 Sami
Makarem
Biography
and Statement:
These pages
are dedicated to all lovers of truth and beauty in the whole world.
The content is a summary of my long journey in the dimensional existence
of art, poetry, books, literature, history, Islamic studies, Sufism
and wisdom. I hope through these dimensions and my long years of
teaching as a professor at the American University of Beirut and
my love to encounter authentic truth seekers through my continuous
discussions with the youth of my society to contribute to Arab civilization
and the whole world a modest step toward establishing a more elegant,
loving, caring and just universe.
Sami MAKAREM
was born in Aitat in the district of Aley, Lebanon, on April 14,
1931.
The town of Aitat overlooks Beirut and is 20 kilometers away from
it and is 650 meters above sea level. Dr. Sami MAKAREM's mansion
in Aitat goes back to the 17th century. He transformed a large part
of it to a cultural center after he bought it from the Talhouk family.
His father Sheikh
Nassib MAKAREM www.nassibmakarem.org, is the author of artistic
masterworks covering various types of Arab calligraphy, either in
large tableaus or in miniatures pieces of silver and marble ranging
from the size of an egg to that of a grain of rice or wheat. He
wrote on a piece of marble of the size of an egg ten thousand words,
and was able to write on a piece of silver of the size of a grain
of rice 30 verses of poetry amounting to 287 words. He also drew
on pieces of marble and silver that are the size of a grain of rice
the ruins of Baalbek and drew the first 3 cars manufactured by Henry
Ford as well as wrote beside each drawing a quote by Henry Ford
himself. Also, on a piece of marble the size of a grain of rice,
he wrote the French National Anthem, the Marseillaise. These are
a few of many other works of the same genre that Sheikh Nassib MAKAREM
accomplished.
His mother Wassila
Sleiman FARAJ, is a native of Abay, one of the villages of Aley
district. She was known, like her husband, for her piety and refined
art and produced needlework for which she obtained many awards,
decorations and certificates that were added to her husband's awards,
decorations and certificates.
Sami MAKAREM
is the father of two daughters, Sahar and Rand and two sons, Nassib
and Samir. He is married with Leila Adel MAKAREM.
He had one brother
- the late Saïd - who was a teacher and was considered an authority
in the Arabic language.
Sami MAKAREM
completed his primary and intermediate education at the "Lycée
Français de Beyrouth - Mission Laïque Française",
and his secondary studies at the Lebanon College of Souk El Gharb.
Sami MAKAREM then studied at the American University of Beirut (AUB)
where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Literature and Philosophy
in 1954 and his Master's Degree in Arabic Literature in 1957.
Meanwhile, he taught Arabic Literature at the Lebanon College of
Souk El Gharb then at Al Sirat College in Aley. Then, he left for
the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he obtained
in 1963 his PhD. in Middle Eastern Studies, specializing in Islamic
Batini Studies. In addition, he taught Arabic at the same university.
Sami MAKAREM
went back to Lebanon in July 1963, to teach Islamic Thought at the
Lebanese University. In 1964, he was appointed assistant professor
at the American University of Beirut (AUB), teaching Arabic Literature
and Islamic Thought.
In 1970, he
was promoted to the rank of associate professor at the American
University of Beirut (AUB), and then he was promoted to the rank
of full professor to teach Arabic Literature, Islamic Thought and
Sufism. In addition, he held twice the position of Head of the Department
of Arabic Literature and Near Eastern Languages: from 1975 until
1978 and from 1993 until 1996. He acted as a part time professor
at the Lebanese University from 1977 until 1981. Also, he was director
of the Center of Middle Eastern Studies at the American University
in Beirut, from 1975 until 1978.
The death of
his father, Sheikh Nassib MAKAREM on June 4, 1971 left sad impressions
on Sami MAKAREM. He lost a loving wise father, and a creative artist.
His relationship with his father was very close. It exceeded any
father and son relationships. The loss of his father induced him
to discover the artist in himself.
In addition to his academic contributions in the fields of Islamic
studies, Sufism, Islamic history, and his artistic contribution
Sami Makarem is a poet. Three works of poetry have been published
by him: Mir'at 'ala Jabal Qaf (A mirror on Mount Qaf) (1996), Daw'
fi Madinat ad-Dabab (A Light over the city of Mist) (1999), and
Qasa'ed Hubb 'ala shati' Mir'at (Love poems on the shores of a Mirror)
(2004). His books exceed twenty five in number, in addition to a
great number of articles in different specialized periodicals, and
hundreds of art works.
Books:
1. Ash-Shi’r
al- ‘Arabi fi Lubnan baynal-Harbayn al- ‘Alamiyyatayn, ready for
publication
2. Adwa' ‘Ala Maslak at-Tawhid (ad-Durziyya). (Lights
on the Druze Faith), Beirut, Dar Sader, 1966.
3. Ash-Shafiya, an Isma'ili poem attributed to
Shihab ad-Din Abu-Firas. (edited and translated into English with
introduction and Commentary). Beirut, American University of Beirut,
1966.
4. Shiraz, Madinat al-Awliya' wa-Shu ‘ara (Arabic
translation of Shiraz, Persian City of Saints and Poets, by A.J.
Arberry, Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1960). Beirut, Maktabat
Lubnan, 1967.
5. The doctrine of the Isma'ilis. Beirut: The Arab
Institute for Research and Publishing. 1972.
6. The Druze Faith, Delmar, New York: Caravan Books,1974.
Second Printing, 1979. Translated into Spanish by N. Saab under
the title La Fe Druza, Maracaibo: Astro Data S.A.,1991.
7. The Political Doctrine of the Isma ‘ilis. An
edition and translation with introduction and notes of Abul-Fawaris
Ahmad Ibn Ya' qub's ar-Risala fil-Imama. Delmar, New York, Caravan
Books, 1977.
8. Qisas wa Mashahid min Jabal Lubnan by Mahmud
Saab, Edited with an introduction and notes. Beirut: the Druze Council
for Research and Publishing, 1979, second printing, 1999.
9. Amin al-Nasiriddin's Diwan al-Falak. (An Anthology
of Arabic Poetry). Edited with an Introduction and Notes. Beirut:The
Druze Council for Research and Development with the collaboration
of Dar an-Nahar, May, 1983.
10. Tarikh al-Muwahhidin ad-Duruz as-Siyasi fil
Mashriq al- 'Arabi. Co-author 'Abbas Abu Saleh. Beirut, The Druze
council for Research and Development, 1980
11. Maslak at-Tawhid. Beirut, Dar Sader, 1980.
2nd.printing, 1993.
12. Ash-Shaykh Nasib Makarem: Fann Wa Tuqa wa Jamal,
(with an introduction to Arabic calligraphy, origins, development,
and influence on other Islamic Arts). Beirut, Dar Babil, 1984.
13. al-Islam fi Mafhum al-Muwahhidin, Beirut, Nadwat
al-Arbi'a,1985.
14. Al-Hallaj, fima wara' al-Ma'na Wa l-Khatt Wal-Lawn,
London: Riyad Najib al-Rayyis li l-Kitab Wa n-Nashr, 1989.
15. Ash-Shaykh 'Ali Faris (an eighteenth century
Moslem sufi), Beirut, al- Markaz al-Watani lil-Ma ‘lumat wa d-Dirasat,
1991.
16. 'Ashiqat Allah (seven Sufi Women of the first
and second centuries A.H.) (in Arabic). Dar Sader, Beirut,1994.
17. Diwan Amin Takiyy ad-Din, Compiled and edited
with an introduction and notes, Dar Sader, Beirut, 1996.
18. Mir' at ‘ala Jabal Qaf (A study on Sufism),
Beirut: Dar Sader, 1997.
19. Daw' FI Madinat al-Dabab, Junieh: Dynamic Graphic
lit-Tiba ‘a wan Nashr, 1999.
20. Lebanon under the Tanukhid Emirs (in Arabic),
Beirut: Dar Sader, 2000.
21. At-Taqiyya fil-Islam, Ready for publication.
Chapters
in Books
1. God and Man in the Druze Faith", Prabuddha
Bharata (India), vol. 75, 1970, and in World Faith, 83,1971,pp.7ff.
2. "Introduction" to Al-Mu ‘tamid Ibn
‘Abbad wa Shu ‘ara' ‘Asrih, by Zuhdi Yakan. Beirut, Dar Yakan li
n-Nashr, 1975.
3. An Advitic Sect in Western Asia", in Spiritual
Perspectives, (edited by M.T.Mahadivan), Madras, the University
of Madras, 1978.
4. Rafi Ibn Abi l-Layl Amir Bani Kalb fi ‘Ahd al-Khalifa
al-Fatimi az- Zahir wa Awa'il ‘Ahd al-Mustansir," in Studia
Arabica et Islamica, Festschrift for Ihsan Abbas, ed. by Wadad al-Qadi.
Beirut, American University of Beirut, 1981.
5. " Introduction" to al-Wasiyya wal-Mirath
‘ind al-Muwahhidin ad-Duruz by Mursal Nasr and Halim Taqiyyuddin,
Beirut, 1983.
6. "Isma ‘ili and Druze Cosmogony in relation
to Plotinus and Aristotle, " in Islamic Theology and Philosophy:
Studies in Honor of George F.Hourani, ed.by Michael E. Marmura.
Albany: State University of New York Press, 1984.
7. "Introduction" of Ala Durub at-Tawhid
(collection of Sufi poems) by Fuad al-Khishn, Beirut, 1985.
8. "Introduction" To Jabal an-Nar (collection
of poems) by Malek Hamdan. Beirut,1986.
9. "Introduction" to Khuzamiyyat (collection
of poems) by Muhammad Abi Khuzam. Beirut, 1987.
10. "Al-Uruba wal-Masihiyya wal-Islam, "
in Al-Haqq fi dh-Dhakira, ed. by Antoine Masarra. Beirut: al-Mu'assasa
al-Lubnaniyya lis-Silm al-Ahli ad-Da'im, 1988.
11. "Ad-Dawla al-Lubnaniyya wa Tanawwu al-Adyan,
an-Numudhaj wat-Tatbiq," in al-‘Ubur ila d-Dawla, min al-Mu
‘anat ila l-Muwatiniyya, ed. by Antoine Masarrah. Beirut: al-Mu'assasa
al-Lubna-niyya li s-Silm al- Ahli al-Da'im,1992.
12. Mafhum al-Insan fi ‘Aqidat at-Tawhid. in Bayn
at-Turab war-Ruh, Beirut: Dar al-Mashriq, 1992.
13. "Al- Bu ‘d al-Hadari lil-Qawmiyya al-‘Arabiyya
fi fikr ‘Ali Nasir ad-Din (introduction) to ‘Ali Nasir ad-Din, afahat
min al-Fikr al-Qawmi al-‘Arabi by Muhammad Shayya. Beirut: Dar Sadir,
1993.
14. "At-Tannukhiyyun,"in Lubnan fi Tarikhihi
wa Turathihi, vol.I ed. by Adil Ismail, Paris: Markaz al-Hariri
ath-Thaqafi, Abhath wa Tawthiq (Dirasat Lubnaniyya),1993.
15. ‘Alaqat al-Muwahhidin ad-Duruz bil-Masihiyyin:
Dirasa Tarikhiyya wa Nazra Mustaqbaliyya," in Al- ‘Alaqat al-Islamiyya
al-Masihiyya, ed. by Samir Sulayman. Beirut: Markaz ad-Dirasat al-Istratijiyya
wal-Buhuth wat-Tawthiq, 1993.
16. "Al-Mithaq: Ahd wa withaq", Citizen
for Tomorrow, vol.4, pp.207-216, Beirut: Lebanese Foundation for
Permanent Civil Peace, 1995.
17. "Introduction" to As Sanabil wa r-Rahiq
(collection of poems) by Badr Ghazzawi. beirut: Dar Kitabat, 1997.
18. "Al-Batul," in Fi Jannat Maryam,
ed. by George Mughanis, Beirut: Notre Dame University Press, 1997.
19. Dr Adil Isma ‘il wa Falsafat al-Tarikh, in
Adil Isma ‘il, al Mu'arrikh wa l- Bahith wa l-Diblumasi, Beirut,
Dar an-Nashr lis-Siyasa wa t-Tarikh, 1997.
20. ‘Ajaj Nuwayhid, al-Mu'arrikh wa l-Mujahid ,
in Mu'arrikhun A lam min Lubnan, ed. Mascud Dahir, Beirut: Manshurat
Dar an-Nidal lit-Tiba ‘a wa n-Nashr wa t-Tawzi’, 1997. (Proceeding
of the Conference in Beirut entitled “al- Mu'arrikhun al-‘Arab,
Beirut, 1997).
21. Ar-Risala ar-Rahbaniyya: ad-Dawr wa l-Khiyar,
Ar-Rahbaniyyat, Risalat lil-Mustaqbil, Zuq Musbih Notre Dame University
Press, 1999.
22. Introduction to Sada as-Sinin by Dr Anis Ubayd
(collection of Poems) Beirut: Dar Sader, 1999.
23. "Al Rissala al Rahbania (Friary Mission):
Role and Choice in Lebanon and the World", third centenary
of the foundation of the Maronite Friary in Lebanon - Saydet Al
Jabal Convent - Fatka - Lebanon - 1995. Published in Al Hikma Magazine,
Second Era, Second Year, Issue # 11 (January 1996.)
24. "The Druze Faith", Conference at
St.Anttony College, Oxford, 2002.
25. "Sufism in the Druze Faith" Conference
at St. Anthony College, Oxford, 2004
Articles
1. "Abu-Hilal".Da'irat al-Ma ‘arif. F.A.Bustany
(ed.), vol.5. Beirut, 1964.
2. "Al-Amr al-ilahi wa mafhumuhu ‘ind al-Isma
‘iliyyin", al- Abhath, vol.1, 1967. Beirut, American University
of Beirut.
3. " The Philosophical Concept of the Imam
in Isma ‘ilism", Studia Islami-ca. vol.27, 1967.
4. "The Hidden Imams of the Isma ‘ilis",
al-Abhath, vol.21,1969.
5. " al-Hakim bi Amrillah's appointment of
his successors", al-Abhath, vol.22, 1970.
6. "Arabic Literature”, in James Brazeley
(ed.), The Joy of Knowledge Library, Vol. I (History and Culture).
7. "Banu l-Jarrah", Tarikh al-Arab wal-
Alam", (ed. Faruk al-Barbir), Beirut,1986.
8. Ad-Durziyya in Al-Mawsu ‘a al-Falsafiyya al-Arabiyya,
ed. by Ma ‘n Ziyadeh, vol.2, Beirut: Ma ‘had al-Inma al-Arabi, 1988.
9. "Kalimat Mithaq fi d-Dustur al-Lubnani,"
Al-Hayat an-Niyabiyya vol. (December, 1994). Al-Mudiriyyah al-'Amma
li d-Dirasat wal- Abhath fi l—Majlis an-Niyabi al-Lubnani, pp.51-56.
10. Wurayqat al-Mardakush: ‘Ajaj Nurwayhid al-Mu'arrikh
wa l-Mujahid, al Mu'arrikh al-Arabi, Baghdad:al-Amana al-Amma li-Ittihad
al-Mu'arrikhin al- Arab, vol. 52 (1995), pp. 112-124.
Presentations
in International Conferences:
1. al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, an essay in Historical
Reinterpretation", Proceedings of the 27th Congress of Orientalists,
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1969.
"Al-Hakim's Western Policy", paper read at Seminar on
Lybia in the University of Michigan, July, 1979.
2. "Banul-Jarrah", Paper delivered at
the Third International Congress for the History of Bilad Ash-Sham
held at the Jordanian University, Amman (19-24 April, 1980).
3. "at-Ta'ifiyya wad-Din, at-Ta'ifiyya wad-Dawla,
at-Ta'ifiyya wal-Muwatin," in Waqa'i Liqa' al-Hiwar al-Lubnani,
ed. by Mustafa Dandashli. Sidon: Manshurat al-Markaz ath-Thaqafi
lil-Buhuth wat-Tawthiq, 1993.
4. "The Druze Point of view of Cohabilation
in Lebanon," paper delivered at "Incontri Internazionali
Uomini .e Religioni, Comunita' di S. Edigio". Rome, Octobre
7-10, 1996.
5. Ana l-haqq bayn al- allaj wa ibn ‘Arabi Paper
delivered at the conference entitled Muhyiddin ibn ‘Arabi held by
Instituts Cervantes. Damascus, July 1997
6. al-allaj, a Rebellious Sufi Poet, paper delivered
at the School of oriental and African Studies, University of London,
Oct. 1997.
7. Ana al-haqq bayn al-Hallaj wa l-Imam al-Khumayni,
Proceedings of the Conference, al-Irfan ‘ind al-Imam al-Khumayni,
UNESCO, June 16, 1999, Beirut: al-Ma ‘had al-Islami lil-Ma ‘arif
al-Hikmiyya, 1999.]
8. Min al-Hiwar bayn al-Adyan ila al-Hiwar bayn
al-Mu'minin, Proceedings of the conference, Hiwar ath-Thaqafat wa
l-Adyan, min al-Hiwar al- Aqa'idi ila Thaqafat al-Hiwar wa l-Infitah,
January 7,2000, Zuq Musbih: Notre Dame university Press,2000.
9. At-Tankhiyyun fi t-Tarikh, Prodeccing of the
Conference, Ubayh fi t- Tarikh, November 20-21, 1999. Beirut: Lajnat
Ihya' Turalh Ubayh, 2000.
10. al-Ma ‘na as Sufi li-awn paper delivered at
al-Ma ‘had al-Islami lid-Dirasat al-Hikmiyya, Beirut, Dec. 2000.
11. The Euro-Druze relations at the 17th century,
paper delivered at the conference entitled Lebanese French relations
held at University St. Joseph, Beirut, March, 2001.
12. Al-Ishara wal Ibara fi at-Tasawwuf paper delivered
at the conference entitled Art and Sufism held by Institutes Cervantes,
Damascus, April, 21-23, 2001, Damascus.
Reviews:
1- Henry Corbin, (ed.& transl.) Trilogie Ismaelienne,
Tehran, 1961. Henry Corbin, (ed.& transl.) Molla Sadra Shirazi,
Le Livre des Penetrations Metaphysiques, Tehran, 1964, In Speculum,
vol. 40, no.4, pp719-722, Oct.1965.
2- Farhat
J. Ziadeh, A Reader in Modern Literary Arabic, Princeton University
Press, 1964.
Professional
Activities:
To the Community (service related to position at University including
honors and awards).
- Member in a ministerial committee to study the subject of teaching
- Civil education in high schools, 1972-73.
- Honorary citizen of the city of Huston, Texas, 1978.
- Holder of the key of the city of Huston, Texas, 1978.
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Lebanese Foundation for
Permanent Civil Peace. Beirut.
- Secretary-General and member of the Board of Trustees of the Druze
Center for Research and Development, Beirut.
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the Walid Jumblatt Foundation
for University Studies, Beirut.
- Order of the Arab Historian, Ittihad al-Mu'arrikhin al-Arab),
1993.
►► Some
of the artist's artwork
Contact: editorial@onefineart.com
|
