“On Shores of Arabic Poetry” .. Seminar at CIBF

The Muslim Council of Elders’ stand at the Cairo International Book Fair hosted its 16th cultural seminar, titled “The Shores of Arabic Poetry.”

The event featured Prof. Dr. Saber Abdel Dayem, former Dean of the Faculty of Arabic Language in Zagazig and Chairman of the Universal League of Islamic Literature in Cairo. The seminar was moderated by Yasmin Obeid, a participant in the Emerging Peacemakers Forum.

The seminar explored the richness of the Arabic language, its deep connection to the Quran, and Al-Azhar’s role in promoting Arabic and advancing the Arabization of sciences. It also emphasized that Islamic literature complements, rather than contradicts, Arabic literature, and highlighted the resilience of Arabic in the digital age, despite the increasing influence of foreign languages.

Opening the discussion, Prof. Dr. Saber Abdel Dayem described Arabic as a language of knowledge and life, firmly rooted among both Arabs and non-Arabs alike. While not exclusive to Arab speakers, he noted that Arabic needs greater global recognition and a stronger digital presence. He further stressed that Arabizing scientific disciplines requires significant translation efforts to keep pace with rapid advancements in various fields.

Prof. Dr. Abdel Dayem highlighted that the Arabic language remains vibrant in daily life, reflected in books, newspapers, magazines, radio broadcasts, and school textbooks. He praised the role of book fairs across the Arab and Islamic world, noting how they foster competition in Arabic-language publishing and disseminate knowledge across various fields, including literature, religion, and social sciences.

As part of the seminar, the former Dean of the Faculty of Arabic Language recited several of his poems at the Muslim Council of Elders’ stand. Among the highlights were Al-Jabal ("The Mountain"), which explores themes related to Mecca, and Al-Mosafir fi Sonbolat Al-Zamn ("The Traveler in the Stalks of Time"), a piece from the travel literature genre.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a special stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide array of the Council's distinguished publications, in addition to hosting a series of seminars, activities, and events focused on promoting the values of kindness, love, peace, and communal coexistence among all people.