Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi
Encyclopedia
Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi was a prominent Iraq
i poet
and philosopher. He is regarded as one of the greatest contemporary poets of the Arab world
and was known for his defense of women's rights
.
. His father, of Iraqi Kurd origin, was the Mufti
of Iraq and a member of the Baban
clan. His mother was a Turkmen
. He lived in Bagdad, then left for Istanbul
, then to Jerusalem to complete his studies.
During the Ottoman era
he held numerous positions: as a member of the Baghdad Education Council, where he championed education for women; as an editor of the only newspaper in Baghdad, al-Zawra; as a member of the Supreme Court in Yemen
and Istanbul; as a professor of Islamic philosophy
at the Royal University and as a professor of literature at the College of Arts in Istanbul. After Iraq's independence in 1921, he was elected to parliament twice and appointed to the upper chamber for one term.
He was one of the leading writers in the Arab world, publishing in the major newspapers and journals of Beirut
, Cairo
, and Baghdad
. Describing his life in a collection of his poems, he wrote, "In my childhood I was thought of as eccentric because of my unusual gestures; in my youth, as feckless because of my ebullient nature, lack of seriousness, and excessive playfulness; in my middle age as courageous for my resistance to tyranny; and in my old age as an apostate because I propounded my philosophical views". In the 1930s, because of his political views, he was marginalized by the political establishment.
Of the Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawqi, he famously said: What is this Ahmad Shawqi, nothing! My student Maarouf Al Rasafi
writes better poetry than him. (هذا شنو أحمد شوقي، ولا شيء! تلميذي معروف الرصافي ينظم شعرا أحسن منه)
Egyptian writer Taha Hussein said of him: Zahawi wasn't only the poet of Arabic language
or the poet of Iraq
, he was also the poet of Egypt
and of other countries... he was a poet of the mind... the Ma'arri of this era... but he is the Ma'arri who connected to Europe
and used knowledge as a weapon.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i poet
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
and philosopher. He is regarded as one of the greatest contemporary poets of the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
and was known for his defense of women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
.
Biography
Zahawi was born in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. His father, of Iraqi Kurd origin, was the Mufti
Mufti
A mufti is a Sunni Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law . In religious administrative terms, a mufti is roughly equivalent to a deacon to a Sunni population...
of Iraq and a member of the Baban
Baban
Baban were a Kurdish principality and ruling family originating from Darishmana in the region of Pijder. The founder of the dynasty and its first ruler was Fakih Ahmed a descendent of the ancient house of Soran. He also had a brother named Khidder Ahmed who lived with him...
clan. His mother was a Turkmen
Iraqi Turkmen
The Iraqi Turkmen are an ethnic group who mainly reside in northern Iraq. Estimates of their numbers vary dramatically, in accordance with Iraq's assimilation policies no realistic and independent census results have been revealed regarding the Iraqi Turkmen population...
. He lived in Bagdad, then left for Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, then to Jerusalem to complete his studies.
During the Ottoman era
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
he held numerous positions: as a member of the Baghdad Education Council, where he championed education for women; as an editor of the only newspaper in Baghdad, al-Zawra; as a member of the Supreme Court in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
and Istanbul; as a professor of Islamic philosophy
Islamic philosophy
Islamic philosophy is a branch of Islamic studies. It is the continuous search for Hekma in the light of Islamic view of life, universe, ethics, society, and so on...
at the Royal University and as a professor of literature at the College of Arts in Istanbul. After Iraq's independence in 1921, he was elected to parliament twice and appointed to the upper chamber for one term.
He was one of the leading writers in the Arab world, publishing in the major newspapers and journals of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, and Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Describing his life in a collection of his poems, he wrote, "In my childhood I was thought of as eccentric because of my unusual gestures; in my youth, as feckless because of my ebullient nature, lack of seriousness, and excessive playfulness; in my middle age as courageous for my resistance to tyranny; and in my old age as an apostate because I propounded my philosophical views". In the 1930s, because of his political views, he was marginalized by the political establishment.
Of the Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawqi, he famously said: What is this Ahmad Shawqi, nothing! My student Maarouf Al Rasafi
Maarouf Al Rasafi
Maarouf Al Rasafi was an Iraqi poet who was born in Baghdad in 1875 and died in Baghdad as well in 1945. He has written many pieces, one of which was important towards the society and politics. One of his poems, 'A Praise to the Development of the Future' talked about how people are too proud of...
writes better poetry than him. (هذا شنو أحمد شوقي، ولا شيء! تلميذي معروف الرصافي ينظم شعرا أحسن منه)
Egyptian writer Taha Hussein said of him: Zahawi wasn't only the poet of Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
or the poet of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, he was also the poet of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and of other countries... he was a poet of the mind... the Ma'arri of this era... but he is the Ma'arri who connected to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and used knowledge as a weapon.