Youssef Ziedan (Arabic: يوسف زيدان) (born June 30, 1958) is an Egyptian writer and scholar who specializes in Arabic and Islamic studies. He is a public lecturer, columnist, and prolific author of more than 50 books. He is also director of the Manuscript Center and Museum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
His primary scholarly interests are in cataloguing, editing, and publishing Arabic and Islamic manuscripts. He has worked as a consultant in the field of Arabic heritage preservation and conservation in a number of international institutions, including UNESCO, ESCWA, and the Arab League, and has also directed a number of projects aimed at the identification and preservation of Arabic manuscript heritage.
Awards and Grants: - 2009 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) In Association with the Booker Prize Foundation - Imam Muhammad Madi Abul-‘Aza’im Award in the field of Islamic studies in 1995. - ‘Abdul-Hamid Shuman Prize in the field of social studies in 1996 for his book Fawā’ih al-Jamāl wa Fawā’ih al Jalāl- ‘Fragrance of Beauty & Revelations of the Magestic’ by Nijm al-Dīn Kubrā. - A special Award from the International Academy of Learning in 1996 for his academic corpus.
وما الخلق في التمثال إلا كثلجة وأنت بها الماء الذي هو نابع! فما الثلج في تحقيقنا غير مائه وغيران في حكم دعته الشرائع! ولكن بذوب الثلج يرفع حكمه ويوضع حكم الماء والأمر واقع! تجمعت الأضداد في واحد إليها وفيه تلاشت فهو عنهن ساطع!
الحمد لله أن أحياني لقراءة رائعة الجيلي هذه مرة أخرى، وقراءة هذه الأبيات بالذات مرة ومرات كثيرة، هي خلاصة المعرفة الصوفية في رأيي، مع كامل الشكر لتعليقات دكتور يوسف زيدان المفيدة، ولا عزاء لامتحان الأطفال، فلتذهب المادة كلها إلى الجحيم.