- Ahmad Reda
Sheikh Ahmad Reda (1872-1953) ( _ar. الشيخ أحمد رضا) was one of the foremost scholars of
Arab literature and linguistics.Early life
Born in
Nabatiyeh , he was a main supporter ofKing Faisal 'sGreater Syria n rule , following theArab Revolt in theFirst World War . As a writer, a poet and a linguist, he was a member of the Arab Academy of Sciences inDamascus , and considered to be one of the greatest intellectuals to have emerged fromGreater Syria , in the twentieth century.Reform
He was one of the three reformers to have started a scientific and social renaissance movement in
Jabal Amel , the other two being historianMohammad Jaber al-Safa and sheikh Suleiman Daher. They had formed a prominent intellectual gathering, known as "the Ameli Three", helping establish foundations and associations aiming at eradicating illiteracy in the region. This movement was part of what is known asAl-Nahda . He and his companions spent two months inAley 's military prison, because of the group's violent stands against the Ottoman rule.Legacy
Sheikh Ahmad Reda wrote "Matn al-lugha", the first dictionary of
Arab language since "Lisan al-Arab", written in the 13th century. He was described by Egyptian scholar Ahmad Amine as the "greatest writer in theLevant , and the greatest linguist in theArab world ". He is the uncle of prominent scientistHassan Kamel Al-Sabbah .ee also
*
List of Arab scholars External links
* [http://www.islamonline.net/Arabic/history/1422/06/article18.shtml www.islamonline.net]
* [http://www.asharqalarabi.org.uk/markaz/m_rijal-a-r.htm www.asharqalarabi.org.uk]
* [http://www.ahrarsyria.com/new_11-17-40.htm www.ahrarsyria.com]
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