Mahdi Amel facts for kids

Hassan Abdullah Hamdan (Arabic: حسن عبد الله حمدان), better known as Mahdi 'Amel (Arabic: مهدي عامل), was an important Lebanese thinker, historian, and activist. He was born in Harouf, Lebanon, in 1936 and passed away in Beirut, Lebanon, on May 18, 1987. He followed the ideas of Karl Marx, a famous philosopher.

Mahdi 'Amel taught philosophy at the Lebanese University in Beirut. He was also a key member of the Lebanese Communist Party and the Union of Lebanese Writers. He wrote for al-Tariq, a magazine connected to the Lebanese Communist Party. He was sadly killed at age 51 during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990).

Early Life

Mahdi was born into a Shia Muslim family in 1936. His hometown was Harouf, near the city of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. Soon after he was born, his parents moved with him and his brothers and sisters to Beirut.

In Beirut, Mahdi went to high school at the al-Maqasid School. In 1956, he started his university studies in France. He earned a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Lyon. After his studies, Mahdi became actively involved with the Lebanese Communist Party, joining in 1960.

Time in Algeria

In 1963, Mahdi moved to Algeria, which had just become an independent country. He moved there with his wife, Evelyne Brun.

Back in Lebanon

Mahdi returned to Lebanon in 1968. He first worked as a teacher at a high school for girls. Later, he became a full-time professor at the Institute of Social Sciences at the Lebanese University. There, he taught about philosophy, politics, and different ways of studying things.

Around this time, Mahdi started writing for al-Tariq, a magazine for the Lebanese Communist Party. He began using the name Mahdi 'Amel for these articles. This is the name he is most known by today.

Mahdi traveled a lot across Lebanon. He gave talks about Marxism and discussed important issues with farmers. He became an important leader in the Lebanese Communist Party. He joined the Central Committee in 1987.

Personal Life

Mahdi 'Amel was married to Evelyne Brun. They had three children named Karim, Yasmine, and Rida. He was a Shia Muslim.

His Death

Mahdi 'Amel was killed on May 18, 1987. He was 51 years old. He was walking on Algeria street when two men called his name. When he turned around, they shot him. He passed away later that day at the American University of Beirut's hospital.

His Writings

In 1991, some of his writings from 1968 to 1973 were published. This collection was called In Issues of Teaching and Educational Policies. In these writings, Mahdi explained how Lebanon's education system sometimes made divisions between groups worse. He also wrote that it didn't help everyone learn well.

Important Books

Mahdi wrote many important scholarly works. One famous work was his thoughts on Edward Said's book Orientalism. He wrote about how it understood Karl Marx's ideas.

• Theoretical Introductions to Study the influence of Socialism on the National Liberation Movement.
• Conflict of Arab Civilization or Conflict of Arab bourgeoisie?
• Theory in Political Practice: Research in the Causes of the Lebanese Civil War.
• Introduction to Critique of Sectarianism: The Palestinian Cause in the Ideology of the Lebanese Bourgeoisie.
• Marx in Edward Said's Orientalism: Intelligence for the West and Passion for the East?
• In the Scientific Nature of Ibn Khaldun's School of Thought.
• Introduction to the Critique of Sectarianism in the Sectarian State.
• Arab Marxism and National Liberation: Selected Writings.

Poetry

Besides his political work and articles on Marxism, Mahdi also wrote poems. He signed his poems using the name Hilal Bin Zaytoun.

• Time Improvisations
• The Space of N

See Also

• Husayn Muruwwa
• Edward Said
• Marxism
• Lebanese Civil War