Abd Al-Rahman Al Kawakibi

Born 1849; died 1903. Syrian Arab enlightener, writer, and publicist.

Persecuted in his homeland, Kawakibi emigrated to Egypt. He traveled through India and Africa. In his book The Nature of Despotism and the Struggle Against Enslavement, Kawakibi opposed despotism, defended the poor and the unfortunate, and called on the Arabs to struggle for national independence. His book Mother of Cities sets forth the Utopian idea of a pan-Islamic congress in Mecca that would unite all Muslims.