Abbas Jarrari is one of the Moroccan names who devoted his efforts to advancing cultural, intellectual and literary affairs (Abbas Jarrari’s official website)
Abbas Al-Jarari is a prominent thinker and scholar of the Kingdom of Morocco and a reservoir of knowledge whose writings have marked an academic presence that has transcended the borders of his country.
He was born in 1937 and held several political and diplomatic positions, including advisor to the king.
He died at the beginning of 2024 due to a health problem.
He devoted his life to scientific and academic research and to defending Arabic literature in general, and Moroccan literature in particular, until he became called the dean of Moroccan literature.
He was known for his fierce defense of the Arabic language and its literature, noting that he was fluent in foreign languages, including French, English, and Spanish.
He was a contemporary of 3 Moroccan kings, Mohammed V, Hassan II, and Mohammed VI, and he is considered one of the scholarly figures.
He is a lover of Malhoun art, and wrote about Jerusalem, the Palestinian issue, the dialogue of civilizations and cultures, and issues of Islamic thought.
Some reports stated that he was in the process of publishing other parts of his autobiography, “The Nectar of a Lifetime,” and until the last days of his life he had many cultural activities, including that he was going to attend the presentation of a book of his that had been translated into Chinese.
Birth and upbringing
Abbas Jarrari was born on February 15, 1937 in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.
He grew up during the era of the French protectorate in Morocco (the beginning of the colonial period), and grew up in a family consisting of 3 brothers and 5 sisters.
He lived through some phases of resistance to French colonialism, and was imbued with the spirit of patriotism and the defense of the religious and cultural identity of his country. This concern was embodied in his various writings that combined culture, literature, criticism, poetry, and translation.
Historical sources indicate that his origin comes from a family famous for its scholars and jurists, and its sons were famous for their brilliance in the fields of science, teaching, and writing. It is affiliated with the Arabs of the “Bani Jarrar” who came to Morocco in the last half of the second century AH.
His father, Abdullah Al-Jarari, who died in 1983, was one of the resistors of French colonialism, and one of the icons of religion, culture, and education. His son Abbas considers him the first teacher in his life, as he was greatly influenced by him, and he was credited with refining his personality, so he followed his approach in the field of writing and drew from his scientific interests.
Study and scientific training
His formative path was characterized by diversity and difference, not only in the institutions, but also in the countries in which he chose to pursue his education, and this move, for him, was not in vain, but rather with known motives.
The father made sure that his son Abbas received an education in the Qur’anic book, and then he enrolled him in the Laymoun School in the capital, Rabat, which was a French school.
Because of his patriotic stances, which brought him great difficulties, he was forced to move to continue his education at the Youssoufieh High School, which was open to Moroccan children, and which was instrumental in forming national expertise and leadership and preparing them for the post-independence period to contribute to building modern Morocco.
He chose to travel to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, where he obtained a high school diploma in 1957. He then entered Cairo University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Arabic language and literature in 1961.
He continued his educational path by obtaining a master's degree in 1965, then a state doctorate in arts in 1969. He remembers what his academic level was in this country and how he received encouragement from the Presidency of the Republic.
After his study experience in Egypt, he took France as his second academic destination, where he registered for a second doctorate from the Sorbonne University and obtained it on the subject “Muslims of Spain and their Journeys to the East,” which prompted him to learn the Spanish language to add it to his linguistic repertoire.
Then, in 1981, he participated in the Moroccan-American Cooperation Program “Fulbright” for Excellence in Teaching in America, which is related to education and culture. This diversity of models of educational attainment in Egypt, France, and America helped him expand the circle of his scientific and academic interests.
Jobs and responsibilities
During his career, he held many administrative jobs and positions, which he launched by joining the diplomatic field through his work at the Moroccan Embassy in Cairo in 1962.
However, he thought about returning to Morocco and joined the teaching staff at Mohammed V University in Rabat in 1966.
In 1973, he was elected the first president of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences of Mohammed V University.
In 1979, King Hassan II appointed him as a professor at the “Mawlawiyya School” (a school affiliated with the Royal Palace where princes and some outstanding students selected from the general population studied), and he was charged with teaching the princes Islamic education, national education, and some subjects such as Islamic thought and literary texts.
He was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakesh in March 1980, and Hassan II assigned him a mission at the Royal Court in January 1999. King Mohammed VI also appointed him on March 29, 2000, as his advisor immediately after assuming power.
Scientific and cultural experience
He was elected a member of the Administrative Committee of the National Syndicate for Higher Education and its Executive Office (1969-1973). He was also appointed Director of Postgraduate Studies for Teacher Training at the University in 1982.
In 1983, he obtained membership in the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and in the Regional Scientific Council of the State (Governorate) of Rabat.
In 1998, he was appointed head of the Western Islamic Literature Unit for postgraduate studies at Mohammed V University.
In addition to his rich scientific experience through his membership in scientific academies and national, Arab and international advisory bodies, and his experience in international organizations such as the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the African Organization and the Arab Organization for Culture (ALESCO).
Abbas Jarrari is considered one of the Moroccan names who devoted his efforts to the advancement of cultural, intellectual and literary affairs, and he paid great attention to issues of dialogue between civilizations and religions and bringing Islamic sects closer together.
He joined the Moroccan Writers Union in 1962, when he was only 25 years old, and was elected a member of its executive office during its third conference held in December 1970.
His passion for the cultural field made him think about completing his father’s cultural project for the Jarrari family, which he founded in 1930, known as the “Jarrari Literary Club,” which is a forum where Moroccan and foreign scholars and literary figures meet after every Friday afternoon.
After the death of his father, Abdullah Al-Jarari, his son, Abbas, took up the torch and continued the club’s activities by organizing seminars and discussion panels on various issues, keeping the same schedule, but in his home, opening the door to university students, youth, and Arab and non-Arab guests from Morocco, and crowning his work with issuing scientific research and articles.
June 27, 2009 was historic for Al-Jarari, as he launched the “Abdullah Al-Jarari Award in Thought and Literature”, which is organized every two years, to select the best topics related to the intellectual and literary heritage and those that deal with the relationship of thought and literature to the current issues of the nation.
Abbas Al-Jarari concluded his series of books with the book “The Nectar of a Lifetime,” in which he discussed his biography (ICESCO page on the X website)
Writings and achievements
His long and rich scientific career was characterized by remarkable intellectual contributions and diverse academic research.
He has a valuable collection of books and publications that range from Moroccan studies, folklore, and Arab-Islamic literature.
He also devoted part of his writings to Andalusian studies and issues of Islamic thought, culture, and thought.
The books written by nearly 100 authors, the most notable of which are:
The Struggle in Arabic Poetry in Morocco from 1830 to 1912.
The Palestinian issue in Moroccan poetry until the Ramadan War.
Ashura among the Moroccans.
The singing tune between Andalusia and Morocco.
Holy Jerusalem and the desired reform.
Self and other.
And other books that he concluded with “The Nectar of a Lifetime” (2021), which is an autobiography that he said during its presentation ceremony that it was an attempt to reveal the mysteries and answer some question marks.
Awards and honors
Thanks to his scientific contributions, he was honored by several Moroccan, Arab and international scientific and university institutions, and he received at least 50 medals and shields and more than 40 honours, the most prominent of which are:
In Egypt, he was awarded the Order of Merit in 1965.
Knight of the Throne Order in Morocco in 1980.
Medal of the Arab Historian in 1987.
Order of the Throne, Officer Grade (Morocco 1994).
National Efficiency Medal, rank of Commander (Morocco 1996).
Order of the Throne, Senior Officer (Morocco 2016).
Medal of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco (1990).
Grand Prize of Merit (Morocco 1992).
Medal of the Republic, first class, from Tunisia in 2000.
ISESCO Medal, First Class, 2006.
Jordanian Kawkab Medal, First Class, 2010.
Death
Abbas Al-Jarari died on the evening of Saturday, January 20, 2024, in his hometown, the capital, Rabat, leaving behind a significant scientific and academic legacy.
Source: Al Jazeera