Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam
عبد الرحمن حسن عزام |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st Secretary-General of the Arab League | |
| In office 22 March 1945 – September 1952 |
|
| Preceded by | Inaugural holder |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Khalek Hassouna |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 March 1893 Shubak al-Gharbi, Giza Governorate, Khedivate of Egypt |
| Died | 2 June 1976 (aged 83) Cairo, Egypt |
Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam (born March 8, 1893 – died June 2, 1976), also known as Azzam Pasha, was an important Egyptian diplomat and politician. He is best known for being the very first Secretary-General of the Arab League. This is a group of Arab countries that work together, similar to how the United Nations works for many countries. He held this important role from March 22, 1945, to September 1952.
Azzam also had a long career serving his country as an ambassador and a parliamentarian. He was a strong Egyptian nationalist. This means he deeply loved and supported Egypt. He also believed in the idea of pan-Arabism, which is the idea that all Arab countries should be united. He was against dividing Palestine into separate parts.
Contents
Who Was Abdul Rahman Azzam?
Abdul Rahman Azzam was born on March 8, 1893, in a village called Shubak al-Gharbi, near Cairo, Egypt. His family was well-known and respected in their community. His father, Hassan Bey, came from a prominent Arab family. His mother, Nabiha, also came from a distinguished family of landowners.
People who studied Azzam's life believed that his family's background helped him feel a strong connection to Arab identity. Even though his family had lived in Egypt for generations, they kept many Arab traditions.
Growing Up and Going to School
Azzam was the eighth of twelve children. His family were "notable peasants," meaning they had land, wealth, and some political power in their village. Their home was often a meeting place for important people in the village. This meant Azzam became interested in politics from a very young age. His brother even said that Azzam was a "born politician." As a child, he would pretend to give speeches to his siblings.
In 1903, his family moved to Helwan, a city closer to Cairo. This move helped his father attend government meetings more easily. Azzam made friends with children from influential families there. He decided to go to a regular primary school instead of a religious one. After finishing secondary school, he chose to study medicine. He thought studying medicine would allow him to be active in politics wherever he went. In 1912, Azzam went to London, England, to study at St. Thomas’ Hospital Medical School.
While in London, Azzam joined a political group called the Sphinx Society. He quickly became an important member. After his first year, he became worried about events happening in the Balkans (a region in Southeast Europe). He felt he needed to help the Ottoman cause. He left London and traveled to places like Istanbul, Albania, and Anatolia. During these travels, he met many other Arab activists and discussed politics.
When he returned to Egypt, the British authorities stopped him from going back to England. This was because of his nationalist activities. So, he continued his medical studies at the Cairo Medical School. While studying in Cairo, he became unhappy with the British occupation of Egypt. This made him want to leave the country again and join the Ottomans.
Joining the Libyan Resistance (1915–1923)
Azzam played an active role in the Libyan resistance movement. This was a fight against the Italians who were trying to control Libya. In December 1915, he left Egypt to join a group of Ottoman officers. They were leading a local army against the British.
After the fighting stopped and a peace treaty was signed in 1917, Azzam moved to another part of Libya. He hoped to help create a strong government there. In November 1918, leaders declared the Tripolitanian Republic. They tried to make an agreement with the Italians, but the Italians did not keep their promises. This led Azzam to form the National Reform Party to pressure the Italians. However, the Italians still refused. In January 1923, Azzam went into exile in Egypt.
Azzam later said that his time fighting in Libya made him a strong supporter of Arab unity. He explained that living with the local people there gradually made him believe in something "Arabic." He felt that the Tripolitanian Republic experience truly made him an Arabist.
Working with the Wafd Party (1923–1932)
When Azzam returned to Egypt, there were many discussions about the new constitution. He decided to run for office in 1924 and was elected to parliament as a member of the Wafd Party. This party was a major political group in Egypt. As a parliament member, Azzam became well-known through his articles in the party's newspaper.
Because of his experiences in Libya, the Wafd Party often chose him to represent them at important meetings and international conferences. One of his most significant trips was to the 1931 General Islamic Conference in Jerusalem. The Egyptian government did not send an official representative to this meeting. However, Azzam and other opposition members attended. He took an active part in the discussions and was elected to the conference's executive committee. He spoke a lot about Arab nationalism. This conference was one of the first times that Egyptian leaders openly included Egypt in the idea of a united Arab nation.
In November 1932, Azzam and some other members left the Wafd Party. He said he left because his opinions had changed. Azzam was respected for his knowledge of Arab affairs. He soon became part of the group around King Faruq.
Diplomatic Roles (1932–1945)
After leaving the Wafd, Azzam joined a group of liberal politicians. In 1936, he was appointed as the Egyptian ambassador to Iraq and Iran. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country. In 1937, his diplomatic duties expanded to include Saudi Arabia. By 1944, he was appointed as the minister for Arab affairs.
First Secretary-General of the Arab League (1945–1952)
In 1945, during World War II, Abdul Rahman Azzam was chosen to be the first Secretary-General of the Arab League. This was a very important role, as he was leading a new organization formed to unite Arab countries.
One of his first actions was to speak out against anti-Jewish riots that happened in Egypt in November 1945. During these riots, shops owned by Jewish and other non-Muslim people were destroyed, and a synagogue was set on fire.
Azzam attended an Arab League meeting in Syria in June 1946. They discussed the challenges posed by the Zionist movement and how Arab countries could support the Palestinians. He later met with a U.S. official and told him that Arab leaders wanted to discuss Palestine with the United Kingdom, which controlled the area.
Azzam also visited Paris twice, in 1946 and 1951. He discussed issues related to Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. These discussions sometimes led to criticism from French newspapers.
In May 1948, Azzam warned the Egyptian government that Arab leaders might have to get involved in the Palestine War due to public pressure. He believed that King Abdullah of Jordan was planning to move his forces into Palestine. Six days after Arab countries intervened in the conflict, Azzam told reporters that they were fighting for an Arab Palestine. He also stated that Arabs would offer equal citizenship to Jews in Arab Palestine and allow them to practice their Jewish faith freely.
Azzam's Beliefs on Arab Unity
Azzam believed that modern Egypt was shaped mostly by "Arab religion, customs, language, and culture." He did not think that Egypt was just a continuation of ancient Pharaonic Egypt. He strongly felt that the shared Arabic language was a key reason for Egyptians to identify with other Arabs.
Personal Life
Azzam was married to the daughter of Khalid Al Hud Al Gargani, who was an advisor to Saudi King Abdulaziz Al Saud. One of Azzam's daughters married Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud, who was the son of Saudi King Faisal.
Death
Abdul Rahman Azzam passed away on June 2, 1976, in Cairo, Egypt. He was buried at Azam Mosque in Helwan.
Writings and Legacy
Azzam wrote a book called The Eternal Message of Muhammad. In this book, he praised the virtues of the Prophet Muhammad, such as bravery, love, forgiveness, and using diplomacy to solve problems. He wrote that Islam is against racism or being overly attached to one's "tribe, nation, color, language, or culture."
The famous American civil rights leader Malcolm X read Azzam's book and even met him. These events were important in Malcolm X's journey towards traditional Islam.
In 1998, a book about Azzam's early life and nationalist activities was published. It was called The Making of an Egyptian Arab Nationalist: The Early Years of Azzam Pasha, 1893-1936.
Images for kids
-
Abdul Rahman Hassan Azzam, also known as Azzam Pasha.
