Suleiman Mousa
Encyclopedia
Suleiman Mousa (11 June 1919 - 9 June 2008) was a Jordan
ian author and historian born in Al-Rafeed, a small village north of the city of Irbid
. He wrote many books of which most prominent are "The Biography of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali ", "Jordan in the 1948 War
", "The Great Arab Revolt
", "History of Jordan
in the 20th century", and was the first and only Arab
author to write about Lawrence of Arabia and show the Arab perspective.
His book T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View was published in 1966 and translated into English, French and Japanese. It was written after a study that had convinced him that although there were many books written to praise Lawrence and others written to discredit him, all of them exaggerated his part in the Arab Revolt
and failed to do justice to the Arabs themselves.
and is located 20 km north of Irbid
. The early death of his father, an unwealthy, modest man with a passion for reading and writing, came as a shock to him, his mother and sister while Mousa was just six years old.
Leaving them little but a cane basket containing several books, his mother took up the task of securing the family's needs. They lived a simple and spontaneous life as part of the village that depended mainly on agriculture
for its survival.
After receiving his elementary education from religious scholars, Mousa moved to a small school known as Al Ta'ifa for three years. As were his mother's ambitions, he was then sent to a governmental school in Al Husn (الحصن), where he resided at his relatives' until May 1934, when he was unable to continue into high school
due to the family's limited income. A few months later, at the age of sixteen, he took up the profession of teaching at The School of Irbid.
in Palestine where he began working with some relatives. After returning to Irbid and resuming his profession as a teacher for a brief period, he decided to make the journey to Jaffa
(يافا) by train, which interconnected it with Damascus
and was part of the Hejaz Railway built by the Ottoman Empire
. This journey had a significant impact on his cultural life as it was then that he started borrowing and purchasing books and novels from neighbouring libraries and fulfilling his passion of reading. He gradually learnt English using dictionaries, and published many articles in Palestinian
newspapers as well as several short stories
in 1938. As time progressed, he found himself leaning closer towards books of literature and poetry and his fascination in history developed.
He returned in 1939 to Al Rafeed where he continued working in the field of education before becoming an employee in the Iraq Petroleum Company
in Mafraq
. In 1943 he fulfilled a substantial commitment and married Georgette Nuseir whom he had met on a visit to Nazareth
. Mousa spent fifteen years in Mafraq and his publications were put close to a halt due to the inappropriate and illiterate environment he went through although he managed to publish a few short stories, articles and translations.
A major transformation in his life occurred when Mousa moved to Amman
, the Jordanian capital, and began working in the Jordanian Broadcasting Company in 1957, turning to the work of the publications service and the Ministry of Information and Culture until 1984. During that period, he was the editor
of the Jordanian magazine ‘Resalat Al Ordon’ (1966 to 1967).
Later on, Suleiman Mousa spent more than four years as a cultural adviser in the Greater Amman Municipality (1984 to 1988).
Mousa's first book Al Hussein Bin Ali and the Great Arab Revolt was published in 1957 where it was written when the author had been resident of Jaffa
, Palestine
in early 1939, when he was a mere nineteen years of age. The printing of this book occurred after nearly seventeen years of its writing.
One of the most prominent works of Suleiman Mousa is T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View, which has been translated into English, French and Japanese . This was a turning point for the author Mousa that has taken him to world fame. He showed the Arab's point of view about battles and events of The Great Arab Revolt
, and also came in response to the British book written by Lawrence himself, who did not give the Arabs their right to the full extent. The author shows that Arabs fought in large numbers in the combat revolt against the Turkish
rule for independence and freedom, and that they are the ones who fought and struggled, while Lawrence was merely an officer like any other in the British Army
.
While the author was resident of Jaffa in 1937, his activities were expanded to English as well as Arabic history books and he purchased several books in English of which most important were The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence and The Arab Awakening, by George Antonius
, which emerged in its first edition in 1938.
that sparked widespread attention was an article published by the name "Lawrence on the balance" (لورنس في الميزان) in Al Adab (الآداب) magazine (November 1955) which discussed the book written by Richard Aldington
called Lawrence of Arabia: A Biographical Inquiry, which had appeared in Britain earlier that year.
The idea of writing a book discussing the matter in an integrated manner from an Arab's perspective was based on the success the eight-page article received.
Five years later, the first Arabic edition of the book was published by the name T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View (لورنس والعرب: وجهة نظر عربية) followed by the translations into English in 1966, French in 1973 and Japanese in 1988.
The book was translated into English by Dr. Albert Boutros, a professor of English at the University of Jordan
. Many Arab and Western
references were used for its writing. Mousa was visited by senior Western writers, including professors Collin Wilson and Jeremy Wilson
. To this day, his book remains the only one that shows the Arab viewpoint. It has left a deep impact on all researchers interested in Lawrence. Hence, the book has won global reputation, and became a reference to researchers about the subject of Lawrence and the Great Arab Revolt
.
Being taught in Arab and foreign universities including the University of Oxford
in Britain is a sure sign of the success and attention this book has drawn. It was Professor Rogan from the University of Oxford who said:
, was also a local ‘people's’ author.
He wrote in four major themes: Biographies, history of Jordan
, history of Arab revolution and writings in literature and short stories, in addition to the translations of Arabic and several simplified books written for young people.
Mousa relied on many diverse Arab, British and foreign sources.
He went to the British house of documents in 1974 and spent four months researching documents relating to Jordan. Therefore, his works are considered indispensable references for many students and researchers.
Mousa won many awards in recognition of his contributions to Jordanian and Arab history including: The Order of Independence in 1971, 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 and Medal of the Arab Author after his death in 2008.
, Jordan before turning ninety. He had a case of congestive heart failure
and edema
.
Cultural officials participated in the funeral and wake
as well as representatives of his majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Ministry of Culture, the media and many more of whom have praised his contributions in various creative fields.
under the name of Suleiman Mousa, located at Al Hussein Cultural Center of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), was inaugurated on behalf of the Mayor of Amman
, Omar Maani
.
The library is divided into several sections, one for the titles related to the history of Jordan
in Arabic, English and French
. Another is allocated for books and personal possessions of Suleiman Mousa, as well as some documents he had been collecting during his work in writing, which his family donated to the library. At the inauguration
, City Deputy Manager for Cultural, Social, and Sports Affairs, Haitham Jweinat, referred to the uniqueness of the new library, and said that it will be open for all interested readers and researchers, noting that the Greater Amman Municipality had taken the time to equip it with many facilities, including an internet local area network
(LAN) and the availability of international magazines and newspapers.
The library regularly receives visitors from schools and universities to introduce them to Middle Eastern history through documentaries, photos and library resources. Several scientific seminars and conferences have already taken place at the library. Its goal is to become one of the important developmental and economical projects in Jordan, and the place to launch books related to Arab history and the history of Jordan.
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian author and historian born in Al-Rafeed, a small village north of the city of Irbid
Irbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
. He wrote many books of which most prominent are "The Biography of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali ", "Jordan in the 1948 War
1948 War
The term 1948 War can refer to any of the following events:* 1948 Palestine war with :** its civil war period : the 1947-1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine** the regular war between Israel and neighbouring Arab states : the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
", "The Great Arab Revolt
Arab Revolt
The Arab Revolt was initiated by the Sherif Hussein bin Ali with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating a single unified Arab state spanning from Aleppo in Syria to Aden in Yemen.- Background :...
", "History of Jordan
History of Jordan
The History of Jordan starts with evidence of human activity in Transjordan in the Paleolithic period , continues with the Muslim empires starting in the19th century, the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Great Arab Revolt and the British mandate of Transjordan in the early 20th century, and...
in the 20th century", and was the first and only Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
author to write about Lawrence of Arabia and show the Arab perspective.
His book T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View was published in 1966 and translated into English, French and Japanese. It was written after a study that had convinced him that although there were many books written to praise Lawrence and others written to discredit him, all of them exaggerated his part in the Arab Revolt
Arab Revolt
The Arab Revolt was initiated by the Sherif Hussein bin Ali with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating a single unified Arab state spanning from Aleppo in Syria to Aden in Yemen.- Background :...
and failed to do justice to the Arabs themselves.
Youth
Suleiman Mousa was born to a Christian family in the village of Al Rafeed (الرفيد) Jordan, in 1919; the village overlooks the Yarmouk RiverYarmouk River
The Yarmouk River is the largest tributary of the Jordan River. It drains much of the Hauran Plateau. It is one of three main tributaries which enter the Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. To the south, are the Jabbok/Zarqa and the Arnon/Wadi Mujib) rivers...
and is located 20 km north of Irbid
Irbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
. The early death of his father, an unwealthy, modest man with a passion for reading and writing, came as a shock to him, his mother and sister while Mousa was just six years old.
Leaving them little but a cane basket containing several books, his mother took up the task of securing the family's needs. They lived a simple and spontaneous life as part of the village that depended mainly on agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
for its survival.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
due to the family's limited income. A few months later, at the age of sixteen, he took up the profession of teaching at The School of Irbid.
Employment
In 1936 he traveled to the city of HaifaHaifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
in Palestine where he began working with some relatives. After returning to Irbid and resuming his profession as a teacher for a brief period, he decided to make the journey to Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
(يافا) by train, which interconnected it with Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and was part of the Hejaz Railway built by the Ottoman Empire
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...
. This journey had a significant impact on his cultural life as it was then that he started borrowing and purchasing books and novels from neighbouring libraries and fulfilling his passion of reading. He gradually learnt English using dictionaries, and published many articles in Palestinian
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
newspapers as well as several short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
in 1938. As time progressed, he found himself leaning closer towards books of literature and poetry and his fascination in history developed.
He returned in 1939 to Al Rafeed where he continued working in the field of education before becoming an employee in the Iraq Petroleum Company
Iraq Petroleum Company
The Iraq Petroleum Company , until 1929 called Turkish Petroleum Company , was an oil company jointly owned by some of the world's largest oil companies, which had virtual monopoly on all oil exploration and production in Iraq from 1925 to 1961...
in Mafraq
Mafraq
Mafraq is the capital city of Mafraq Governorate, Jordan, located 80 Km to the north from the Jordanian capital Amman in crossroad to Syria to the north and Iraq to the east. It has 58,954 inhabitants...
. In 1943 he fulfilled a substantial commitment and married Georgette Nuseir whom he had met on a visit to Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
. Mousa spent fifteen years in Mafraq and his publications were put close to a halt due to the inappropriate and illiterate environment he went through although he managed to publish a few short stories, articles and translations.
A major transformation in his life occurred when Mousa moved to Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, the Jordanian capital, and began working in the Jordanian Broadcasting Company in 1957, turning to the work of the publications service and the Ministry of Information and Culture until 1984. During that period, he was the editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the Jordanian magazine ‘Resalat Al Ordon’ (1966 to 1967).
Later on, Suleiman Mousa spent more than four years as a cultural adviser in the Greater Amman Municipality (1984 to 1988).
Writer and historian
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
in early 1939, when he was a mere nineteen years of age. The printing of this book occurred after nearly seventeen years of its writing.
One of the most prominent works of Suleiman Mousa is T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View, which has been translated into English, French and Japanese . This was a turning point for the author Mousa that has taken him to world fame. He showed the Arab's point of view about battles and events of The Great Arab Revolt
Arab Revolt
The Arab Revolt was initiated by the Sherif Hussein bin Ali with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating a single unified Arab state spanning from Aleppo in Syria to Aden in Yemen.- Background :...
, and also came in response to the British book written by Lawrence himself, who did not give the Arabs their right to the full extent. The author shows that Arabs fought in large numbers in the combat revolt against the Turkish
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...
rule for independence and freedom, and that they are the ones who fought and struggled, while Lawrence was merely an officer like any other in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
While the author was resident of Jaffa in 1937, his activities were expanded to English as well as Arabic history books and he purchased several books in English of which most important were The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence and The Arab Awakening, by George Antonius
George Antonius
George Habib Antonius, CBE was a Lebanese-Egyptian author and diplomat, settled in Palestine, one of the first historians of Arab nationalism. Born in Deir al Qamar in a Lebanese Orthodox Christian family, he served in the British Mandate of Palestine. His 1938 book The Arab Awakening was...
, which emerged in its first edition in 1938.
- Mousa wrote in regard to his interest in English:
-
-
- Further information: Works by Suleiman Mousa
-
T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View
Of the articles written by Suleiman Mousa in JaffaJaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
that sparked widespread attention was an article published by the name "Lawrence on the balance" (لورنس في الميزان) in Al Adab (الآداب) magazine (November 1955) which discussed the book written by Richard Aldington
Richard Aldington
Richard Aldington , born Edward Godfree Aldington, was an English writer and poet.Aldington was best known for his World War I poetry, the 1929 novel, Death of a Hero, and the controversy arising from his 1955 Lawrence of Arabia: A Biographical Inquiry...
called Lawrence of Arabia: A Biographical Inquiry, which had appeared in Britain earlier that year.
The idea of writing a book discussing the matter in an integrated manner from an Arab's perspective was based on the success the eight-page article received.
Five years later, the first Arabic edition of the book was published by the name T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View (لورنس والعرب: وجهة نظر عربية) followed by the translations into English in 1966, French in 1973 and Japanese in 1988.
The book was translated into English by Dr. Albert Boutros, a professor of English at the University of Jordan
University of Jordan
The University of Jordan , is a government-supported University located in Amman, Jordan...
. Many Arab and Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
references were used for its writing. Mousa was visited by senior Western writers, including professors Collin Wilson and Jeremy Wilson
Jeremy Wilson
Jeremy M. Wilson is a contemporary British historian, biographer, writer, editor, and fine-press publisher. He is also a business copywriter and editor working for major corporations....
. To this day, his book remains the only one that shows the Arab viewpoint. It has left a deep impact on all researchers interested in Lawrence. Hence, the book has won global reputation, and became a reference to researchers about the subject of Lawrence and the Great Arab Revolt
Great Arab Revolt
The Great Arab Revolt may refer to:*The 1916-1918 Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule, led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali*The Iraqi revolt against the British in 1920.*The Great Syrian Revolt of 1924-1927.*The 1936-1939 Arab revolt in Palestine....
.
Being taught in Arab and foreign universities including the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in Britain is a sure sign of the success and attention this book has drawn. It was Professor Rogan from the University of Oxford who said:
Internationally and Locally
Suleiman Mousa, in addition to being a recognized researcher who achieved a breakthrough intellectually and in the Arab WorldArab 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...
, was also a local ‘people's’ author.
He wrote in four major themes: Biographies, history of Jordan
History of Jordan
The History of Jordan starts with evidence of human activity in Transjordan in the Paleolithic period , continues with the Muslim empires starting in the19th century, the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Great Arab Revolt and the British mandate of Transjordan in the early 20th century, and...
, history of Arab revolution and writings in literature and short stories, in addition to the translations of Arabic and several simplified books written for young people.
Mousa relied on many diverse Arab, British and foreign sources.
He went to the British house of documents in 1974 and spent four months researching documents relating to Jordan. Therefore, his works are considered indispensable references for many students and researchers.
- Further information: Awards and honors
Death
Suleiman Mousa died on (age 89) in AmmanAmman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Jordan before turning ninety. He had a case of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
and edema
Edema
Edema or oedema ; both words from the Greek , oídēma "swelling"), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is an abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin or in one or more cavities of the body that produces swelling...
.
Cultural officials participated in the funeral and wake
Wake
A wake is the region of recirculating flow immediately behind a moving or stationary solid body, caused by the flow of surrounding fluid around the body.-Fluid dynamics:...
as well as representatives of his majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Ministry of Culture, the media and many more of whom have praised his contributions in various creative fields.
Posthumous recognition
Although Suleiman Mousa received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime, many projects have been launched posthumously in recognition of the contributions he has made to Jordanian, Middle Eastern and World history. The establishment of the Library of Suleiman Mousa at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), and the republishing of his complete works in several stages, with an "aim of introducing history to the new generation", are amongst the most prominent of these projects. Mousa was also awarded The Arab Author Medal in 2008 after his death.Library of Suleiman Mousa
On the 11th of November, 2009, a library dedicated for the history of JordanHistory of Jordan
The History of Jordan starts with evidence of human activity in Transjordan in the Paleolithic period , continues with the Muslim empires starting in the19th century, the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Great Arab Revolt and the British mandate of Transjordan in the early 20th century, and...
under the name of Suleiman Mousa, located at Al Hussein Cultural Center of the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), was inaugurated on behalf of the Mayor of Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Omar Maani
Omar Maani
Omar Maani is a Jordanian engineer, businessman and the former Mayor of Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He was appointed as mayor by Royal Decree of King Abdullah II in April 2006...
.
The library is divided into several sections, one for the titles related to the history of Jordan
History of Jordan
The History of Jordan starts with evidence of human activity in Transjordan in the Paleolithic period , continues with the Muslim empires starting in the19th century, the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, the Great Arab Revolt and the British mandate of Transjordan in the early 20th century, and...
in Arabic, English and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. Another is allocated for books and personal possessions of Suleiman Mousa, as well as some documents he had been collecting during his work in writing, which his family donated to the library. At the inauguration
Inauguration
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
, City Deputy Manager for Cultural, Social, and Sports Affairs, Haitham Jweinat, referred to the uniqueness of the new library, and said that it will be open for all interested readers and researchers, noting that the Greater Amman Municipality had taken the time to equip it with many facilities, including an internet local area network
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
(LAN) and the availability of international magazines and newspapers.
The library regularly receives visitors from schools and universities to introduce them to Middle Eastern history through documentaries, photos and library resources. Several scientific seminars and conferences have already taken place at the library. Its goal is to become one of the important developmental and economical projects in Jordan, and the place to launch books related to Arab history and the history of Jordan.
- Further information: Library of Suleiman Mousa (Arabic)
In Arabic
- History of Jordan in the twentieth century – Part I.
- History of Jordan in the twentieth century - Part II.
- Days Unforgotten: Jordan in the 1948 war.
- The Arab Movement.
- Historical Correspondence from 1914 to 1918.
- Historical Correspondence - Volume II, 1919.
- Historical Correspondence - the third volume from 1920 to 1923.
- Characters of Jordan - Wasfi, Hazaa, Al-Nabulsi.
- Characters of Jordan – Al-Rai Library, Abu Al-Huda and Mufti.
- Western Views.
- O Jerusalem.
- T.E Lawrence: An Arab View - was translated and published in English 1966, French 1973, Japanese 1989
- The Great Arab Revolt - The war in Hijaz from 1916 to 1918.
- Monuments of Jordan.
- Faces and Features – Part I.
- Faces and Features - Part II.
- Westerners in Arab Countries.
- Jordan and Palestine – Part I.
- Jordan and Palestine - Part II.
- Throughout Jordan.
- The Great Arab Revolt - and the documents and arguments.
- The Establishment of the Emirate of Jordan - 1921-1925, First Edition 1971.
- Notes, Prince Zeid - the war in Jordan, the first edition 1976.
- Images of the championship, the first edition 1968.
- Folded pages.
- Jordan contemporary political history of 1967-1995, the date of publication of the Commission of Jordan.
- Studies in Jordan's modern history - Book of the month.
- Al-Hussein Bin Ali and the Arab Revolt - a series of reading books, first edition 1957.
- East of the Emirate of Jordan 1921-1946
- The Other Side.
- The Days Notes.
- That Unknown Soldier.
- The Perfect Wife.
- Eighty: An Autobiography
- Steps on the Road.
- Jordan's capital Amman.
- Of our modern history - a book in the history of Jordan
- Arab Revolt - the causes and the principles and objectives.
- East of Jordan - before the founding of the emirate.
- Memories of the scenes.
- Pages of Jordan's modern history.
- For the Sake of Freedom.
- Al-Hussein Bin Ali.
- The Great Arab Revolt.
In English
- Cameos: Jordan and Arab Nationalism
- Land and People: Jordan, a Historical Sketch, 1921-1973
Reviews
- "Although many admirers of T.E. will prefer Lawrence's version of his part in the Arab Revolt, Mr. Mousa's obvious concern to be fair-minded and the weight of the evidence he produces makes his book one that must be studied by all who are interested in 'Lawrence of Arabia'. " - Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
, 1966
- "...and if only for this passionate and compassionate, rehearsal of the bitter betrayal of Arab hopes in the interests of European power politics, this book (T.E. Lawrence: An Arab View) is worth reading. For, after all, therein lies the root of distrust which has poised Arab relations with the west for the past five decades." - Anthony NuttingAnthony NuttingSir Harold Anthony Nutting, 3rd Baronet was a British diplomat and Conservative Party politician.-Early and private life:...
, Sunday TelegraphSunday TelegraphThe Sunday Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961. It is the sister paper of The Daily Telegraph, but is run separately with a different editorial staff, although there is some cross-usage of stories...
News; 10 July 1966
- "...However "nationalist" Mr. Mousa may be, he has been painstakingly, tediously thorough in examining this material and in assembling such evidence of Arab opinion as he could obtain..." - The Standard Times, 12 March 1967
- "...The book needed writing and deserves reading...He writes honestly, stating his evidence fairly, and his book merits the serious consideration it asks," - Birmingham PostBirmingham PostThe Birmingham Post newspaper was originally published under the name Daily Post in Birmingham, England, in 1857 by John Frederick Feeney. It was the largest selling broadsheet in the West Midlands, though it faced little if any competition in this category. It changed to tabloid size in 2008...
, 9 July 1966
- "...is the first scholarly account to give the Arab view, and it is a highly persuasive and thoroughly researched examination of the Lawrence story...Mousa is an intelligent and passionate advocate of the Arab view..." - Quarterly ReviewQuarterly ReviewThe Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
, Summer 1967
- "Suleiman Mousa's work had a deep and lasting influence over T.E. Lawrence scholarship. It showed how different those events looked through Arab eyes, and taught us to question the assumption that things happened - only, or indeed at all - because Lawrence wanted them to happen.
- I believe that, in the long run, Western and Arab historians will reach a common view of the history of the Arab Revolt, based on all the evidence that has survived. By challenging the accepted Western view, Suleiman Mousa played an important part in that process. For that he deserves lasting recognition.".- British historian, Jeremy WilsonJeremy WilsonJeremy M. Wilson is a contemporary British historian, biographer, writer, editor, and fine-press publisher. He is also a business copywriter and editor working for major corporations....
Awards and honors
- Ali Bin Al-Hussein Medal - The Independence Medal, Second Class, 1971.
- State Award for Literature, 1977.
- An Honorary shield from the first conference of the History of Jordan - 1980.
- Shield organized by the World Conference on the history of the King Abdul-Aziz - the University of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic, Al-Riyadh - 1985.
- Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein Award for Research in Islamic civilization, 1988.
- Honorary gift from the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation and is a model of the Al-Aqsa mosque - in June 1989.
- Honorary shield from the University of Jordan in appreciation for the efforts of Suleiman Mousa in the history of Jordan - 1990.
- Arab Author Medal - in June 1991.
- The honorary shield Faha Sports Club of the Social and Cultural - September, 1993.
- The honorary shield Qurtubi Secondary School for Boys - in November 1995.
- The honorary shield from the Office of the people of the town of al-Rafid, Beni Kananeh - July 1996.
- The honorary shield from the Royal Medical Services - December, 1996.
- The honorary shield from the Center for Studies of Jordan, on the occasion of the participation of Suleiman Mousa at the Second International Conference of the social history of Jordan - Amman in July 2000 - and that in recognition of its great foundation for the writing of the history of Jordan.
- Ali Bin Al-Hussein Medal - The Independence Medal of the First Order - in June 2002.
- The honorary shield from the Jordanian Writers Association - January 2006.
- Al-Hussein Medal for distinguished performance- May, 2007.
- The Shield of the Greater Amman Municipality.
- The Shield of the Ministry of Culture.
- The Shield of the Jordanian television channel.
- Shield from the Board of Trustees of the Documentation Center of the Hashemite monarchy of Jordan in recognition of outstanding contribution.
- Arab Author Medal - August, 2008.