Ahmad bin Abd al-Ghafur Attar
- Died
- 1411 AH
- Born in
- Mecca
Ahmad bin Abd al-Ghafur Attar (1337–1411 AH / 1919–1991 CE) was a Saudi scholar, writer, and journalist from Mecca . He founded the prominent newspaper Okaz and authored numerous works spanning Islamic thought, Arabic language, and literature .
Early Life and Education
Attar was born in Mecca in 1337 AH (1919 CE) . He studied there and graduated from the Saudi Scientific Institute (al-Ma'had al-'Ilmi al-Su'udi) . He was subsequently sent on an educational scholarship to Egypt, where he enrolled in the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University, though he did not complete his formal degree .
During his stay in Egypt, he associated with various literary figures; however, his connections—including contact with the writer Salama Moussa—led to accusations that he was propagating harmful rumors against the Saudi government . Consequently, he was removed from the scholarship program and returned to Mecca, where he was imprisoned, before being exiled to Riyadh and detained in the Masmak fortress for several months . He documented these events in his autobiographical work Bayn al-Sijn wa-al-Manfa ("Between Prison and Exile") .
Career and Journalism
After his release, Attar settled in Mecca and was employed in civil service, including a post in the General Directorate of Public Security, before resigning to dedicate himself fully to research, writing, and cultural endeavors .
In 1379 AH, he established the newspaper Okaz and served as its editor-in-chief twice . He also launched a monthly Islamic periodical in Mecca titled Kalimat al-Haqq in 1386 AH (reported elsewhere as 1387 AH), though its publication eventually ceased . Attar contributed articles to various publications, frequently writing under pen names such as al-Jahiz, Sharifa Abd Allah, Abd Allah Makki, and Ubayd al-Hazim .
In his early literary career, he published a single poetry collection, al-Hawa wa-al-Shabab ("Passion and Youth"), in 1362 AH, which was prefaced by Taha Hussein with praise for its diction, emotional depth, and reflection of early Hijazi poetic traditions .
Standing and Recognition
In 1405 AH, Attar was awarded the Saudi State Merit Award in Literature . From 1408 AH, he donated his personal library, consisting of twenty-five thousand volumes (reported in another account as twenty-six thousand), to the Library of the Grand Mosque in Mecca .
Scholars commended his steadfastness in religious discourse; the Indian scholar Abu al-Hasan Ali al-Hasani al-Nadwi, who had known him since 1369 AH, noted that throughout thousands of pages across various subjects, Attar consistently demonstrated zeal in defending Islam and reverence for the Prophet ﷺ without deviating from Islamic principles .
Death
Attar fell ill late in life and relocated to Jeddah, where he died on Friday, 17 Rajab 1411 AH (February 1991 CE), at the age of approximately seventy-four .
Answer updated
List of Works
Aslah al-Adyan lil-Insaniyya Aqida wa Sharia is a comparative religious treatise that investigates ancient and contemporary world religions and social philosophies. The work examines various belief systems to determine which framework comprehensively fulfills human needs across both doctrine (aqida) and sacred law (sharia).