Fifteen thousand books in a makeshift library is this Egyptian's literary mission

Record ID: 1689173

  • Title: Fifteen thousand books in a makeshift library is this Egyptian's literary mission
  • Date: 15th September 2022
  • Summary: DAKAHLIA, EGYPT (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HAMDALLA IN HIS MAKESHIFT LIBRARY LARGE NUMBER OF BOOKS PILED IN A SMALL ROOM VARIOUS OF HAMDALLA READING IN HIS SMALL LIBRARY TWO BOOKS ON TOP OF PILE IN SMALL LIBRARY HAMDALLA READING IN HIS SMALL LIBRARY BOOK COVER READING (Arabic): “Where are we today?” (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BOOK COLLECTOR, HAMDALLA ABO DOUH ABDEL HAFEZ, 82, SAYING: "I started collecting books more than fifty years ago. These books include a variety of topics like literary, Islamic books, and different studies in more than one field; the interpretation of the Qur’an, the prophetic hadiths, and the Arabic language, which I adore. This is something that I love, and I will continue reading these useful books." VARIOUS OF PILES OF BOOKS IN THE SMALL LIBRARY BOOK COVER READING (Arabic): "Poetry of relatives and friends (of Prophet Mohammed)" HAMDALLA READING IN HIS SMALL LIBRARY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BOOK COLLECTOR, HAMDALLA ABO DOUH ABDEL HAFEZ, 82, SAYING: "I continue to stock this library so people in my village can benefit from it because there is no youth club or a library where those who desire knowledge or love to read can read. I ask God to facilitate for us a place in which we can preserve these books and turn it into an organized and comfortable library." VARIOUS OF HAMDALLA SHOWING TWO WOMEN BOOKS VARIOUS OF THE TWO WOMEN READING BOOK COVER READING (Arabic): "The Iraqi opposition: pluralism is the alternative." HAMDALLA SORTING BOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DAKAHLIA RESIDENT, RABAB HAMOUDA ABU SHEASHA, SAYING: "I come here because there is a large collection of books in Sheikh Hamdallah’s library, so I come to read and borrow books from him. I also ask him about the books he has, and we recite Qur’an or talk about the rulings of the Sunnah, jurisprudence and hadiths, and there are miscellaneous books in all fields." HAMDALLA READING IN HIS SMALL LIBRARY A MAN ENTERING THE LIBRARY BOOK COVER READING (Arabic): "The language, a spoken identity." VARIOUS OF HAMDALLA AND A MAN BROWSING THROUGH BOOKS A MAN COMING OUT OF THE ROOM WITH A BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BOOK COLLECTOR, HAMDALLA ABO DOUH ABDEL HAFEZ, 82, SAYING: "The book is your best friend of all time because at any time and in any place one can read with freedom and comfort. It is better than the mobiles; it is more comfortable. The paper culture is my preference until the end of life." VARIOUS OF HAMDALLA WALKING IN A FIELD VARIOUS OF HAMDALLA READING IN A FIELD
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2022 12:22
  • Keywords: Hamdallah book collector books cullture library
  • Location: DAKAHLIA, EGYPT
  • City: DAKAHLIA, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Books,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Middle East
  • Reuters ID: LVA001541614092022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: What appears as a small hole in the wall is where Hamdallah Abdel Hafez has spent his life amounting to a collection of thousands of books, offering them to readers in his village to read or borrow for free.
    Abdel Hafez and his makeshift library are one of the only outlets available with books and a small reading space for inhabitants of the small village of Dakahlia, north of Egypt.
    Paperbacks and hardbacks of topics from Islamic studies, literary works, and some educational material on the Arabic language can all be found in Abdel Hafez's place.
    "I started collecting books more than fifty years ago," he said as he welcomed people coming to read. "I continue to stock this library so people in my village can benefit from it because there is no youth club or a library where those who desire knowledge or love to read can read," he added.
    Abdel Hafez’s collection reached several thousands of books in a variety of topics. He doesn’t only offer the books for people to read or borrow, but he also consults with people on the topics and makes recommendations for them.
    The old man says he hopes to find support to turn his book-stacked room into an organized library.
    (Production: Sayed Sheasha, Mariam Rizk)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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