Umar Rida Kahhala
- Died
- 1408 AH
- Born in
- Damascus
Umar Rida Kahhala (1323–1408 AH / 1905–1987 CE) was a Syrian historian, biographer, and researcher from Damascus, best known for his reference works on Arabic bibliographical history and Arab genealogy .
Life and career
Kahhala was born in Damascus in 1323 AH (1905 CE) . He dedicated his career to historical and bibliographical research, documenting various facets of Islamic history and heritage, and produced more than seventy volumes over his lifetime . The final public office he held was the directorship of the Zahiriyya Library in Damascus .
Scholarly contribution
Kahhala's primary contribution lay in compiling reference works covering Arabic literature, history, and tribal genealogies. His major bibliographical work, Mu'jam al-Mu'allifin (Dictionary of Authors), comprised fifteen parts in eight volumes, cataloging deceased Arab and non-Arab writers of Arabic works from the earliest compilation of Arabic books down to the modern era whose birth and death dates or active periods were known . He later prepared a biographical supplement entitled Al-Mustadrak 'ala Mu'jam al-Mu'allifin . In the field of genealogy, he authored Mu'jam Qaba'il al-Arab al-Qadima wal-Haditha (Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Arab Tribes) .
Honors and recognition
In 1388 AH, Kahhala received the Medal of Scientific Communications from the Supreme Council of Sciences in Damascus in recognition of his research contribution to the Ninth Teachers' Week . He was also awarded the Syrian Order of Merit, First Class, in 1402 AH (and in another report, 1400 AH) in recognition of his extensive scholarly research and authorship .
Death
Kahhala died in Damascus on the afternoon of Tuesday, 1 December 1987 (1408 AH) . He was buried in the Bab al-Saghir Cemetery in Damascus .
Answer updated
List of Works
Mu'jam al-Mu'allifin (Dictionary of Authors: Biographies of the Compilers of Arabic Books) is a biographical dictionary of Arabic-language authors. It documents deceased Arab and non-Arab writers of Arabic works from the earliest compilation of Arabic books down to the modern era, restricted to individuals whose dates or active periods were known.
Mu'jam Qaba'il al-Arab al-Qadima wal-Haditha (Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Arab Tribes) is an encyclopedic reference work on the genealogies, history, and geographical distribution of Arab tribes. It serves as an accessible guide to preserve Arab genealogical and historical heritage by compiling material on tribes, clans, and lineages from both pre-Islamic and Islamic eras up to modern times.