Sheikh
Mohand Tayeb Passes Away: Algeria Bids Farewell to the Pioneer of Translating
the Meanings of the Holy Quran into Amazigh
Algeria has lost one
of its most prominent scholars and Quran commentators with the passing of the
esteemed Sheikh Si El Hadj Mohand Tayeb on Saturday in the province of Tizi
Ouzou at the age of 92.
His death marks the
end of a decades-long journey devoted to serving the Holy Quran, educating
generations, and preserving Algeria’s national identity in all its cultural and
linguistic dimensions.
Minister of
Religious Affairs and Endowments Youssef Belmehdi mourned the late scholar,
stressing that Algeria has lost one of its distinguished figures and a man who
dedicated his life to spreading knowledge, religious guidance, and the
interpretation of the Holy Quran. He praised the Sheikh’s significant
contributions to religion and national culture.
A
Scholar Who Dedicated His Life to Knowledge and the Quran
Sheikh Mohand Tayeb
was widely regarded as one of the most prominent scholars of the Kabylie region
and Algeria as a whole. Born in 1934 in the municipality of Iferhounène in Tizi
Ouzou Province, he memorized the Holy Quran at an early age before pursuing his
studies at several religious and academic institutions, including the Sidi Omar
Oulhadj Zawiya and the Ibn Badis Institute in Constantine.
He later embarked on
a long career in education, training, and religious guidance. The late Sheikh
served as an Arabic language teacher before becoming an education inspector
after graduating from the Inspectors’ Training Center at the Higher School of Teachers
in Kouba. He was also assigned to France to oversee Arabic language education
for members of the Algerian community before continuing his educational and
religious mission in Algeria until his retirement.
“The Bridge Between Arabic and Amazigh”
The late scholar
earned a distinguished place in academic and cultural circles as the first
person to complete a full translation of the meanings of the Holy Quran into
the Amazigh (Kabyle) language. The landmark project required many years of
research, revision, and scholarly work, combining adherence to Islamic
principles with pride in Algeria’s linguistic heritage.
The translation was
later approved by the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran,
contributing to its dissemination both inside Algeria and abroad, and
establishing Sheikh Mohand Tayeb as one of the leading figures who helped make
the meanings of the Quran more accessible to Amazigh-speaking communities.
The late Sheikh was
also known for his extensive intellectual and scholarly activities. He served
as an imam, a contracted educator with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and a
member of several scientific and advisory bodies. He also participated in numerous
intellectual and cultural conferences and seminars and received several
national honors in recognition of his contributions to scholarship, Quranic
studies, and culture.
With the passing of
Sheikh Si El Hadj Mohand Tayeb, Algeria closes a chapter in the life of one of
its distinguished men who combined scholarship, education, and service to the
Holy Quran. He leaves behind a lasting intellectual and spiritual legacy, embodying
the conviction that language is a bridge for unity and communication, and that
the Holy Quran remains the greatest bond uniting the nation and a cornerstone
of its identity and values.
(Source: Al Ittihad
+ Arabi21)
ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
* للاطلاع على الترجمة الكاملة للخبر باللغة العربية،
اضغط (هنا).