The Ministry of Culture honored historian, researcher, and investigator Dr. Muhammad Mati al-Hafiz on Saturday in a ceremony held at the Syrian National Library in Damascus, in appreciation of his scientific career and contributions to verifying manuscripts and documenting the history and cultural and scientific heritage of Damascus. A number of scholars, researchers, and those interested in cultural affairs attended the ceremony.
Minister of Culture Muhammad Yasin al-Salih, in a speech delivered during the ceremony, emphasized that the honor is a fulfillment of duty to a scientific figure who spent decades authoring and verifying manuscripts, noting that honoring him represents part of the obligation to show gratitude to researchers who contributed to preserving Syria's historical and cultural memory.
For his part, Minister of Endowments Dr. Muhammad Abu al-Khayr Shukri stated that al-Hafiz represents an extension of the scientific figures Damascus has been known for throughout its history, highlighting the role of scholars in spreading knowledge and serving Islamic heritage. In turn, the Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic, Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, noted that the honor is an honor for every scholar who devoted his life to serving knowledge and the nation, commending his scientific upbringing and studies under the guidance of Damascus scholars.
Vast Scientific Production
Director of the Hadith Affairs Department at the Ministry of Endowments, Dr. Omar al-Nashuqati, outlined the key scientific milestones in al-Hafiz's life, explaining that he combined religious scholarship with academic study and dedicated a significant part of his work to researching the history of Damascus and its scholars. He pointed out that al-Hafiz's production exceeded 100 books between authoring, verifying, and joint work, covering diverse topics in history, Hadith, recitations, biographies, and manuscripts.
He added that al-Hafiz contributed to the Damascus Arabic Language Academy, worked on cataloging manuscripts at the al-Zahiriya Library, and made efforts in institutions concerned with preserving heritage. Following the honor ceremony, a specialized scientific symposium was held, covering the intellectual and investigative milestones in the historian's life, moderated by researcher Dr. Muslim Tayba.
His Career and Heritage
Dr. Muhammad Mati al-Hafiz expressed his gratitude for this honor, emphasizing that serving Damascus's heritage and scientific history is an amanah (trust) he has carried throughout his career, calling on future generations to safeguard this civilizational trust. This honor comes within the framework of the Ministry of Culture's interest in appreciating researchers and historians who contributed to preserving national heritage and encouraging new generations to continue research and documentation.
Muhammad Mati al-Hafiz was born in Damascus in 1940 and was raised under the care of his uncle, Sheikh Abdul Wahhab Dabous Wazir. He continued his university studies at the Faculty of Arabic Language at Damascus University. Among his most prominent works are "Encyclopedia of Scientific Families in Damascus," "Prominent Damascene Women from the First Century AH to the Present Era," and "Recitations and Prominent Reciters in Damascus," along with verifications of heritage books and studies covering scientific schools and mosques.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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