Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Askar’s Death, Big Saudi Loss | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55355725
Caption:

University of King Saud


The Saudi cultural entourage has been struck by the death of Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim Al-Askar, member of Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and former history professor in the University of King Saud.

The late enjoyed a remarkable importance in the Saudi cultural scene and has made many achievements. He worked as a professor in the history department at the University of King Saud where he introduced many valuable researches on Arab and Islamic history.

Askar played a significant role in the Saudi cultural community and excelled in three domains: academic, journalism and translation. He has excelled in translation, but he always complained about the deterioration in the number of readers and in cultural interaction among society’s members.

However, I always encouraged him on maintaining his path. Dr. Askar is considered one of the best experts in the history of the Arabian Peninsula and one of the excellent translators in the Arab world.

Askar insisted on enriching the Arab culture and translated five important books with a simple style that offers people the opportunity to read and comprehend.

The late translator focused on translating many books on relations between Saudi Arabia and Wahhabism as a response to the growing media campaigns discussing this issue and their impact on the Kingdom’s foreign relations.

He introduced many translations in the academic sector and also used to write articles in Al-Riyadh newspaper and in the monthly magazine of the Consultative Council; he addressed many lectures on Saudi history and leaderships.

It is worth mentioning that Askar’s family enjoyed great relations with the Saudi monarchy; his ancestors ruled many regions in the Kingdom, and his father was once appointed as Prince of Asir.

The late intellectual studied at the University of Riyadh (currently University of King Saud) and continued his higher education in the United States of America. Askar has left behind many credible and respected works that have enriched the Arab culture.