Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Rifa’i

Becomes a Memory… and the Book Becomes a Homeland

Abstract

Abdulaziz bin Ahmad Al-Rifa‘i (1924–1992) stands as a prominent figure in Saudi cultural history, whose contributions extended beyond official duties to shape the nation’s intellectual landscape. Born in Umluj and raised in Makkah, his early education combined formal schooling at Al-Safā Preparatory School, Al-Azīziyyah Primary School, and the Saudi Scientific Institute, with intensive study of Qur’anic interpretation, Arabic grammar, and classical and modern literature, forming a unique intellectual persona blending heritage and contemporary awareness.

Al-Rifa‘i’s professional career spanned teaching, roles in the Directorate of Education and Public Security, and senior positions in the Royal Court, including Director General of the Political Department at the Council of Ministers and advisor to the Royal Court until retirement in 1981.

Renowned for a reflective and precise writing style, he bridged knowledge with reality and books with readers, influencing Saudi journalism, literature, and cultural discourse. He authored over twenty works on literature, history, heritage, and intellectual studies, including Gibraltar and the Arabs, Ka‘b ibn Mālik, The Companion and Litterateur, and My Journey with Libraries.

Al-Rifa‘i’s weekly Thursday Seminar, founded in 1959, became a vibrant cultural forum and led to the establishment of Ālam al-Kutub magazine in 1980. He passed away on 21 August 1992, leaving a lasting intellectual and cultural legacy that continues to inspire future generations in Saudi Arabia.