(Syrian State Symbols and Flags Series – No. 28)
As part of the “Symbols and Flags of the State in Syria” file, Syrian Future Movement recalls one of the most prominent men of thought and state in Syria, and a flag of political and intellectual foundation in the first Syrian Republic, Prof. Dr. Muhammad al-Mubarak, who represented an exceptional model in combining sharia science, social thought and national politics.
- Upbringing, education and scientific training:
- Muhammad al-Mubarak was born in 1912 in a neighborhood near the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
- He received his early education in Damascus and excelled in Arabic and mathematics, with a clear inclination towards Islamic sciences.
- He was educated by his father, Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Mubarak, and by Badr al-Din al-Hasani, the scholar of the Levant.
- He graduated from the Institute of Law at Damascus University in 1935, and in the same year he received a higher arts degree.
- He was sent to the Sorbonne University in France, where he earned three degrees: Arabic Literature, French Literature, and Sociology.
- Political and legislative activity:
- After returning to Syria in 1938, he began his career as a teacher and then an educational counselor.
- In 1947, he was elected as a deputy for the city of Damascus and remained a member of the Syrian parliament for three consecutive terms until 1958.
- He held several ministries: Public Works, Transportation, and Agriculture between 1949 and 1958.
- He was one of the pillars of national legislation after independence, and contributed to educational and cultural policies.
- Intellectual and religious roles:
- In 1958, he was appointed dean of the Faculty of Sharia in Damascus and taught doctrine, the system of Islam, jurisprudence of language, and Qur’anic studies.
- In 1961, he was elected an active member of the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus, and a member of other scientific councils in Cairo and Baghdad.
- He contributed to the development of the Arabic language and Islamic education curricula, and had a prominent impact in shaping student consciousness.
- He is known as a rationalist Islamic thinker, combining Islamic jurisprudence with modern social sciences.
- Religious and Islamic affiliation:
- He was one of the first members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, and contributed to the establishment of its branch in Damascus.
- He joined the Muhammad Youth Association, founded by Dr. Mustafa al-Sibai, which formed the nucleus of the Muslim Brotherhood.
- He maintained his intellectual and organizational relationship with the Islamic Movement despite his academic and political preoccupation.
- He contributed to crystallizing a moderate Islamic discourse that is open to national and social values.
- Scientific production and international outreach:
- He participated in international conferences and seminars and was invited as a lecturer in various Arab and Islamic universities.
- In 1966, he was seconded to Omdurman University in Sudan, then to the College of Sharia in Mecca, and then worked as a counselor at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah.
His most notable works include:
- The genius of the Arabic language 1956.
- Islam’s view of existence and its impact on civilization 1958.
- Toward a Happy Humanity. 1961.
- between Western and Islamic cultures. 1980.
- Conclusion and death:
- He died in Medina on Thursday, 7 Safar 1402 AH, corresponding to December 4, 1981 AD, and was buried in Al-Baqi’a Cemetery.
Syrian Future MovementIn shedding light on this influential figure in the history of modern Syria, the book calls for inspiration from the experiences of real statesmen who combined science, thought, politics and faith, and participated in building the first Syrian state.
As we include this record in our special series on “Symbols and Flags of the Syrian State”, we recall the importance of building the future Syria on scientific, intellectual and humanitarian foundations, inspired by symbols that made history, built the state, confronted tyranny, and provided shining examples of leadership, citizenship and civilizational vision.
