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The mansion of the late Palestinian scholar of literature and philosophy, Mohammed Isaaf al-Nashashibi, is situated in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem. It is composed of two floors and a basement with a total area of 750 m². The mansion was designed, and its construction supervised, by the architect of Greek origins, Spyro Houris, in the beginnings of the twenties of the last century. Al-Nashashibi mansion is an impressive building with magnificent architectural elements, specifically the use of blue faience (Qeshani) to decorate its front façade.

The building, during the years where it served as a residence for the great intellectual, was a meeting point for many Arab authors and intellectuals. Many Jerusalemite families used their mansions in that neighborhood as a literal forum during the British occupation. Al-Nashashibi stayed in his mansion until 1948, he then moved to Cairo to receive medical treatment. He died in Cairo in 1948.

 

The Palestinian Jerusalemite Scholar, Mohammed Isaaf al-Nashashibi

 

Mohammed Isaaf Uthman al-Nashashibi was born in Jerusalem to a notable Jerusalemite family. He was enrolled in the traditional schools in Jerusalem (kuttab), then moved to Beirut to study in “Dar al Hikma” college for 4 years. He was influenced by his distinguished teachers, Abdullah al-Bustani, Muhyiddin al-Khayyat, and Shaykh Mustafa al-Ghalayini.

 

The late Nashashibi developed a deep interest in literature since a young age. He read books of heritage, adored Badi’ al-Zaman al-Hamathani, and was known among his friends by the name “Aba al Fadl”. He liked al-Mutanabi, and said about him “Al Mutanabi is a third person between every two intellectuals”. He was a man of immense learning. He had a large inclusive library. His councils were the most interesting; no one met him without benefitting from his knowledge. He looked for knowledge for the aim of knowledge only. He was a teacher for himself, always motivated to revive the glories of the Arabs and the heritage of Islam.

Isaaf al-Nashashibi worked as a professor of Arabic language in the “Salahiyya College” in Jerusalem during the First World War. Then he worked in the Ma’aref of the Government of Palestine during the British mandate. He was appointed as the principal of al-Rashidiyyeh School in 1918. He was soon promoted to Inspector General of the Arabic language in Palestine’s schools. He resigned in 1930 and devoted himself to his books and literature. Selections of his readings were published in exceptional heritage books, and in the Cairo journal “Al Risala”, under the title “Nuql al-Adib”. His publications continued regularly from 1937 until 1947.

He befriended several authors and poets, such as Ahmad Shawki, Ahmad Hasan al-Zayyat, Amin al-Rihani, and Khalil al-Sakakini. Ahmad Hasan al-Zayyat said about him: “Nashashibi was a unique man in his method, handwriting, speech and achievement. His method is nervous and fiery, you can almost feel the flames of his words, and see the rays from his goals. His achievements are extraordinary. You cannot mention one Arabic book that he had not read, nor a verse from the iconic poems that he had not learned by heart, nor a tale from the history of Arabs and Islam that he had not recited, nor a rule of grammar, exception of composition or a novelty or proverb that he was not already aware of.

 

Khalil al-Sakakini wrote about him is his diaries: “The Great War was declared, I remember one memory of him, fondly and gratefully, if he knew we could not find bread, he’d carry some flour on his back and bring it to us”.

Mohammed Isaaf travelled to Cairo in 1947 for medical treatment. He resided in a hotel until his death in 22 January 1948.