On Monday evening, the Islamic world bid farewell to the prominent Iraqi historian, Dr. Abd al-Rahman al-Hajji, in the Spanish capital, Madrid, after a pioneering scholarly career he spent serving Islamic history in general, and Andalusia in particular.
Abd al-Rahman Ali al-Hajji was born in the city of Muqdadiya in Diyala province, eastern Iraq, and grew up in a simple peasant family, according to his son Ayman al-Hajji.
His son added - to Al-Jazeera Net - "My father's life was not without struggle, and he used to work during the day with his father in agriculture, studying at night, and completed his primary and secondary studies in Diyala governorate."
He continues that he graduated from the College of Dar Al Uloom in Egypt, moved to Spain to study a master's degree at the University of Madrid, then moved to Britain to study for a doctorate at the University of Cambridge, and worked as a teacher in several universities, starting with the University of Baghdad, and at other universities in the Gulf countries, Yemen and Spain.
The Iraqi writer and researcher Ahmed Hamid says that the deceased held several administrative positions within Arab academic institutions, and was also a participant in authoring the historical curricula of a number of Arab universities, especially in the Arab Gulf region.
Al-Hajji participated in authoring the historical curricula for a number of Arab universities (communication sites)
Its place in the history of Andalusia
Dr. Abd al-Rahman al-Hajji is one of the main pillars in Andalusian history studies, because he wrote about this history from the conquest to the fall, and he had a prominent role in introducing it, according to the assistant professor of Andalusian history, Dr. Mortada Abdul Razzaq Majeed.
Majid added - to Al-Jazeera Net - that Al-Hajji was called the Sheikh of Andalusian historians because he was the first to start with Andalusian studies in Iraq, so he wrote about Andalusia in a true, neutral, accurate and clear manner, and he has more than one author and classified on the history of Andalusia, whether it is socially, politically or economically.
Majeed attributes the reason for Al-Hajji's interest in the history of Andalusia to the importance of that country, as it is called - in Iraq - the lost paradise, after the Muslims made their tremendous efforts in that land to form a human civilization that has an impact in the East, Morocco and Europe, and to its high societal position, as the issue of Andalusia is more like the Palestinian cause Today.
Hamid: Al-Hajji wrote about the civilization, history and archeology of Andalusia and was passionate about Andalusian literature (Al-Jazeera)
Positions and literature
Regarding the writings of the late Hamid, Hamid confirms that Al-Hajji has more than 21 books, distributed between history, archeology and geography, meaning that he wrote about Andalusia in terms of civilization, history and archeology, and then added to them the literary side, because he is passionate about Andalusian literature, a literature of a vital nature dominated by the romantic side. The aspect of nature and relief, as well as the philosophical aspect that awakens the mind and stimulates thinking.
He adds that the late doctor has books on Andalusia;
Poetry and novel, because the civilization of these countries is not only ancient, but also vital and still full of generosity, beauty and knowledge, and for this the late chose to reside his last days in Madrid.
Majeed believes that one of the most important works of the late is the book “Andalusian History from the Islamic Conquest until the Fall of Granada,” in which he dealt with cultural aspects in all stages and eras of that historical period, thus giving a general idea of Andalusian history.
While his son points to the last book Al-Hajji was working on until the last hour before his death, which is the book “The Miracles of the Qur’an and Prophethood,” saying that his father was about to finish it and was preparing to send it to the printing press.
According to Ayman, his late father - in the last year of his life - poured all his effort into working on this book even in times of midnight, so he worked more than 8 hours a day in research and writing.
May God have mercy on the great historian Abd al-Rahman bin Ali al-
Hajji, the author of valuable research and literature in
Andalusian and Islamic history, who moved
next
to
his Lord yesterday afternoon in Madrid after a life
full of pen-and-tongue defense of the history of
Muslims and the civilization of Islam in Andalusia
Let your covenant be watered by the era of pleasure,
so you place our souls except our winds pic.twitter.com/U8idKL2bF2
Andalusia - Abdulaziz (@Al_Andalus_) January 19, 2021
His death
Ayman states that his father was patient and had hope and did not like to complain, even though his life was full of struggle and enduring hardships outside his homeland.
It is believed that his death came as a result of sudden cardiac arrest, noting that he had not received the medical report of his death until the moment of writing this report.
Regarding the reactions of the Islamic world to the death of his father, he confirms that it was wide due to his scientific efforts and his position among historians, pointing out that he received condolences from various parts of the world.