Salama Moussa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Salama Moussa
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| Born | 1887 Zagazig, Egypt |
| Died | 4 August 1958 (aged 70–71) Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Notable works | Man at the Top of Evolution |
Salama Moussa (1887 – 4 August 1958) was an important Egyptian journalist, writer, and thinker. He believed in a way of thinking called secularism, which means keeping government and society separate from religious rules. He helped introduce new ideas from thinkers like Charles Darwin, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud to people in Egypt.
Salama Moussa encouraged Egyptians to explore European ideas and supported the theory of evolution. He was a strong Egyptian nationalist and believed in liberalism, which focuses on individual rights and freedoms. He is seen as a "spiritual father" by famous writer Naguib Mahfouz. Salama Moussa also worked for Egypt's independence from British rule and promoted egalitarian socialism, which means everyone should be equal. He was even put in jail in 1946 for speaking out against the government. He always stressed the importance of Egyptians working together.
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Early Life in Egypt
Salama Moussa was born in 1887 in a village near Zagazig, Egypt. His family was Coptic, a Christian group in Egypt. His father passed away when Salama was young, but his family had enough money to live comfortably.
He went to different schools, including a Muslim school, a Coptic school, and a government school. In 1903, he moved to Cairo for high school. During this time, many Egyptians felt strongly about gaining independence from British rule. Salama Moussa also learned about new ideas like women's rights and nationalism. Because he grew up as a religious minority, these ideas really interested him. After high school, he wanted to study European literature and science, but he couldn't study Arabic at a higher level because those schools were mainly for Muslim students.
Travels and New Ideas
In 1907, Salama Moussa traveled to France to continue his education. There, he saw a modern Europe with many new ideas, including socialism. He noticed how much freedom French women had. In a small village near Paris, he began studying socialism, evolution, and the French language.
After returning to Egypt in 1908, he wrote articles for a newspaper called Al Liwa. In 1909, he went to England to improve his English and briefly studied law. In England, he joined the Fabian Society, a group that believed in gradual social reform. He liked their ideas about helping farmers and getting rid of powerful landowners, and he hoped to bring these changes to Egypt.
In 1910, he wrote his first book, comparing life in Europe with the challenges faced by Egyptians. In 1913, Salama Moussa started his first weekly magazine, Al-Mustaqbal. It covered topics like evolution, national unity, and socialism. However, the British-controlled government closed the magazine after only 16 issues because of its bold ideas. He then spent time teaching and observing the lives of farmers.
The 1920s were a very active time for Salama Moussa. He tried to start a socialist political party, but the government quickly shut it down. He also created the Egyptian Academy for Scientific Education, which was also closed after 10 years. He worked as an editor for magazines like Kull shay and Al Majalla Al Jadida, and wrote for the newspaper Al Siyasa. In 1942, he was jailed for speaking out against the government.
After the 1952 Revolution
The 1952 revolution was a big change for Egypt. Gamal Abdel Nasser became a powerful leader, and Egypt started taking control of its own industries. Salama Moussa remained an important figure during this time. He was put in charge of the science section in the newspaper Akhbar el-Yom, a job he held until he passed away in 1958.
Lasting Impact
In the 1930s, Salama Moussa strongly believed in a shared humanity for all people. He supported secularism, democracy, liberalism, and the freedom of women. He openly criticized the way Egyptian women were treated, both by Christians and Muslims. He pointed out that his own sisters were not allowed to go to school and had to stay home from age 10. His book al-Mar'a laysat lu'bat al-rajul (Women are not the toys of men), published in 1955, showed his strong views on women's issues.
Salama Moussa also supported the rights of workers and farmers. He called for better working conditions and improvements in public education. Many young thinkers attended his seminars to discuss social issues. He was one of the Egyptian thinkers who wanted the Egyptian dialect to be the official language. In his book Ha'ula'i 'allamuni (Those inspired me, 1953), he urged Egyptians to think for themselves and be creative. He always highlighted the unity of the Egyptian people, praising their strength during the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 and the Urabi revolt of 1879–1882.
Salama Moussa wanted Egypt to be politically and economically independent from British rule. He even communicated with Mahatma Gandhi, who shared ideas about how to fight economic control. Moussa used these ideas to help Egyptian industrialist Talaat Harb set up independent textile factories across Egypt. This effort was strongly opposed by the British. In 1935, he formed a group called Jam'iyyat al-Misri li al-Misri (The Society of the Egyptian for the Egyptian) to bring Gandhi's idea of national self-reliance to Egypt.
Salama Moussa believed Egypt should embrace European ideas and move away from old traditions. He promoted secularism and scientific thinking. He wrote or translated 45 books, and his writings are still important in Egypt today. Salama Moussa became very ill and died on August 4, 1958, at the age of 71.
See also
In Spanish: Salama Moussa para niños
- Ahmed Lutfi el-Sayed
- Taha Hussein
- Saad Zaghloul
- Naguib Mahfouz
- List of Egyptian authors
- List of prominent Copts
