Ahmed Shawqi is considered one of the most prominent figures in modern Arabic literature and rightly earned the title “Prince of Poets” in recognition of his great status and unique contributions to Arabic poetry. Shawqi was born in Cairo in 1868 into a well-off family, which gave him the opportunity to receive a high-quality education in Egypt and later in Europe. He was sent to France to study law, and during his stay there, he was exposed to Western literature and modern schools of thought, which clearly contributed to refining his talent and broadening his cultural horizons.
Ahmed Shawqi’s poetry is distinguished by its diversity and artistic richness; he tackled themes such as patriotism, praise, love, and elegy, and he played a pioneering role in developing Arabic poetic theater. Some of his most famous plays include “Majnun Layla”, “Cambyses”, “The Virgin Lovers”, and “The Miser”, which is considered one of his most important prose theatrical works. Through these plays, he highlighted the phenomenon of greed and its negative effects on society, exploring the human psyche with a style that is both satirical and profound. This creativity made him one of the leading innovators in Arabic theatrical literature.
Shawqi was a poet committed to the causes of the nation; he revived the Islamic spirit in his poetry and glorified Arab and Islamic civilization. One of his most famous patriotic poems includes the lines:
“My homeland, even if I am preoccupied with eternity… my soul is drawn to you in eternity”
These verses reflect the depth of his national attachment and his love for Egypt.
Shawqi’s style combines the beauty of classical Arabic with smooth expression accessible to the reader, along with mastery of rhetorical art and musical rhythm, making his poetry timeless and a source of inspiration for generations.
Ahmed Shawqi passed away in October 1932, and his literary and theatrical works continue to be taught in Arab schools, inspiring writers and poets to this day.
يُعْتَبَرُ أَحْمَدُ شَوْقِيّ مِنْ أَبْرَزِ رُمُوزِ الأَدَبِ العَرَبِيّ الحَدِيثِ، وَقَدِ اسْتَحَقَّ عَنْ جَدَارَةٍ لَقَبَ “أَمِيرِ الشُّعَرَاءِ” تَقْدِيرًا لِمَكانَتِهِ الكَبِيرَةِ وَإِسْهامَاتِهِ الفَرِيدَةِ فِي الشِّعْرِ العَرَبِيّ. وَُلِدَ شَوْقِي فِي القَاهِرَةِ عَامَ ٨٦٨١ فِي أُسْرَةٍ مَيْسُورَةِ الحَالِ، وَهُوَ مَا أَتَاحَ لَهُ فُرْصَةَ الحُصُولِ عَلَى تَعْلِيمٍ رَفِيعٍ دَاخِلَ مِصْرَ ثُمَّ فِي أُورُوبَّا. أُرْسِلَ إِلَى فَرَنْسَا لِدِرَاسَةِ القَانُونِ، وَخِلَالَ إِقَامَتِهِ هُنَاكَ، اطَّلَعَ عَلَى الأَدَبِ الغَرْبِيّ وَمَدَارِسِ الفِكْرِ الحَدِيثِ، مِمَّا أَسْهَمَ بِشَكْلٍ وَاضِحٍ فِي صَقْلِ مَوْهَبَتِهِ وَتَوْسِيعِ آفَاقِهِ الثَّقَافِيَّةِ.
يَمْتَازُ شِعْرُ أَحْمَدَ شَوْقِي بِتَنَوُّعِ مَوْضُوعَاتِهِ وَغِنَاهُ الفَنِّيِّ؛ فَقَدْ تَنَاوَلَ فِي قَصَائِدِهِ قَضَايَا وَطَنِيَّةً، وَمَدْحًا، وَغَزَلًا، وَرَثَاءً، كَمَا كَانَ لَهُ دَوْرٌ رِيَادِيٌّ فِي تَطْوِيرِ المَسْرَحِ الشِّعْرِيِّ العَرَبِيِّ. مِنْ أَشْهَرِ مَسْرَحِيَّاتِهِ: “مَجْنُونُ لَيْلَى”، وَ**”قُمْبِيز”، وَ“عَذْرَاءُ المُتَحَابِّينَ”، وَ“البَخِيلَة”، الَّتِي تُعَدُّ مِنْ أَهَمِّ أَعْمَالِهِ المَسْرَحِيَّةِ، حَيْثُ سَلَّطَ مِنْ خِلَالِهَا الضَّوْءَ عَلَى ظَاهِرَةِ الطَّمَعِ وَآثَارِهَا السَّلْبِيَّةِ فِي المُجْتَمَعِ، مُسْتَعْرِضًا النَّفْسَ البَشَرِيَّةَ بِأُسْلُوبٍ سَاخِرٍ وَعَمِيقٍ. هَذَا الإِبْدَاعُ جَعَلَهُ أَحَدَ أَبْرَزِ المُجَدِّدِينَ فِي الأَدَبِ المَسْرَحِيِّ العَرَبِيِّ.
كَانَ شَوْقِي شَاعِرًا مُلْتَزِمًا بِقَضَايَا الأُمَّةِ، فَأَحْيَا فِي شِعْرِهِ الرُّوحَ الإِسْلَامِيَّةَ وَمَجَّدَ الحَضَارَةَ العَرَبِيَّةَ وَالإِسْلَامِيَّةَ. مِنْ أَشْهَرِ قَصَائِدِهِ الوَطَنِيَّةِ قَوْلُهُ:
“وَطَنِي لَوْ شُغِلْتُ بِالخَلَدِ عَنْهُ … نَازَعَتْنِي إِلَيْهِ فِي الخَلَدِ نَفْسِي”
وَيَظْهَرُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الأَبْيَاتِ عُمْقُ انْتِمَائِهِ الوَطَنِيِّ وَحُبُّهُ لِمِصْرَ.
يَمْتَازُ أُسْلُوبُ شَوْقِي بِجَمْعِهِ بَيْنَ جَمَالِ اللُّغَةِ العَرَبِيَّةِ الكِلَاسِيكِيَّةِ وَسَلاَسَةِ التَّعْبِيرِ القَرِيبِ مِنَ القَارِئِ، إِلَى جَانِبِ إِتْقَانِهِ لِلْفَنِّ البَيَانِيِّ وَالإِيقَاعِ المُوسِيقِيِّ، مَا جَعَلَ شِعْرَهُ خَالِدًا وَمَصْدَرَ إِلْهَامٍ لِلأَجْيَالِ.
تُوفِّي أَحْمَدُ شَوْقِي فِي أُكْتُوبَر ٢٣٩١، وَمَا زَالَتْ أَعْمَالُهُ الأَدَبِيَّةُ وَالمَسْرَحِيَّةُ تُدَرَّسُ فِي المَدَارِسِ العَرَبِيَّةِ، وَتُلْهِمُ الأَدَبَاءَ وَالشُّعَرَاءَ حَتَّى يَوْمِنَا هَذَا.