Interview: Fawzia Muhammad Al-Jalal 

He is a writer and polymath, born in the city of Shaqra in the Al-Washm region of the Najd region in 1361 AH. He received his primary education there and then obtained his high school diploma from the Shaqra Scientific Institute. He studied at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University and graduated from the College of Sharia. He continued his higher education at the Higher Institute for the Judiciary in Riyadh, where he earned a master's degree in the science of interpretation.
He worked in the Eastern Region Emirate in Dammam, then in the General Personnel Bureau (currently the Civil Service Bureau). Later, he served as Director of Services in the General Presidency for Girls' Education, a legal advisor in the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and then Director of the Legal Department in the same ministry. He also served as President of the Literary Club in Riyadh, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Toubad magazine, and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Al-Diriyah magazine, which he owns. He is a corresponding member of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo.

Throughout his scientific career, spanning nearly fifty years, he has authored more than a hundred scientific works, with three times that number currently in press. His production includes authorship, verification, and preparation. Dr. Amin Suleiman Seydou cataloged his scientific output and what has been written about him in a book titled (Sheikh of Writers Abu Abd al-Rahman bin Aqil al-Zahiri, His Life, His Works, and What Was Written About Him).

These works cover various arts and knowledge; some focus on the Islamic religion, specifically the sciences of the Quran, Sunnah, interpretation, and creed, while others deal with literature, history, genealogy, and verification. Some delve into criticism, poetry, philosophy, and aesthetics, while another section covers language, travel, and more. He documented his autobiography in two books: "Something of the Sorrows: An Autobiography... and Cultural Concerns" and "The Gift from the Bag After My Visit to Taiba".

Among his publications: "From the Rulings of Religion," "Thus Wordsworth Taught Me," "Verification of Some Issues According to the Companions' School," "Something of the Sorrows," "Verification of Some Problems from the Hadith (Fasting is a Shield)," "How Lovers Die," "Theory of Knowledge," "Women and Wolves that Strangle and Do Not Eat," "O Vigilant Lightning of Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri (Analysis and Interpretation)," "The Genius of Ibn Hazm through a Thousand Years," and "You Will Not Atheist."
He is famous for his interest in the books of Imam Ibn Hazm (Ali bin Hazm al-Andalusi), verifying and translating them, and adopted the title Al-Zahiri.
The guest of "Knowledge Conditions" for this issue is the great scholar Sheikh Abu Abd al-Rahman bin Aqil al-Zahiri, who granted the magazine a rich interview about his life and journey, his most prominent achievements and obstacles, the reasons for leaving cultural platforms and journalistic writing, and the story of the (Travel) that stole him from the people and the spotlight, and other matters and concerns.

Where is Ibn Aqil?

•The great scholar Abu Abd al-Rahman ibn Aqil al-Zahiri: You were once everywhere: in the press, on the radio with "Interpretation of Interpretations," and in authorship ranging from Wordsworth to fiery stories and sorrows!! But we miss you now; what has occupied you away from the cultural scene? :

First, I ask God for a good end and sincerity of intention. In my youth, I was drowned in a sea of darkness; in my middle age, I wronged myself greatly; and in my old age, I began to realize my duty and my happiness in returning to God. I hope God completes my journey so that I may be among His righteous servants and that my Lord concludes my life with goodness. Very little of what I have written satisfies me now. I am currently spending most of my energy on my major book, "Al-Ikthar in Explaining Al-Muhalla by Narrations," which is a commentary on Al-Muhalla by Imam Ibn Hazm (may God have mercy on him). The rest of my time is for sleep, religious and worldly duties, and working patiently on other projects—some permissible and others offering great reward if the intention is pure. My work in the press is not obligatory; I write whenever scientific, intellectual, or permissible emotional inspirations strike me.

Even the "Sorrows" column that I committed to, I only write in this manner—either all at once or in batches sent for more than a year. However, three necessities have kept me from a regular commitment to the newspaper:

First: Health issues and low energy levels.

Second: Frequent travels, many distractions, and many dependents.

Third: The wasting of my life on journalistic writings and trivial works that gain me no closeness to God in the afterlife nor a lasting legacy in this world. I want to dedicate myself to my serious works according to my limited energy, though I haven't completely abandoned the press whenever the words smile at me.

These factors hindered my scientific activity!

• Your commitment exists only in the "Sorrows" of the Arabic Magazine and your supervision of Al-Diriyah magazine: Is this enough?
It wouldn't be enough if my mission was limited to that. But I am continuing to finish and correct my works, especially "Al-Ikthar," which consumes most of my activity. I use every gathering with colleagues for scientific discourse and haven't stopped contributing to newspapers and periodicals as I am able, or when a reading prompts me to document my scientific or intellectual emotions. My role in Al-Diriyah is not limited to supervision; I contribute long research papers. Al-Diriyah and the House of Ibn Hazm are part of my official duties, which take priority, and this has indeed hindered my independent scientific activity.

Podium Events

 • You were one of the first presidents and founders of the Literary Club in Riyadh: Why has your public presence faded except for occasional unannounced visits? :
I have isolated myself from almost all podium events, including the Literary Club, due to the health and life obstacles I mentioned. However, I sometimes overcome my circumstances if invited to participate and if I find myself in a state of health and vigor.

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