The Institute of Manuscripts celebrates the scholar Binbin

On Thursday, the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts in Cairo opened the sixth orbit within the Heritage Orbits program, celebrating the Moroccan scholar and researcher Ahmed Shawqi Binbin.

During this meeting, which was attended by Arab figures from the pioneers of heritage and specialists in the sciences of Arabic manuscripts, the speakers stressed that Shawqi Binebine, Director of the Royal Hassan II Library, is the owner of a heritage intellectual project with clear features and multiple dimensions. He is one of the pioneers of the science of manuscripts (codicology), and his production revolves around the service of the Arabic manuscript heritage, in terms of foundation, authentication, indexing and investigation.

In their interventions, they highlighted various aspects of the Moroccan scholar’s ​​scientific career, as well as the pioneering aspects of his cognitive production. They also presented personal positions that brought them together with the character of Al-Madar, which foretell new features of his personality.

In this context, the head of the Kuwait Research and Studies Center and former director of the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts, Abdullah Al-Ghanim, confirmed that Shawqi Binbin was a prominent member of the arbitration committees alongside senior scholars and researchers at the institute, and he had a close look at the submitted works and a comprehensive understanding of the scientific value and distinction between the various works, highlighting that this comes from a broad culture and knowledge of the Arabic library.

He noted that it is not strange to choose Shawqi Binebine to head the Royal Library of Hassania in Rabat, which is one of the oldest Moroccan library institutions, noting that over the three decades since his appointment as its director, the head of the Kuwaiti Research and Studies Center added, the institution has achieved great progress under his leadership, as he applied what he studied in the horizons of library work and its various techniques, in addition to his special experience in manuscripts and his close ties with those working in the field. He added that under the supervision of the Moroccan scholar, a comprehensive review of the catalogues of the Hassania Library was conducted.

He highlighted the distinguished presence of the honoree in various scientific forums and his great efforts in the field of protecting the heritage of Arabic manuscripts.

It is noteworthy that the Institute of Arab Manuscripts, which was established in 1946 as an affiliate of the Cultural Administration of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, aims to search for the locations of manuscripts around the world, photograph valuable manuscripts, make them available to researchers and investigators, index manuscripts in public and private libraries, and publish them. It also aims to be a scientific center that scholars and investigators resort to in searching for manuscripts, introducing Arab heritage and its value, and publishing the most important verified works scientifically.