South Yemeni Historian Ahmad Fadl al-‘Abdali (1881–1943) on His Native Land (Based on the Historical Work Hadiyyat al-Zaman fi Akhbar muluk Lahdj wa ‘Adan)

Abstract

Ahmad Fadl al-‘Abdali (1881–1943) is a remarkable cultural figure of Southern Yemen. A close relative of the sovereigns of Sultanate of Lahdj, he displayed himself as a poet, a musician, a horticulturist, a general, a politician and, finally, a historian. While describing his native Lahdj and Aden, ruled by the British, in the historical work of Hadiyyat al-Zaman fi Akhbar muluk Lahdj wa ‘Adan al-‘Abdali revealed himself as a genuine adherent of the traditional Arabic school of history-writing, who nevertheless acquired some “alien” lessons and innovations. While telling the story of Ahmad Fadl al-‘Ablali and his work on history, the Author of the article puts his study into a broad historical framework, besides sharing with the reader his own impressions on the visit to Southern Yemen undertaken in 1982.