- Al Asfour Library was the first private library established in the eighteenth century AD
- Bahrain entered the third millennium with a pioneering cultural project
- The Issa Cultural Center and its national library can accommodate half a million books
Since its entry into Islam, Bahrain has witnessed a movement of writing, transmission, and authorship, and many clerics emerged who wrote books in various fields such as jurisprudence, literature, philosophy, history, and translations, beginning in the second century AH. The clerics formed their own libraries filled with books and manuscripts written by Bahraini scholars. Most of them were mentioned in biographical books, including, for example, “Images of Islamic Culture in Bahrain during 14 Centuries” by historian Salem Al-Nuwaidari, and “Index of Bahrain Manuscripts” by Ali Abu Hussein, who supervised the Historical Documents Center in Bahrain.
Researcher and historian Mansour Sarhan stated, according to a study conducted in the year 2001 in which the number of libraries of various types and functions in Bahrain was documented, that there are 661 libraries, with 827 male and female employees, including 9 public libraries, 239 school libraries currently known as learning resource centers, and 200 A specialized library in the public and private sectors, 5 academic libraries, 80 commercial libraries, in addition to thousands of private libraries in citizens’ homes, 29 private libraries containing few manuscripts, and 6 libraries rich in ancient manuscripts and rare books.
Private libraries
Researcher Sarhan confirmed that the concept of private libraries in the history of Bahrain began to emerge at the hands of clerics. The beginning was a few books that the cleric placed in his bedroom, and over the days the matter developed into collecting them in wooden boxes that he carried with him wherever he moved and settled. Then private libraries began to expand somewhat. Gradually, the phenomenon of piling books in a scholar’s bedroom or living room became a common occurrence at that time.
Sarhan mentioned in a research paper entitled “The History of Libraries in Bahrain… The Beginning and Development,” that it became clear after research and study that private libraries developed in an organized manner in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries AD, at the hands of a few men of science and literature, and the phenomenon continued to spread throughout the century. The twentieth century, until it reached its peak at the end of the last century, when private libraries became the hallmark of intellectuals in the country, and it became difficult to limit these libraries due to their large number, and it is rare to find a home in Bahrain at the present time that is devoid of a collection of books and some magazines and periodicals.
Writing and composing
He pointed out that the writing and writing movement in Bahrain was influenced in the seventh century AH by the intellectual movement that spread to many Arab countries, especially Iraq and Egypt. In this century, many poets, scholars, and writers excelled, who dedicated themselves to writing about matters of language, literature, rhetoric, philosophy, history, translations, and other things. From a variety of knowledge, which made the seventh century AH the beginning of the active phase of writing and authorship movements in Bahrain.
Sarhan cited what Muhammad Ali Al-Tajer mentioned in his book “The Contract of the Pearls in the History of Awal” regarding one of the periods of intellectual development in Bahrain, specifically in the Middle Ages, that “Bahrain, in the Middle Ages, had high knowledge and a thriving market for knowledge, and brilliant scholars were found there in an infinite number, so no A town or village is almost devoid of the presence of several of them, and each one of them has a school adjacent to the mosque in which he prays, in which he gives lessons and research to his students. A large group of scholars and virtuous people who are mentioned in Rukban have graduated from these schools, and students from the farthest countries came to them. It is called Dar Al-Ilm.”
Sarhan added that among the areas where private libraries in Bahrain have spread remarkably is Nabih Saleh Island. On the land of this island was a large number of scholars and jurists, and the movement of copying books was active there, especially in the eleventh and twelfth centuries of the noble Prophet’s migration, and this became The island is a thriving educational area, due to the presence of dozens of scholars and large numbers of students from various parts of Bahrain. Scholars were establishing schools near or adjacent to their homes at that time. Scholars established their own libraries and allowed their students to benefit from their holdings. They would bring some of their books from India, Iran and Iraq. These books are limited in number and mostly hand-copied.
Quantum leap
Sarhan said that the Al-Asfour Library is the first private library established in the eighteenth century AD, which has been documented by many sources. Their great grandfather, Sheikh Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al-Asfour, was interested in writing and acquiring books, so he created his own library that included the most important and famous books written in his time. It also included among its holdings 21 treatises, all of them on jurisprudence, except for one treatise, which is a philosophical treatise entitled “Essence and Presentation”, and all of these treatises are among his works. The reason for the prosperity of the Al Asfour Library and other private libraries that were established later is due to the establishment of security in Bahrain at the hands of the rulers of Bahrain from The honorable Al Khalifa family, who made strenuous efforts and sacrificed precious and precious things in order to make Bahrain an oasis of security and peace, and the movement of education and writing flourished there, and the establishment of libraries of all kinds, especially during the era of the former ruler of Bahrain, His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.
He pointed out that Bahrain witnessed a qualitative shift in the development and activation of private libraries in Bahrain, at the hands of Sheikh Ibrahim bin Muhammad Al Khalifa in the nineteenth century AD. Sheikh Ibrahim is considered the most prominent poets and enlightened writers who emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century in generosity and openness, as he was born in the year 1850. He lived until 1923.
Sarhan mentioned that Sheikh Ibrahim was distinguished by qualities that made him a beacon of knowledge and radiance throughout the years of his life. He was a writer, poet, intellectual and reformer. He devoted his efforts to spreading cultural awareness among citizens through several means, the most important of which was transforming his council in the city of Muharraq into a cultural forum, and his council was a forum. For poets and writers, debates are held, debates rage, and debates arise about matters of thought and literature.
Sheikh of writers
Sarhan also confirmed that Bahraini women benefited from listening to what was going on in the Sheikh Ibrahim Forum, by standing close to the windows of the council, and despite the embarrassment of others and their request that Sheikh Ibrahim dismiss the women, he saw otherwise, and did not mind them standing and listening to what was going on. In his council, the intention behind this was to educate women and encourage them to seek education and knowledge. Sheikh Ibrahim was not satisfied with all the literary discussion that was taking place in his council, but rather he took an important step, which was to establish his own library in his home close to his council, and he spent a lot of money to buy Arabic books. Which was available in India, as it was the first country to be interested in printing Arabic books, thus creating an organized private library that attracted the attention of learners, poets, and writers at the time, and that was in the last quarter of the nineteenth century AD.
In this context, Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa confirmed that this library and its furniture were brought from India when Sheikh Ibrahim returned with it in the early seventies of the nineteenth century AD. He also returned from there with the nucleus of a valuable library containing first editions of books dating back to That period of time, of which only about 400 books remain, which his contemporaries say constitutes a small percentage of what his library contained.
Researcher Sarhan continued that Sheikh Ibrahim’s private library was not limited to books only, but also extended to the acquisition of magazines and periodicals such as “Al-Muqtataf” from Cairo, and “Al-Urwa Al-Wuthqa” published in Paris, and the arrival of other Arab newspapers and periodicals to his library, including: Al-Ahram and Al-Manar from Egypt. The newspapers of the Arab communities in the American diaspora reached it, including “Al-Sayeh” and “Al-Huda” newspapers, and since the beginning of the twentieth century, many scientific, political, social, and other newspapers and magazines began to be published in the Arab world, and Sheikh Ibrahim tried to subscribe to most of them, as the book “Libraries in Bahrain: Its Origins, Types, and Services” issued in 2001, all the Arabic periodicals and newspapers that were received by Sheikh Ibrahim Library, which numbered 24 newspapers and magazines.
Sarhan added that the huge amount of newspapers and periodicals that were coming to Sheikh Ibrahim’s library clearly demonstrates his broad culture and his interest in matters of thought and literature, which made him worthy of being called the “Sheikh of Writers.” Thus, Sheikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa is the most prominent pioneer in establishing private libraries. In the Kingdom of Bahrain and the entire Arabian Gulf region at the end of the nineteenth century AD and the beginning of the twentieth century.
Commercial libraries
In a related context, researcher and historian Mansour Sarhan reported that among the types of libraries that were established in Bahrain, especially in the second decade of the twentieth century, were “commercial libraries,” which are libraries that sell books. These libraries had a large and influential role in spreading culture among members of Bahraini society. .
He pointed out that Muhammad Ali Al-Tajer was the first to establish a bookstore in Bahrain in 1920 and called it (Al-Tajer’s Library) after its owner. It is located east of Al-Tawaweesh Market in the city of Manama. This market, known for its narrow alleys, is scattered with some gold and tailoring shops, and washing and ironing shops. The clothes that the Indians used to work in, and it was also an area where pearl merchants gathered, and a café of their own was established called (The Tawweesh Café), so this area was among the most important areas of the capital at that time, vibrant and active, adding that Muhammad Ali the merchant’s choice of the location of his library was not arbitrary, but rather It was a deliberate and planned matter, as missionary activity in Bahrain was at its peak at that time, and the people, especially the clerics, including Sheikh Muhammad Ali Al-Tajer, were resisting the missionary movement with all their might, and confronting those attempts that extended from the hospital and the school to the library. The commercial library It was affiliated with the American Mission and was found on February 3, 1894, when Zwemer opened the first missionary bookstore in Bahrain. This store was used as a morning clinic to provide medical services.
Missionary Library
Sarhan said that the missionary library later opened a branch in the Tawaweesh market area a few years before the merchant opened his library, and its shelves included English and Arabic books and some magazines, although its most important stock was the collection of copies of the Bible, and he frequented this library before the merchant opened his elite library. Among the educated Bahraini intellectuals, among them were the poet Ibrahim Al-Arrayed, Ali Al-Tajer, and Kamal Al-Mahza, who had friendships with her supervisor, called Daniel (of Lebanese nationality).
Sarhan mentioned that Muhammad Ali Al-Tajer decided to distract people from visiting the mission library by opening his library, which was close to the mission library, in a small shop, surrounded by wooden cabinets that included the greatest works of the Arab and Islamic heritage and some manuscripts and rare books, but the focus was on books on jurisprudence, language, and literature. .
He said: The opening of the first local bookstore to sell books was one of the new things for the Bahraini citizen at that time. Rather, it was an important event worthy of a visit and inspection, and this is what happened at the beginning of the year 1920. As soon as the people heard the news of the opening of the merchant’s bookstore, dozens of those who had obtained a share of education flocked there to buy The books they needed, and the library became a forum for writers and scholars, where they would meet and dialogue among themselves on matters of literature, language, and religion.
When he was a young man, the visual artist Abdul Karim Al-Arrayed described watching the conversation and discussion that took place among the library’s literary visitors, saying, “When the discussion rages between one of the visitors and Muhammad Ali Al-Tajer on topics of literature or religion, you think that a war has broken out, back and forth, each one of them wants to confirm that His opinion is sound, and we are a group of young people listening to conversations that we have no part in delving into, for the knights of literature have raced to challenge.”
Sarhan continued by saying: It is unfortunate that this library, which lasted for 47 years, was destined to stop and close after the death of its owner on Thursday afternoon in the year 1967.
Kamaliya Library
In addition, Sarhan said: The Kamali Library, which was founded by Salman Ahmed Kamal in a building he owned on Bab Al Bahrain Street in Manama in the year 1921, is the second commercial library. Bahrain’s writer Ibrahim Al-Arrayed and Ahmed Obaid, who worked with his father in the National Library, agree that the Kamali Library was different. In terms of its contents, Al-Tajer’s library was provided with various dictionaries, atlases, books of biographies, the works of Al-Manfaluti, Al-Mazni, and Al-Zayat, and some stories and scientific, historical, and literary books. It contained fewer religious books that were dominant in the Al-Tajer and Al-Wataniya libraries later, and what increased its fame was that it was imported for the first time in History of Bahrain Some of the Arab newspapers and magazines that were delivered to it from Egypt, including: Al-Muqattam, Al-Muqtataf, Al-Manar, Al-Ahram, Al-Hilal, and Al-Musawar. It became the sole distributor in Bahrain for the Kuwait magazine issued by Abdulaziz Al-Rasheed, and in the 1940s he ceded all his agencies for bringing and distributing newspapers to Al-Moayyed Library. The library continued until the death of its owner in 1983.
National Library
Sarhan mentioned that the National Library, owned by Ibrahim Obaid, is the third and last commercial library that Bahrain witnessed in the 1920s. It was established in the year 1929 in the merchants’ market in the Qaisariya market area in Muharraq. It was transferred after 8 years to the city of Manama in the year 1937 on Bab Al-Bahrain Street. In the early 1940s, he took a successful step by selling the Arabic newspapers and magazines that were delivered to him through the only distributor in Bahrain, Muayyad Ahmad Al-Muayyad, until 1952, when Al-Muayyad ceded all his agencies to him. For distributing newspapers in Bahrain, the National Library continued this work until 1971, when the agency was transferred to the Crescent Foundation. Between 1952 and 1953, the library witnessed crowding and demand to obtain Egyptian newspapers, which were talking about the July 23 Revolution of 1952 and President Gamal Abdel Naser.
Public libraries
Sarhan pointed out that the beginning of the establishment of public libraries was at the hands of Ahmed Al-Omran, the director of knowledge at the time. In the year 1945, Al-Omran decided to transform the Manama Secondary School library into a public library that provides its services to citizens without exception. The motivation behind establishing a public library in the country was the need of male and female scholars as well as Bahraini and Arab learners and teachers who teach in Manama Secondary School and Manama Industrial School, to spend their free time in useful things such as reading, knowledge, and self-education.
Sarhan pointed out that Al-Omran saw that the process of transforming the high school library into a public library requires basic efforts, including classifying and arranging the library’s contents, binding the torn ones and preparing them for loan. He assigned Ahmed Al-Sunni, the plastic artist who worked in the Department of Encyclopedias, to carry out this work, directing drawings and works. Who began his work by assigning serial numbers to books, and later sought to develop them by Muhammad Hassan Sanqur, who used the Dewey Decimal System for the first time in classifying the library’s holdings.
Sarhan mentioned that the official opening of the public library was announced in the year 1946 after Ahmed Al-Sunni finished arranging it. It is located in the Education Department building located on Sheikh Abdullah Street in the building owned by the notable Mansour Al-Arrayedh. A sign was installed on Sheikh Abdullah Street when the library was opened. A large letter bearing the words “Bahrain Government Knowledge – Public Library.” The Encyclopedia also wrote an announcement stating, “In the name of the Bahrain Government Knowledge, we open the public library for teachers, students, and intellectuals of both sexes.” This clearly confirms the Encyclopedia’s interest in giving Bahraini women the opportunity to benefit from public library services. This clearly confirms the development and urbanization of Bahraini society. The public library remained within the Education Department building until 1955, when it was moved to its last headquarters in the internal section of Gudaibiya, and it provided its services to everyone, including children.
Eight years after the establishment of the public library in Manama, the Khalifa Library was established in Muharraq in 1954. Credit for its establishment goes to His Majesty Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, ruler of Bahrain at the time. He pointed out that a group of Al Khalifa youth who lived in Muharraq at the time adopted the establishment of a library. It provides its services for free, but the city of Muharraq witnessed the establishment of a public library there by the Directorate of Education in the year 1969, and Isa Town witnessed the opening of a public library there in the year 1972, and the year 1976 witnessed the establishment of 4 public libraries in Riffa, Jid Hafs, Al-Hidd and Sitra. In 1978, the Arad Public Library was opened, and the Sanabis Public Library was opened in 2011.
Cultural project
In conclusion, Sarhan said that on December 18, 2008, Bahrain witnessed the most important cultural event in its contemporary history, represented by the kindness of the country’s King, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to open the Isa Cultural Center and its national library, which can accommodate half a million books, which means entry into the country. Bahrain’s third millennium with a pioneering cultural project.
He added that the National Library, which is located within the Issa Cultural Center, has taken upon itself the responsibility of spreading cultural awareness among citizens by creating the necessary climate for reading, reading, and scientific research. It also fills a noticeable gap in the information sector, and makes available to researchers and students all sources of knowledge in its various forms and forms, both traditional and electronic. It also works to strengthen the infrastructure to create a national information network, and as such it is considered a prominent cultural landmark, preserving local intellectual production, and displaying diverse human intellectual results.
Sarhan said: His Majesty the Great King has achieved a dream that had been cherished by the educated elites and the rest of the other segments of society for a long time, which was embodied in the presence of a modern, advanced library that is in line with the progress and prosperity achieved by Bahrain during the reform era of His Majesty in various fields and areas, especially since Bahrain today is one of It is among the advanced countries in human development and intellectual production at the Arab and global levels, in addition to its development in the path of science and culture, and in the economic and social fields.
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