Author of Works on Curricula and Cultural Heritage: The Writer Abdulkarim Al-Juhayman—Guardian of Legends and Folk Proverbs
Ahwal Al-Ma’rifa – Special
He was the first to take the initiative in writing and authoring school textbooks, sometimes independently and at other times in collaboration with others. He then continued his writing through the newspapers published at the time before moving to Riyadh to teach in private royal schools. There, he devoted himself to writing and documenting a variety of subjects, including writing about myths and folk proverbs in several volumes. He later opened a commercial bookstore, published books and articles in local newspapers, and established a newspaper called “Akhbar Al-Dhahran” (Dhahran News), for which he served as editor-in-chief in the Eastern Province.
He was the Saudi writer, author, and journalist known as the “Custodian of Myths and Proverbs”: Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman, who wrote research papers, articles, and poetry, regarded education as an enlightening mission, and advocated for women’s education.
Abdulkarim bin Abdulaziz Al-Juhaiman (1330 AH / 1912 – 7 Muharram 1433 AH / December 2, 2011) was one of the earliest figures interested in documenting the folk heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, publishing the book “Folk Proverbs in the Heart of the Arabian Peninsula” in 1963.
The Beginning of the Journey:
One day, Abdulkarim and his cousin decided to travel to Makkah to seek knowledge from the scholars of the Holy Mosque. After arriving in Makkah, they found themselves without the means to cover their educational expenses or secure accommodation. Al-Juhaiman therefore joined the Camel Corps, while his cousin joined the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. In this way, they were able to combine work with the pursuit of knowledge. A year after their arrival, the Saudi Scientific Institute was established in Makkah. Since the institute was still in its early stages and had attracted only a small number of students, King Abdulaziz—may Allah have mercy on him—instructed Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibrahim to select some young men from Najd to study there. Al-Juhaiman and his cousin were among those selected. The government provided them with accommodation, food, and the expenses of school supplies. Three years later, Al-Juhaiman graduated from the institute and received his certificate in 1351 AH.
He worked as a teacher at Al-Ma'la School in Makkah in 1353 AH, then as a teacher at Al-Faisaliah School in Al-Shabikah, Makkah. He later taught at the Saudi Scientific Institute and the Preparatory School for Scholarships. When he returned to Riyadh, he expanded his writing activities and began publishing articles, studies, and books. He had also authored numerous school textbooks, either independently or in collaboration with Professor Omar Abduljabbar, covering subjects such as jurisprudence, Hadith, reading, and moral education.
Among his most prominent works are: “Folk Myths in the Heart of the Arabian Peninsula,” published in ten volumes beginning in 1963; “Smoke Without Flame,” “Where Is the Way?” “A Journey with the Sun,” “Memories of Paris,” “Memoirs and Memories from My Life,” and a collection of poetry entitled “Heartbeats.”
The First Certificate:
After graduating from the Scientific Institute in Makkah, he was awarded a certificate that stated: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Arab Government of the Hejaz… Directorate General of Education… The Saudi Scientific Institute. Teachers’ Department… The Directorate General of Education certifies that Abdulkarim bin Abdulaziz Al-Juhaiman, born in Najd, has completed the prescribed course of study for the first category of teachers at the Saudi Scientific Institute and has successfully passed the final examination held in Makkah on 10-11-1351 AH. He ranked first among the four successful students in his class. And Allah is the Granter of success.”
Researcher Mohammed Bawazir wrote about him: “When you closely examine the literary experience of the pioneer Sheikh Abdulkarim bin Abdulaziz Al-Juhaiman (1333–1433 AH), you find that it never departed from four paths. He defined these paths for himself, entrusted his pen to them, and continued to create within them with dedication and competence. He sought nothing but truth, called for nothing but justice, and pursued nothing but goodness. The first of these paths was writing for children; the second was writing for the press; the third was documenting folk literature; and the fourth was recording his memories. He engaged with each of these paths with distinction in all their dimensions. He defended, struggled, worked, and persevered, producing a long cultural experience dedicated to spreading awareness throughout society, marked by precision and distinction in most of the subjects he addressed.”
Dr. Qalat Al-Anzi says of him: “Writing about folk myths reflects the author’s social sensibility, his artistic approach to shaping the cultural space, and his depiction of the everyday life of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. These myths are communicative structures that carry traces of oral interaction between the author and the recipient of his folk discourse. The writer Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman—may Allah have mercy on him—emphasized the importance of folk heritage. He viewed it as more truthful than written history, more accurate in portraying social and cultural life, and more capable of forming a comprehensive picture of the experiences of nations and their ways of thinking and living together. Accordingly, the book “Folk Myths” represents a form of interactive oral communication between the author and the addressee, a means of argument and persuasion in folk literary discourse, and a form of subjectivity in linguistic communication. This is clearly evident in the introductions Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman wrote for his pioneering work, “Folk Myths from the Heart of the Arabian Peninsula.”
Many publications have been produced about Al-Juhaiman and his works, including “The Custodian of Myths and Proverbs, Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman: A Century of Giving” by researcher Mohammed Al-Qashami; “The Reality’s Echo in Stories: Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman as a Model” by researcher Abdullah Mohammed Al-Abdulmohsen; “Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman: Echoes of Departure,” published by the Hamad Al-Jasser Cultural Center; and “Educational Thought According to Abdulkarim Al-Juhaiman,” a master’s thesis by researcher Munira Al-Harbi.
References:
https://www.arabicmagazine.net/arabic/notice_.aspx?Id=50
