Suleiman Mousa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Suleiman Mousa سليمان الموسى
Born	(1919-06-11)11 June 1919 Al Rafeed, Occupied Enemy Territory Administration
Died	9 June 2008(2008-06-09) (aged 88) Amman, Jordan
Nationality	Jordanian
Occupation	Writer / Historian
Years active	1935 until his death
Notable work	T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View, History of Jordan in the 20th century, Biography of Sherif Hussein Bin Ali, Jordan in the 1948 War, The Great Arab Revolt
Spouse(s)	Georgette Nuseir

Suleiman Mousa (Arabic: سليمان الموسى) (born June 11, 1919 – died June 9, 2008) was a famous Jordanian writer and historian. He was born in Al-Rafeed, a small village near Irbid. He wrote about 50 books.

Some of his most important books include Biography of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, Jordan in the 1948 War, and The Great Arab Revolt. He also wrote History of Jordan in the 20th century. Suleiman Mousa was the first and only Arab writer to tell the Arab side of the story about Lawrence of Arabia.

His book T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View came out in 1966. It was translated into English, French, and Japanese. He wrote it because he felt that other books about Lawrence made his role in the Arab Revolt seem too big. He wanted to show how important the Arabs themselves were in the revolt.

Early Life and Education

Suleiman Mousa was born into a Christian family in Al Rafeed in 1919. This village is close to the Yarmouk River. When he was only six years old, his father passed away. His father loved reading and writing, but didn't leave much money. His mother worked hard to support the family. They lived a simple life, like most people in their village who farmed for a living.

Suleiman first learned from religious teachers. Then, he went to a small school called Al Ta'ifa for three years. His mother wanted him to get a good education, so he went to a government school in Al Husn. He lived with relatives there. In 1934, at age 15, he had to stop school because his family didn't have enough money. A few months later, he started working as a teacher in Irbid.

Working and Writing Journeys

Suleiman Mousa in 1946.

In 1936, Suleiman Mousa traveled to Haifa in Palestine for his first job. After a short time teaching again in Irbid, he took a train to Jaffa. This train was part of the Hejaz Railway, built by the Ottoman Empire. This trip was very important for his love of learning. He started borrowing and buying many books. He taught himself English using dictionaries.

By 1938, he was publishing articles in Palestinian newspapers and writing short stories. He became more interested in history, literature, and poetry.

In 1939, he went back to Al Rafeed and continued teaching. Later, he worked for the Iraq Petroleum Company in Mafraq. In 1943, he married Georgette Nuseir, whom he had met in Nazareth. He lived in Mafraq for 15 years. During this time, he didn't publish much because the area wasn't very supportive of writers. Still, he managed to publish some short stories and translations.

A big change happened in 1957 when he moved to Amman, the capital of Jordan. He started working for the Jordanian Broadcasting Company and later for the Ministry of Information and Culture. He was the editor of the Jordanian magazine ‘Resalat Al Ordon’ from 1966 to 1967. From 1984 to 1988, he was a cultural adviser for the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM).

Becoming a Famous Historian

Suleiman Mousa's first book, Al Hussein Bin Ali and the Great Arab Revolt, was published in 1957. He actually wrote it much earlier, in 1939, when he was only 19 years old and living in Jaffa. It took almost 17 years for the book to be printed!

One of his most important books is T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View. This book made him famous around the world. It was translated into English, French, and Japanese. In this book, he shared the Arab perspective on the battles and events of the Arab Revolt. He wrote it to respond to books by Lawrence himself, which he felt didn't fully credit the Arabs.

Suleiman Mousa showed that Arabs fought bravely and in large numbers against the Turkish rule to gain their independence. He explained that Arabs were the main fighters, and Lawrence was just one officer in the British Army.

He became very interested in English history books while living in Jaffa in 1937. He bought important books like The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence and The Arab Awakening by George Antonius.

Suleiman Mousa believed that Arab writers should learn another language to connect with other cultures. He wrote:

An Arab writer must, with no doubt, know a language – in addition to his mother tongue – if he wishes to keep up with the course of world cultures and interact with them.

The Impact of T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View

T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View, the only book that shows the Arab perspective on Lawrence of Arabia.

One of Suleiman Mousa's articles, "Lawrence on the balance," published in 1955, gained a lot of attention. It discussed a book about Lawrence by Richard Aldington. Because of the success of this article, Suleiman Mousa decided to write a whole book from an Arab point of view.

Five years later, the Arabic version of T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View was published. The English translation followed in 1966, French in 1973, and Japanese in 1988. Dr. Albert Boutros, an English professor, translated the book into English. Suleiman Mousa used many Arab and Western sources for his research. Important Western writers, like Colin Wilson and Jeremy Wilson, even visited him.

To this day, his book is the only one that truly shows the Arab viewpoint. It has had a big impact on researchers who study Lawrence. The book is now known worldwide and is a key reference for understanding Lawrence and the Great Arab Revolt.

The book is even taught at universities like the University of Oxford in Britain. Professor Eugene Rogan from Oxford said in 2000 that Suleiman Mousa's books are very valuable for studying the Middle East. He also called Days unforgotten: Jordan in the 1948 war the best book written in Arabic about that conflict. He thanked Suleiman Mousa for his great contributions to Jordanian history.

Contributions and Recognition

Mousa (right) with Hussein bin Talal (middle), then King of Jordan.

Suleiman Mousa was a respected researcher in the Arab World and beyond. He wrote about four main topics: biographies of important people, the history of Jordan, the history of the Arab revolution, and literature and short stories. He also translated books and wrote simpler books for young people.

He used many different sources from Arab, British, and other countries. In 1974, he spent four months in the United Kingdom, researching documents about Jordan. Because of his thorough work, his books are essential for students and researchers today.

Suleiman Mousa received many awards for his work on Jordanian and Arab history. These include:

• The Order of Independence in 1971
• The King Abdullah I Award for research in Islamic civilization in 1988
• The State Incentive prize in 1990
• The Order of Al Hussein distinguished first class in 2007
• The Medal of the Arab Author, given after his death in 2008.

Later Life and Legacy

Suleiman Mousa passed away on June 9, 2008, in Amman, Jordan, just two days before his 89th birthday. He died from congestive heart failure. Many cultural leaders, government representatives, and media members attended his funeral and wake, praising his important work.

Even after his death, many projects were started to honor Suleiman Mousa's contributions to history. One of the most important is the Library of Suleiman Mousa. His complete works are also being republished to help new generations learn about history. He was also given The Arab Author Medal in 2008.

Library of Suleiman Mousa

Library of Suleiman Mousa at Al Hussein Cultural Center of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM).

On November 11, 2009, a library named after Suleiman Mousa was opened at the Al Hussein Cultural Center in Amman. This library focuses on the history of Jordan.

The library has different sections. One section has books about Jordan's history in Arabic, English, and French. Another section holds Suleiman Mousa's personal books and documents, which his family donated. The library is open to all readers and researchers. It has modern facilities, including internet access and international magazines.

The library often welcomes students from schools and universities. They learn about Middle Eastern history through documentaries, photos, and books. The library also hosts scientific talks and conferences. Its goal is to become a major center for learning about Arab history and the history of Jordan.

Works

In Arabic

In English

• Cameos: Jordan and Arab Nationalism
• Land and People: Jordan, a Historical Sketch, 1921-1973

Images for kids

• 

  Suleiman Mousa with his wife, mother and children in 1953.

• 

  Mousa with his mother Farha Al-Nasser wearing traditional garb in August 1972.

• 

  With a group of intellectuals at the Al-Marbed Poetry Festival in Basra, Iraq in 1988.