About Taha Hussein

1. About Taha Hussein

2. His life Dean of contemporary Arabic literature and a pioneer of enlightenment, Taha Hussein was born in AI-Minya province, Upper Egypt, on November 14th, 1889 and grew up, the seventh of thirteen children, in a lower middle-class family. At a very early age, he contracted a simple eye infection and, due to faulty treatment by an unskilled local practitioner, was blinded, at the age of three His life Dean of contemporary Arabic literature and a pioneer of enlightenment, Taha Hussein was born in AI-Minya province, Upper Egypt, on November 14th, 1889 and grew up, the seventh of thirteen children, in a lower middle-class family. At a very early age, he contracted a simple eye infection and, due to faulty treatment by an unskilled local practitioner, was blinded, at the age of three.

3. His thought His Thought • Taha Hussein was an Egyptian renaissance intellectual and a proponent of the ideology of Pharaonism, believing that Egyptian and Arab/Eastern civilizations were diametrically opposed, and stressing that Egypt would only progress by reclaiming its ancient roots. • He was a strong proponent of enlightenment, respect for reason, and women’s emancipation, and he insisted that education remained free, claiming that it was a basic right for every human being, announcing "knowledge is like water and air." He became Minister of Education in 1950, and the new government subsequently made primary education ex gratia, which is still in effect today. • He wrote many novels and essays, though in the West he is best known for his autobiography, El-Ayyam which was published in English as An Egyptian Childhood(1932) and The Stream of Days (1943). Taha Hussein was an Egyptian renaissance intellectual and a proponent of the ideology of Pharaonism, believing that Egyptian and Arab/Eastern civilizations were diametrically opposed, and stressing that Egypt would only progress by reclaiming its ancient roots. He was a strong proponent of enlightenment, respect for reason, and women’s emancipation He wrote many novels and essays, though in the West he is best known for his autobiography, El-Ayyam which was published in English as An Egyptian Childhood(1932) and The Stream of Days (1943).

4. Works Works • His literary works can be divided into 3 categories: • ·   Studies of Arabic and Islamic literature and culture. • ·   Fictional literary works centered on social commentary attacking poverty and ignorance. • ·   Political articles published in the two journals of which he was editor-in-chief. • Among his most prominent works are: • ·   Wednesday talk :a collection of essays on literary criticism • ·   On Pre-islamicpoetry • ·   The Sufferers: Stories and Polemics • ·   A Man of Letters, a novel أديب • ·   The Days (3-Part Autobiography) • ·   An Egyptian Childhood • ·   The Future of Culture in Egypt His literary works can be divided into 3 categories: ·   Studies of Arabic and Islamic literature and culture. ·   Fictional literary works centered on social commentary attacking poverty and ignorance. ·   Political articles published in the two journals of which he was editor-in-chief. Among his most prominent works are: ·   Wednesday talk :a collection of essays on literary criticism ·   On Pre-islamic poetry ·   The Sufferers: Stories and Polemics ·   A Man of Letters, a novel . ·   The Days (3-Part Autobiography) ·   An Egyptian Childhood

5. culture Culture • Fictional literary works centered on social commentary attacking poverty and ignorance; and Political articles published in the two journals of which he was editor-in-chief. Fictional literary works centered on social commentary attacking poverty and ignorance; and Political articles published in the two journals of which he was editor-in-chief

6. Academic career Academic Career • When the secular Cairo University was founded in 1908, he was keen to enter, and despite being blind and poor he earned a place. In 1914, he became the first graduate to receive a Ph.D., with a thesis on the skeptic poet and philosopher Abu-Alala' Al-Ma'ari. He went on to become a professor of Arabic literature there. • He met Suzane, his wife, while studying in France, where he obtained a B.A. fromUniversity of Montpellier and a second PhD from the Sorbonne in 1917, with a thesis on the 14th century historian IbnKhaldun. She read to him as not all of his references were available in Braille. After Taha died in October, 1973, she published Ma'ak (With You), which chronicled their life together. Before his death, he was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Award When the secular Cairo University was founded in 1908, he was keen to enter, and despite being blind and poor he earned a place. In 1914, he became the first graduate to receive a Ph.D., with a thesis on the skeptic poet and philosopher Abu-Alala' Al-Ma'ari. He went on to become a professor of Arabic literature there. He met Suzane, his wife, while studying in France, where he obtained a B.A. fromUniversity of Montpellier and a second PhD from the Sorbonne in 1917, with a thesis on the 14th century historian IbnKhaldun. She read to him as not all of his references were available in Braille. After Taha died in October, 1973, she published Ma'ak (With You), which chronicled their life together. Before his death, he was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Award

7. Positions and tasks Positions And Tasks Dr. Taha Hussein was appointed in many positions including working as a professor of history, Greek and Roman literature in Cairo University following his return from France. He worked as a professor of Arabic literature in the Faculty of Arts. In 1930, He was dismissed from the university following the in 1926 publication of his controversial book "On Pre-Islamic Poetry" or " On The poetry of the period of ignorance" , but the American University in Cairo appointed him and in 1942 he became an adviser to the Minister of Education and a director of the University of Alexandria until he retired on October 16, 1944. In 1950, he became a Minister of Knowledge (Ministry of Education nowadays) where he led a call for free education and the right of everyone to get educated. Additionally, he was an advocate against the confinement of education to the rich people only • Dr. Taha Hussein was appointed in many positions including working as a professor of history, Greek and Roman literature in Cairo University following his return from France. He worked as a professor of Arabic literature in the Faculty of Arts. In 1930, He was dismissed from the university following the in 1926 publication of his controversial book "On Pre-Islamic Poetry" or " On The poetry of the period of ignorance" , but the American University in Cairo appointed him and in 1942 he became an adviser to the Minister of Education and a director of the University of Alexandria until he retired on October 16, 1944. In 1950, he became a Minister of Knowledge (Ministry of Education nowadays) where he led a call for free education and the right of everyone to get educated. Additionally, he was an advocate against the confinement of education to the rich people only.

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9. Name : Noor Hussein Awadallah10th grade English classTeacher : SajaHalaseh Name : Noor Hussein Awadallah10th grade English classTeacher : SajaHalaseh