Professor Yousef A. Khulaif
King Faisal Prize in Arabic Language and Literature 1989 Laureate
Topic: "Studies Dealing with Prominent Arab Writers and Poets to the end of the 3rd Century A.H. "
Language is governed by a systematic law, while self-introspection is a limitless and an unrestricted world
Yousef Khulaif obtained his BA, MA and Ph.D. Degrees in Arabic Language and Literature from the College of Arts in Fuad Al-Awal University in Cairo. Following his graduation in 1956, he was appointed Lecturer in the Department of Arabic Language and became full professor of Arabic Language and Literature in 1972, and Chairman of the Department from 1975 to his retirement in 1981. Thereafter, he was appointed Professor Emeritus at Cairo University. He also served as Convener of the Supreme Council of Culture Prize Committee in Arabic Literature in Egypt, editor in the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo, and Professor of Arabic Literature in Kuwait for three years.
Professor Khulaif’s distinguished contributions are embodied in several books, reviews, anthologies and research articles. Some of his best known books are: Al Sa’alik Poets in Pre-Islamic Literature, Dhu Al-Rummah: The Poet of Love and Desert, Poetry in Kufa to the End of the Second Century A.D. A poet himself, Khulaif published two collections of poems. He also published studies on the Holy Quran and the Prophet’s sayings.
This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.
- He received many awards including:
- The Scientific Research Prize from Cairo University in 1989.
- The Egyptian State Prize in Literature in 1993.
- He authored many books including:
- Fi Al-Shear Al-Abbasi: Nahu Manhaj Jadeed, (Dar Al-Ghareeb), (1990).
- Manahij Al-Bahth Al-Adabi (Dar Al-Thaqafah Publication), (1997), (Published After Death).
- Al-Hob Al-Mithali End Al-Arab (Al-Haiah Al-Masriyyah Al-A’amah Li Al-Bitab), (1998), (Published After Death).
- Fi Al-Shear Al-Omawei: Dirasah Fi Al-Bia’at (Dar Ghareeb), (2000), (Published After Death).
- Dirasat Fi Al-Shear Al-Jahili (Dar Ghareeb), (2001), (Published After Death).
- Mawaqif Bayn Al-Shear Wa Al-Naqd (Dar Ghareeb), (2005), (Published After Death).
- Professor Yousef A. Khulaif passed away in 1995.