Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh

Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh (Arabic: إبراهيم العريّض, 8 March 1908 – 28 May 2002)^[1] Ibrahim Al-Arrayedh was a celebrated Bahraini poet and writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential literary figures in Bahrain’s modern history. His work helped shape the country’s cultural identity and led the literary movement throughout the 20th century^[2]

Ibrahim Al-Arrayedh
إبراهيم العريّض
Portrait of Ebrahim al-Arrayedh
Born	(1908-03-08)8 March 1908 Bombay, British India
Died	28 May 2002 (2002-05-29) (aged 94)
Nationality	Bahraini
Occupation	Poet

Biography

Born in Bombay, India , on 8 March 1908,^[2][3] Al-Arrayedh came from a diverse background—his father hailed from Manama, Bahrain, and his mother from Iraq. At age 14, he visited Bahrain for the first time and began studying at the Hidaya al-Khalifa School, the island’s first formal educational institution. However, he did not settle there permanently and returned to Bombay in 1926, where he completed his high school education.

During his studies, Al-Arrayedh developed a passion for languages and literature, mastering Persian, English, and Urdu. His deep interest in Urdu literature led him to pursue further studies at Aligarh Muslim University ^[3]

In 1927, he returned to Bahrain and began teaching English at the Hidaya al-Khalifa School, a role he held for four years. He later became deputy director of the Jafari School but resigned following disputes with British colonial authorities. His career then took him through various roles, including treasurer at the State Customs Service and head of a translation department in a Bahraini company—though the latter was cut short by World War II. In 1943, he moved to Delhi to work at a radio station before returning to Bahrain, where he joined the Bahrain Petroleum Company and remained until his retirement in 1967.^[3]

Poetry and Literary Contributions

Al-Arrayedh began writing poetry at 18, and his first collection was published in Baghdad in 1931. Fluent in multiple languages, he translated poetry across Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and English, helping bridge literary traditions across cultures. His work resonated deeply in Iraq, Syria, and Egypt, earning him an invitation from the American University of Beirut to lecture on Arab literature ^[3]

He was honored with “the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa Order – First Class” by the Bahraini government.[2]

Among his most notable works:

• To Bethlehem– a moving tribute to the Palestinian struggle

• Bitter Bread – a powerful reflection on poverty and social injustice

• The Tragedy of Being – a philosophical meditation on human existence

His collection Poems of Bahrain offers a vivid portrayal of the nation’s cultural and social landscape.

Beyond poetry, Al-Arrayedh was a reformer and educator. He founded a school and was appointed head of the Constitutional Council by Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, tasked with drafting Bahrain’s First Constitution in the early 1970s, ahead of its independence from the United Kingdom.^[3]

Death

Al-Arrayedh died in May 2002 at the age of 94, following respiratory complications.^{[citation needed]} He was laid to rest in Manama Graveyard beside his daughter, Layla Al-Arrayedh, who had died the previous year.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

Following his death; in tribute to his contributions; King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa named a major road opposite the Bahrain Financial Harbour after him.^[2] In 2006, his former residence in Gudaibiya, Manama, was transformed into the Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh Poetry House— a cultural center and gathering venue for poets and tourists alike.^[2]

In 2008, UNESCO;United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; honored his legacy with an exhibition at its headquarters in Paris, celebrating his impact on literature and culture.^[4]