Salim Qabain (1870–1951) was a Palestinian teacher, journalist, writer,

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...

, and translator. He is considered one of the most important Palestinian and

Arab The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...

literary figures, especially in translation, and one of the first Arab translators who introduced the Arab reader to

Russian literature Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia and its émigrés and to Russian language, Russian-language literature. The roots of Russian literature can be traced to the Middle Ages, when epics and chronicles in Old East Slavic were c ...

, as he was nicknamed "The Dean of Translators from Russian."

Biography

Salim Qabain was born in 1870 in

Nazareth Nazareth ( ; ar, النَّاصِرَة, ''an-Nāṣira''; he, נָצְרַת, ''Nāṣəraṯ''; arc, ܢܨܪܬ, ''Naṣrath'') is the largest city in the Northern District of Israel. Nazareth is known as "the Arab capital of Israel". In ...

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...

and completed his studies at the Russian School in Nazareth. After graduating, he worked in the teaching profession and was known for his fondness for writing and literature. He published his commentary on what he read in the university magazine founded by

Farah Antun Farah Antun (Arabic: فرح انطون ), also spelled Farah Antoun (1874–1922), was among the first Lebanese Christians to openly argue for secularism and equality regardless of religious affiliation. He also, though uncommon for his backgroun ...

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...

. He joined the Arab opposition movement against the Ottomans and was forced to flee and seek refuge in Egypt in 1897 due to the threat. He taught

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

in several institutes and schools in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and continued to publish his research in ''

Al Muqattam ''Al Muqattam'' (Arabic: المقطم) was an Arabic newspaper which was published in Cairo, Egypt, between 1888 and 1952. It was one of the leading papers until its closure by the Egyptian government in 1954. The title of the paper was a referen ...

'', '' Al Mu'ayyad'', and ''Al Mahrousa'' newspapers. In

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

, he published several newspapers, including ''Al-Usbu 1900, The Bride of the Nile 1903, and ''Al Ikha'' 1924. He also published a series of novels, the first published in 1909. Selim used to take a trip every year and publish his thoughts and observations on this trip upon his return. Selim is one of the personalities who introduced the Arab reader to the great Russian writers such as

Maxim Gorky Alexei Maximovich Peshkov (russian: link=no, Алексе́й Макси́мович Пешко́в; – 18 June 1936), popularly known as Maxim Gorky (russian: Макси́м Го́рький, link=no), was a Russian writer and social ...

, Tolstoy,

Pushkin Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (; rus, links=no, Александр Сергеевич ПушкинIn pre-Revolutionary script, his name was written ., r=Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr sʲɪrˈɡʲe(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈpuʂkʲɪn, ...

, and others during his translation of many of their books and his analysis of this literature and linking the Arab reader to it. Selim is one of the Arab writers who witnessed the Baha'i religion's emergence and summarized what he knew of its principles and the history of some of its figures in his book "Abd Al-Baha and the Baha'i" published in 1922 by the Imran Press in

. In addition, his book included a summarized history of its messenger with some of its figures, especially an explanation of the biography of the life of Ibn Baha'u'llah al-Arshad and the spiritual leader of the Bahais after him, Abd Al-Baha Abbas, summarizing his life in

and his relationship with its people. The book also includes a description of Abd al-Baha's funeral and the fortieth anniversary of his death. Many Palestinian writers, notables, and others delivered the poems and sermons on these two occasions. Selim also took care of the affairs of the orthodox Arabs who had suffered from the oppression and oppression of

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

and wanted to be independent of them and manage their affairs themselves. He established charitable societies for his sect that played noble roles, and because of his Arab nervousness, the

Greeks The Greeks or Hellenes (; el, Έλληνες, ''Éllines'' ) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions, namely Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and, to a lesser extent, oth ...

made him resign from teaching and charitable work. He established the brotherhood printing press and called for Arabs and

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

to unite against the strange foreigner. Selim died in 1951 in Cairo of complications from

diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ap ...

Works

He has published several books, including: • (1908), ''“Hikmat Alnabi Muhammad”'' (The Wisdom of the Prophet Muhammad):

Leo Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...

• ''“Mahkamat Jahannam”'' (The Court of Hell):

(translated into Arabic) • ''“Unshudat Alhukm”'' (Song of Judgment): Turgenev (translated) • ''“Rabeeb Butras Alakbar Alrabi”'' (The Arab stepson of Peter the Great):

(translated) • (1912), ''“Tareekh Al Romanof”'' (History of the Romanovs) • (1929), ''“Masraa Alkaisar Nikola Althani Akhir Kayasirat Russia”'' (The death of Tsar Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia) • ''“Anwaa Algaram Fi Barees”'' (Kinds of Love in Paris) (Translated from Russian) • ''“Kisas Russiya”'' (Russian stories):

, Gorky, and others • (1904), ''“Mathhab Tulstuwi”'' (Tolstoy's doctrine) • (1914), ''“Assultan Hassan Bimunasabat Tawaleehi Alsulta Fi Misir”'' (Sultan Hassan on the occasion of his assumption of power in Egypt) • ''“Albahaeeya Wa Muasisuha”'' (The Baha'i Faith and its founders) • (1912), ''“Tareekh Alharb Aluthmaniya Aleetaliya”'' (History of the Ottoman-Italian War),

• ''“Huqooq Almara Fi Alislam”'' (Women's rights in Islam) • (1908), ''“Aldistur Walahrar”'' (Al-Dustour and Al-Ahrar),

• ''“Alsiyaha Fi Russia”''( Tourism in Russia) • ''“Nakhbu Aladab”'' (Toast to Literature):

(translated) • (1922), ''“Abdulbaha Wa Albahaiya”'' (Abdel-Baha and the Baha'i Faith), Al-Omran Press,

• (1924), ''“Kafa Tuhafid Ala Sihatik”'' (How to maintain your health) • ''“Badaeh Alkhayal”'' (Badaa' Al-Khayal-Stories): Tolstoy, translated, Cairo Dr.T. • ''“Nakhbun Min Mubtakarat Makseem Jorky”'' (Toast from Maxim Gorky's innovations): Cairo Dr. T. Biography

References

External links

للمزيد عن سليم قبعين وغيره من اعلام فلسطين يمكنك زيارة موقع مركز المعلومات الوطني الفلسطيني

بين سليم قبعين ود. ممدوح أبو الوي بقلم د. راتب سكر (2007)

محطات في تاريخ الترجمة العربية د/ محمد عمر أمطوش (2006)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Qub'ayn, Salim 1870 births 1951 deaths 20th-century Palestinian historians Palestinian educators 20th-century Palestinian journalists Palestinian translators People from the Ottoman Empire People from Nazareth