Al-‘Aqqad: His contribution to modern Arab thought and literature

Abstract

One of the most well-known scholars in Arab literary world of the twentieth century was Abbas Mahmud al-‘Aqqad (1889-1964). He was a famous writer, poet, intellectualist, novelist, journalist, columnist and a literary critic. Throughout the creative periods of ‘Aqqad’s life; many facts were responsible for his modern cultural views, intellectual thoughts as well as memorable for his influential literary contribution. The purpose of this article is to analyze the biography of Abbas Mahmud al-‘Aqqad and focus the influential contributions to modern Arab thought and literature of him. He was one of the most important figures who contributed immense for shaping Arabic prose literature in a standard trend as well as modernized the Arabic poetry and criticism. He also wrote for socio-political modification and up gradation which brought a distinct and profound change in modern Arab thought, literary conscience and intellectual domain as expressed in his different writings.

Keywords: Al-‘Aqqad, Freedom of thought, Intellectual domain, literary fashion, literary contribution