arabic: آثار المدينة المنورة, lit. 'The Monuments of Medina', 1958
- Arabic: تاريخ مدينة جدة, lit. 'The History of the City of Jeddah', 1963
- Arabic: بين التاريخ والآثار, lit. 'Between History and Monuments', 1971
- Arabic: طريق الهجرة النبوية, lit. 'The Way of Hijra', 1978
- Arabic: موسوعة تاريخ مدينة جدة, lit. 'Encyclopedia of the History of the City of Jeddah', 1980
- Arabic: التاريخ المفصل للكعبة المشرفة قبل الاسلام, lit. 'Detailed History of the Kaaba before Islam', 1982
