Abkar Al-Suqaf: Egyptian Poet
Born on January 13, 1913, in Cairo, Egypt, Abkar Al-Suqaf comes from a diverse heritage, with her father, Muhammad Said Al-Suqaf, hailing from Yemen and her mother originating from Turkey. She spent her formative years in Egypt, where her father actively participated in the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, led by Sharif Hussein bin Ali. Abkar passed away in 1989 while visiting her sister in Kuwait.
Here are some key highlights regarding Abkar Al-Suqaf:
Personal Life
Abkar’s parents migrated to Cairo before settling in Alexandria, where they enjoyed a comfortable financial status. This privileged upbringing allowed Abkar to receive an extensive education, becoming proficient in Arabic, English, and French.
In 1929, Abkar became engaged to Prince Muhammad Idris Al-Sanusi, who was the Emir of Cyrenaica at that time before ascending to the throne of Libya. However, their engagement was short-lived, ending just a year later due to political disagreements between Prince Muhammad and Abkar’s father.
Despite her deep affection for the prince, which she revealed in her later years by expressing sorrow over the fleeting nature of their love, Abkar married Mustafa Al-Kharboutli shortly after. Tragically, he passed away from appendicitis after just three months of marriage. In 1960, she married a Turkish man named Omar Bsein, but this union lasted only three years.
Literary Career
Abkar Al-Suqaf had a profound passion for reading, particularly in the fields of politics, literature, and philosophy. She was particularly interested in comparative religion. Her writing journey began in her youth, and she frequently attended cultural seminars at the salon of Abbas Al-Akkad.
Throughout her literary career, Abkar explored various topics in her writings, but many of her works contained themes that were considered controversial for publication in Egypt at the time. As a result, numerous publishers declined to work with her. Nonetheless, the Anglo-Egyptian Library managed to publish two volumes of her work, “Towards Broader Horizons.” Unfortunately, these editions were confiscated by authorities, leaving only a limited number in circulation.
Selected Works
Here are some notable works by Abkar Al-Suqaf:
- “Towards Broader Horizons,” published in two volumes by the Anglo-Egyptian Library; after censorship removed initial copies, the Arab Publishing Foundation released the trilogy in 2004.
- “Religion in the Arabian Peninsula” (Published in 2004)
- “Israel and the Doctrine of the Promised Land” (Published in two editions)
- “A Whisper to Israel” (Published in English, remains untranslated into Arabic)
- “The Night and the Pen” (Unpublished)
- “Christ” (Unpublished)
- “Scattered Echoes” (Autobiography)