Arabic Language Protection organises “Ahmed Shawqi” symposium

The symposium, which took place on Sunday at the association's headquarters, featured a group of academics and critics, including Dr Hind Abdul Rahman Al Mashmoum, Dr Aisha Mohammed Al Hammadi, and Dr Mahdi Awad Al Shamouti. The symposium was moderated by Professor Hamda Al Awadhi, and attended by His Excellency Dr Saeed Obaid Balith Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Society's Board of Directors, and His Excellency Mohammed Shuaib Al Hammadi, Board Member and Director of Finance and Administration, along with a number of association members and those interested in literary and cultural affairs.

Shawqi… poet of values and education

Professor Hamda Al Awadhi opened the symposium with a welcoming speech, emphasising that this meeting represents the first of the Society's in-person dialogue activities in 2025. She noted that the selection of the literature of the Prince of Poets, Ahmed Shawqi, stemmed from its lofty educational, intellectual, and moral values, which continue to inspire generations and nourish Arab thought.

Dr Hind Al Mashmoum presented a critical perspective, explaining that Shawqi was not only a poet, but also a renaissance thinker who recognised the importance of education in building human beings and shaping civilisation.

Dr Mahdi Awad Al Shamouti pointed out that although Shawqi was not a teacher in the academic sense, his poetry elevated the status of education and made teachers a symbol of renaissance and reform. Hafez Ibrahim, on the other hand, was the true teacher, whom Shawqi symbolically expressed in his poetry.

Symbolism and values in Shawqi's poetry

In another intervention, Dr Aisha Al Hammadi explained that Shawqi used animal symbolism in a simple and intelligent manner to convey educational and moral values, making him one of the first to establish the foundations of purposeful children's literature in the modern era. She added that his poetry was characterised by simplicity and depth at the same time, and was able to combine poetic aesthetics with moral content, in complete harmony with the UAE's current emphasis on values, craftsmanship, and ethics in educational curricula.

Dr Mahdi Al Shamouti also addressed the national aspect of Shawqi's poetry, noting that his nationalist and Islamic poems expressed the spirit of the nation and drew inspiration from Arab and Islamic history in exquisite artistic imagery. These include his two poems on Saladin and the Islamic nation.

He explained that Shawqi, despite being the poet of the court and a symbol of enlightenment, excelled in this poetic genre, embodying his sincere love for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He immortalied poems recited on religious occasions and taught in literary forums.

Conclusion of the symposium

At the conclusion of the symposium, the participants unanimously agreed that Ahmed Shawqi was not just a classical poet, but rather a comprehensive intellectual and literary school that combined art and education, patriotism and religion, symbolism and beauty.

The attendees affirmed that Shawqi's poetry continues to represent a beacon of human values and a renewed message in the service of identity, language, and cultural renaissance.