Today marks death anniversary of “Dean of Arabic Literature” Taha Hussein

CAIRO – 28 October 2020: Today (Oct. 28) marks the death anniversary of the “Dean of Arabic Literature” Taha Hussein. He is considered one of the most prominent advocates of the enlightenment movement in the Arab world.

Hussein has published a book entitled "The Future of Culture in Egypt", in which he explained how the future of Egypt is related to its distant past.

In this book, Hussein mentioned that he is distancing himself from false images that do not depict anything, and that God alone is able to create something out of nothing. As for people, they cannot and are unable to do so, and for that, Egypt will not rise except through its eternal ancient civilization.

Hussein also mentioned in his book that the future of culture in Egypt will only be a valid and an uplifting extension of its present.

Also, Hussein adds that “we must think about the future of Egypt in light of its distant past and its near present, because we do not want and cannot separate between us and our past and our present.”

Born on 1889 in Upper Egypt, Hussein lost his eyesight at the young age of three. This did not hold him back however, Hussein went on to champion for the rights of education to the poor and women. He received the first PHD in Egypt in 1914, and was elected as the Minister of Education in 1950. 

Throughout his lifetime Hussein published over fifty books relating to philosophy, history, education and literature theory, alongside translating numerous foreign language books into Arabic. 

For his efforts in championing better human rights in Egypt, Hussein was awarded the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, and also received the Order of the Nile, Egypt’s highest possible award.