Abstract

This study provides a general overview of the life, resistance against British and Zionist occupation, and poetry—especially his poems about Jerusalem—of Ibrāhīm Ṭūqān a prominent national poet and ardent defender of the Palestinian cause, born in occupied Palestine during the first half of the twentieth century. Born in 1905 into a distinguished and well-established family in Nablus, Ṭūqān was of Turkish descent on his mother’s side. He received his early education at home, completed his primary education at al-Rashādiyya School, and his secondary education at the Matran School. He later moved to Beirut for higher education, enrolling in the Faculty of Arts at the American University of Beirut. Upon graduation, he began working as a lecturer at the same institution. During his university years, through his elder brother Ahmad Ṭūqān, he met several leading literary figures of the time. These relationships led to the founding of a literary club named “Dār al-Nadwa.” Due to his education under the American system, he acquired only limited familiarity with French and Turkish but became fluent in English and gained deep knowledge of English literature. This background helped him adopt the culture of modern academia, which is clearly reflected in his poetry. Ṭūqān’s poetic talent was recognized during his student years, and he earned the title “The Poet of the University” for his early studies. His poem “The Red Tuesday” (al-Thulāthāʾ al-Aḥmar), written in memory of three young men executed by Zionists, heralded his future as a major poet. With his eloquent and profound poems—particularly in the genres of ghazal, national poetry, panegyric, and elegy—he distinguished himself from his contemporaries and secured a unique place in literary circles. Beyond his literary achievements, Ṭūqān worked in various fields following his graduation, including teaching, municipal administration, commerce, and radio broadcasting. These diverse roles allowed him to engage with different segments of Palestinian society and remain in touch with the pulse of the people. He reflected the sufferings of his homeland, the hopes of his people, and the spirit of resistance against occupation in his poetry. Despite his short life, he left behind a significant literary legacy. Ṭūqān's poetry had a profound influence on Palestinian youth and was widely disseminated through oral culture. Critics have regarded him as one of the pioneers of Arabic poetry during the first forty years of the twentieth century. In addition to his famous poem “My Homeland” (Maṭhnī), which was adopted as a national anthem by Palestine and some Arab countries, his poems on Jerusalem placed him among the foremost figures of modern Arabic poetry. In his studies,Ṭūqān passionately defended the Palestinian cause, strengthened the nationalist sentiments of his people, took a firm stance against those willing to sell out the homeland, and honored the memory of Palestinian martyrs. Despite his short lifespan, Ibrāhīm Ṭūqān remains a figure of great significance in both Arabic literature and the Palestinian national movement. He was also the brother of Fadwā Ṭūqān a literary figure in her own right, and Ahmad Ṭūqān who served as Prime Minister of Jordan in 1970.