Academics call for translation of all Western writings on Arab

They stressed the importance of translating all documented writings in this field and making them accessible to Arab researchers to bridge knowledge gaps caused by the scarcity of available information and the limited number of Arabic-documented sources, particularly in historical and heritage studies.

This discussion took place during a seminar titled "Arab Cultural Heritage in Western Writings," held at Al Bait Al Gharbi as part of Sharjah Heritage Days. The event featured the participation of Dr. Saif Al Bedwawi, Dr. Ali Afifi, Dr. Masoud Idris, and researcher Ali Ahmed Al-Kindi Al-Marrar, and was moderated by Dr. Mini Bounama, Director of Content and Publishing Department at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage.

During his intervention, researcher Ali Ahmed Al-Kindi Al-Marrar stated:

"The scarcity of information about a historically significant city like Al-Dhafra, along with the insufficiency of oral traditions and the loss of many contemporary sources, prompted me to explore the writings of Western travelers who visited and documented the city. I have gained valuable insights from their records. While some of these travelers had specific perspectives, the information they left behind is worthy of attention. Through their accounts, we were able to learn about numerous historical landmarks, such as fortresses and watchtowers in the city, which played a key role in preserving much of our heritage from being lost."

For his part, Dr. Saif Al Bedwawi discussed the journey of Sir Percy Cox, the British political resident in the Gulf at the time, pointing out that his study of Cox’s travels revealed several informational gaps. He noted that the maps recorded during that period did not accurately depict Jebel Hafeet, located near Al-Buraimi, nor did they precisely reference the villages between Al-Buraimi and Dhank or the mountain range between Ibri and Jabrin. Furthermore, he highlighted the absence of any comprehensive surveys of the interior regions of Oman.

In his paper titled "The Cultural Heritage of Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula in Western Writings," Dr. Ali Afifi explained that the diverse backgrounds of Western travelers led to variations in their perspectives when documenting the region. He remarked:

"Despite the significance of studying their writings, it is crucial to subject them to thorough analysis and scrutiny. Some travelers remain unknown, while others exaggerated their accounts. Meanwhile, certain travelers documented their journeys based on professional circumstances or preconceived notions, which were often inaccurate." He also explored the evolution of Arabic calligraphy and its historical journey.

Dr. Masoud Idris, a professor at the University of Sharjah, categorized historical and heritage studies into three distinct periods based on the timeframes in which they were written. The first category includes works written between the 8th and 15th centuries, the second category covers writings from the 15th to 19th centuries, and the third category spans from the 20th century to the present day. He also highlighted the significant role played by German and English scholars in translating the sources of Islamic civilization. Additionally, he emphasized the need to remain vigilant about how historians’ perspectives evolve over time when analyzing the same historical period, as their viewpoints are often shaped by shifting intellectual and societal contexts.