A teacher who connected cultures: on the 100th anniversary of Hasan al-Naqqash
Author: Asia-Plus (Tajikistan)
On October 5 this year, we mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of a man warmly remembered in Dushanbe and beyond – Hasan Ibrahim al-Naqqash. For some, he was a strict but wise teacher; for others, an enthusiastic researcher and poet; and for everyone who knew him, a person sincerely devoted to science, language, and culture.
🔶 From Karbala to Dushanbe
He was born in 1925 in Karbala, Iraq —a city rich in history and spirituality. Fate brought him to distant Dushanbe in the early 1950s. Here, he found a new home and a calling – to share his knowledge of the Arabic language and the rich world of Eastern culture with others.
🔶 The First Arabic Language Mentor
Thanks to him, Arabic was introduced as a separate discipline in Dushanbe schools and at the Pedagogical Institute. From 1958, he taught in the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at Tajik State University.
Many of his students recall that after his lessons, Arabic no longer seemed “difficult and foreign” but became an engaging key to understanding the history, philosophy, and literature of the East.
🔶 Scholar and Translator
In addition to teaching, he was deeply involved in research. At the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Hasan al-Naqqash participated in publishing the multi-volume works of Ibn Sina and translated Arabic texts into the Tajik language. He also translated Ibn Sina’s work Daneshnama from Tajik into Arabic, making it accessible to millions of Arabic-speaking readers. His book Silsilat-i Buwayhiyan was published posthumously in 1989.
Yet for many, he is remembered not only as a scholar but as a person who loved poetry, wrote verses, and could speak about complex matters in simple, eloquent words.
🔶 Legacy and Memory
Hasan al-Naqqash passed away in January 1986, but his work continues through his students and followers. Today, a century after his birth, we can see the profound impact he had on the development of Arabic studies in Tajikistan. His life exemplifies how one person can bridge different cultures and bring new energy to scholarship and education.
The memory of Hasan al-Naqqash is the memory of a generation that believed in the power of knowledge, cultural dialogue, and mutual respect. And in the year of his centenary, we need to say: Thank you, Ustod!
