Hatem el-Hariry

A pioneering Egyptian educator who modernized Arab education systems in the 19th century

Hatem el-Hariry (1829–1896) was a visionary Egyptian scholar and educator whose reforms reshaped Arabic education during the Ottoman era. Born into a family of religious scholars in Alexandria, he broke tradition by advocating for secular subjects like mathematics, science, and European languages in Egyptian schools. His most significant contribution came as director of Al-Azhar University, where he introduced modern curricula while preserving Islamic studies. Read more on Wikipedia.

El-Hariry founded Egypt's first teacher training college in 1875, creating a sustainable system for qualified educators. His 1880 publication "The Path to Knowledge" became a foundational textbook for Arabic schools across the Arab world. Despite opposition from conservative religious leaders, he maintained that education should be accessible to all social classes. His legacy is reflected in modern Egyptian educational infrastructure, with schools and libraries still bearing his name. El-Hariry's work laid critical groundwork for later reforms by leaders like Zaghloul Pasha and influenced education systems from Syria to Sudan.