SAUDI HISTORIAN : Darah releases 19 volumes of Saudi historian Ibrahim bin Issa’s works

The works consist of 19 volumes, encompassing the writings of the historian as well as his summaries and correspondences, shedding light on his time.

Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of the board of directors of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, inaugurated the launch ceremony of the complete works of Saudi historian Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Issa on Wednesday at Darah headquarters.

These works consist of 19 volumes, encompassing the writings of the historian as well as his summaries and correspondences, shedding light on his time.

Speaking on behalf of his family Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, expressed the family’s gratitude and appreciation to Darah (the foundation) for this honor, which celebrates their ancestor’s scholarly legacy.

He said that the publication documents the historian’s long academic journey, characterized by precision and objectivity in various scientific fields.

He also expressed the family’s pride that this work will serve as an important reference for researchers and those interested in Saudi history and culture. 

Furthermore, he praised the tremendous efforts made by Darah in realizing this monumental project, noting that this recognition reflects the significance of knowledge in strengthening national identity.

The work on the project took several years and went through numerous stages, involving a team of about 20 people, said Dr. Fahd Al-Samari, secretary-general of Darah.

Al-Samari told Arab News: “The project followed a clear methodology, where we gathered as much of the heritage of historian Ibrahim bin Issa as possible and conducted a thorough investigation.”

Given the project’s scale and the diversity of fields covered, which include religious, historical, linguistic and geographical arts, several specialized committees were formed for the project, including the supervisory committee, the text editing and verification committee, and the manuscript and document collection committee, Al-Samari added.

Bin Issa relied on more than 700 sources for his work, including 570 manuscripts and documents from across the Kingdom, while the remaining sources were distributed between Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, and the US.

Bin Issa was born in 1854 in Ushaiger town, 200 kilometers northwest of Riyadh, and lived for about 71 years. He was a scholar, historian and genealogist, and one of the most prominent historians of the Najd region.

Al-Samari pointed out that Darah was established to fulfill a noble mission, which is to serve the history of Saudi Arabia, its geography, and its intellectual literature, as well as to collect various historical sources, including documents related to the Kingdom, classify them, and enrich the historical library with scientific research.

Darah has devoted special attention to the prominent figures of the Kingdom, honoring their rights, highlighting achievements, celebrating contributions, appreciating efforts, and acknowledging their glory.

“Since establishment, Saudi Arabia has sought to make knowledge the foundation for building the state. Under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has witnessed a comprehensive renaissance in all fields, with the most significant being in the areas of national heritage,” Al-Samari concluded.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Prince Faisal bin Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Darah, is seen in a group photo with several descendants of historian Ibn Issa on Wednesday evening in Riyadh.

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SAUDI ARABIA

ARABS – HISTORY : Arabs migrated from central region to establish kingdoms in Iraq, Levant, Egypt, says Saudi historian Prof. Suleiman Al-Theeb

Dr. Suleiman Al-Theeb presents research at Riyadh International Book Fair

Kingdom’s literature commission organized the event from Sept. 26-Oct. 5

Only a group of tribes later described as Arabs inhabited the area now known as the Arabian Peninsula in antiquity and modern times, and other ethnicities lived there temporarily, a leading Saudi Arabia historian has said.

Dr. Suleiman Al-Theeb, who is a professor of ancient Arabic inscriptions at King Saud University, presented some of his research during a panel discussion titled “Ancient Arabic Writings” at the Riyadh International Book Fair.

The panelists focused on the deep-rooted cultural heritage of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The fair was organized by the Kingdom’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission between Sept. 26 and Oct. 5.

During the discussions, Al-Theeb talked about the meanings of ancient Arab inscriptions, and writings in the Arabic script.

He said the term “Arab” was first used to describe a group of tribes during the Assyrian era, in the 8th and 9th centuries B.C.E.

He added that migrations from the Arabian Peninsula began from the central region, moving northward to Mesopotamia, Greater Syria, and Egypt, where immigrants settled and established kingdoms.

Al-Theeb said the oldest known Arab inscription, found in the city of Lachish in Palestine, is Thamudic and dates to 1300 B.C.E.

“Initially, it was believed to be Phoenician and dated to 1509 B.C.E., but it was later confirmed to combine South Arabian script and Thamudic letters,” he said.

Al-Theeb has written extensively about civilizations dating back thousands of years in the Arabian Peninsula.

He is a writer, historian, researcher and an expert in archaeology and ancient languages of the region, and spoke extensively about his work at the fair.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Prof. Suleiman Al-Theeb said the term “Arab” was first used to describe a group of tribes during the Assyrian era, in the 8th and 9th centuries BCE.  (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA / ARAB WORLD