On the passing of one of the prominent figures of the Arabic language in Canada and North America, Professor Dr. Abdullah Obeid

The Lebanese community, the Arab communities, and the academic society in Canada have lost Professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Hajj Obeid, Chair Professor of Arabic Studies, Head and Founder of the Department of Arabic Studies, and Coordinator of the Arabic Program at the University of Ottawa uOttawa, one of the most prominent Arab intellectuals who emigrated from Lebanon, who passed away in the Canadian capital Ottawa last Monday, July 21, 2025, after a bitter struggle with cancer.

Abdullah Obeid was born in 1939 in Amioun, Koura District (North Lebanon Governorate) in Lebanon, and he grew up in Amioun. After completing high school, he joined the Lebanese University in Beirut to study literature and education, and during his studies, he was elected president of the Student Association. After graduating from the Lebanese University with a bachelor's degree in Arabic language and literature, he taught in several schools in Lebanon before UNESCO contracted him to train teachers in the Republic of Congo. Upon reaching the legal voting age in Lebanon (21 years), he returned to his hometown and was elected a member of the Amioun municipality and managed its affairs for two years, after which he became the acting mayor while still a young man full of dedication and love for his country and eager to serve his citizens.

He founded a private secondary school (Al-Islah Orthodox School) in Amioun in 1967, which he managed for nine years, and during that period he wrote many books and school plays, making the school a cultural beacon for the region. He also opened the first library in the Koura area and participated in many seminars delivering lectures and speeches.

Abdullah Al-Hajj Obeid married Marian Chammas in Amioun in 1976, and they left Beirut on a honeymoon trip. During their absence and with the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war, their home, school, and library were completely looted and destroyed, leaving them with nothing to return to in Lebanon. They applied for immigration to Canada from the island of Barbados and arrived in Canada as permanent immigrants in September of the same year.

After arriving in Canada, Abdullah Obeid settled in Ottawa and began teaching French education programs for English speakers in the Aylmer area in Gatineau, which belongs to the province of Quebec and is located in the lands of the National Capital Region (NCR) that includes the city of Ottawa in Ontario and the city of Gatineau in Quebec and their urban and rural areas. In 1982, he established the Arabic Studies program at the University of Ottawa and served as the director of the Chair of Arabic Studies for 37 years. Thousands of students graduated from this program, and he played a major role in signing a number of cooperation agreements between the University of Ottawa and many universities in the Arab world. Thanks to Dr. Abdullah Obeid’s efforts, the University of Ottawa is currently linked by treaties and agreements with more than 40 cooperation and exchange agreements with universities from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Mauritania. The agreements with the mentioned Arab countries are not limited to one university but include a group of universities in each country.

Dr. Abdullah Obeid says about establishing the Chair of Arabic Studies at the University of Ottawa: "The chair included 30 Canadian students of Arab origin (mostly from Lebanon) in its founding year 1982. This came with the forced Lebanese migration during the internal war in the country, and the students were divided into two classes, one French and the other English-speaking." Today (2013), the mentioned chair includes more than 300 students distributed over 13 classes (study sessions). It currently includes, in addition to teaching the language and studying Arab civilization, both ancient and modern, the study of Arabic literature, starting from the pre-Islamic era up to the modern era. It is taught in civilization and literature classes in both Arabic and English. This comes with providing Arabic models for students who master it. It is, of course, translated into English and French for all students."

Abdullah Obeid was also one of the founders of the Arabic news department at Radio Canada International and worked as a freelance journalist for 20 years, covering Ottawa news and events. He was also a member of the Canadian committees for peace in the world and the Middle East and a member of the Middle East discussion group. He received many medals and awards, including the Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II and the Canada 150 Medal, in recognition of his contributions to education and strengthening relations between Canada, Lebanon, and the Arab world. He also received the Canada Builders Award. Due to the success of Dr. Abdullah Obeid’s initiative in spreading the Arabic language, especially among the children of Arab communities, Canada awarded him the Governor General’s Award, a prestigious prize granted in the name of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Britain, as Canada still follows the British Crown. This recognition from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was for his achievements and contributions in science, education, and spreading the Arabic language over more than 30 years in Canada.

In an article titled: "A Lebanese from Koura Behind the Phenomenon of the Spread of Arabic Language and Literature Education in Canadian Universities," Dr. Elias Khalil Zain talks about Dr. Abdullah Obeid’s experience in establishing the first Arabic language department in Canada, saying: "Once he settled in Ottawa, Professor Abdullah discovered the absence of Arabic learning among Arab communities, including the Lebanese community. He noticed the emergence of Canadian generations of Arab origin who are consciously connected to the homeland, meaning no more than what their parents transmitted to them at home. Therefore, from the beginning, he sought to transfer his personal experience in education and teaching in Lebanon. He was encouraged when he listened to the Lebanese-Canadian Senator (Sheikh) Pierre DeBané, whose roots go back to the city of Sidon, who was then a minister in the Canadian federal government, speaking before a gathering of Arab communities about integration in Canada and the necessity of the Lebanese community’s children contributing their academic and scientific expertise to Canada’s multicultural society. This coincided with a period when large numbers of Lebanese immigrants arrived in Canada due to the war in their country, reaching a total of 75,000 during the years 1976-1989."

"Abdullah, who holds a bachelor's degree in Arabic language and literature from the Lebanese University, had noticed the absence of schools concerned with teaching Arabic to the children of new immigrants. Accordingly, he submitted a request to the University of Ottawa, considered one of the largest higher education institutions in Canada, to teach Arabic language and literature there. The Dean of the Faculty of Arts approved the request and granted him the authority to implement his pioneering project."

"Dr. Abdullah began his Arabic language teaching program in 1982, starting with 24 students. This pioneering program expanded due to its success to offer courses on classical and modern Arab civilization (added in 1984) and Arabic literature. The courses include poetry, literature, story, and theater, in addition to more than twenty subjects in language origins, grammar, and communication for all three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The program later expanded in subsequent years to reach more than a thousand students in 2013."

"Due to the expansion of the Arabic language teaching program, its many subjects, and the number of students, it was necessary to develop it into a Chair (professorship) of Arabic Studies in 1988, with a budget reaching two million dollars. It is worth mentioning that the chair received moral encouragement and support from various Arab country ambassadors. An amount of 600,000 dollars was approved to assist students wishing to learn the language of the Arabs and its literature, and thus its culture and civilization."

"The curricula in the Chair of Arabic Studies developed in the following years. In 2003, the University of Ottawa approved a minor bachelor's degree in Arabic Studies, and in 2006 the subject of Arabic cinema was added. However, the major step was the approval of a full bachelor's degree in Arabic Studies in 2009. The subject of popular Arab culture was also added in the same year. With this expansion in studies, the University of Ottawa became unique in North America. This is because it distinguished itself from degrees at other universities specializing in the Middle East or Islamic studies. As a result, the university attracts students from across Canada, the United States, and even Mexico."

"It is worth noting that Arabic studies in the faculties of the University of Ottawa also expanded, with courses on history and Arab philosophy in the philosophy branch. The Faculty of Translation also offered a degree in translation sciences from and to Arabic, French, and English for a number of Arab students."

"End of Dr. Elias Khalil Zain’s speech"

I met Professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Hajj Obeid a month after I assumed my duties as head of the Sudanese diplomatic mission in Canada. My first meeting with him was on Wednesday afternoon, Ramadan 17, 1440 AH, corresponding to May 22, 2019, when he visited me in my office at the embassy. In that meeting, we talked about the concerns of the Arabic language in Canada, and he enlightened me about how the Arabic Language Department was established at the University of Ottawa in 1982, mentioning that the beginning was with about 35 students at that time. He explained that the idea came due to the large number of students of Arab origin in Canada who did not speak Arabic, and he pointed out that the number of students studying Arabic at the University of Ottawa had now reached 3,500 students (in 2019). I praised the diligent efforts made by Dr. Abdullah Obeid to establish this important institute and expressed my deep appreciation for the great role he continued to play in teaching Arabic and introducing Arab culture in Canada.

I was filled with happiness that day meeting Dr. Abdullah Obeid and getting to know him, and I considered it an opportunity to open the door for cooperation between the Department of Arabic Studies at the University of Ottawa and the Khartoum Institute of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers and the Faculty of Arts at the University of Khartoum and other Sudanese universities.

We toured that day through the worlds of literature in Sudan, and I mentioned to Dr. Abdullah that Sudan is famous for a number of prominent and shining figures in teaching Arabic literature and language at Sudanese universities, such as the late scholar Professor Abdullah Al-Tayeb, the late writer Professor Abdullah Hamadna Allah, the late scholar Professor Al-Hibr Youssef Nour Al-Daem, and Professor Jaafar Mirghani Ahmed and their many contributions to the Arabic language and literature in Sudan and the Arab world. I told him about the efforts that Professor Jaafar Mirghani has been making in Arabic language in Sudan and Arab countries and pointed out that in 2017 he gave a series of public lectures titled "Arabic Language Among the Languages of Europe," which received great popularity in academic and scientific circles. We discussed arranging a visit for Professor Jaafar Mirghani to give such a lecture at the Department of Arabic Language at the University of Ottawa. I also touched in that meeting on Sudan’s experience in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers and the great role played by the Khartoum Institute of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers at the University of Africa in teaching and spreading Arabic in Africa through hosting thousands of students from African countries. Dr. Abdullah Obeid expressed his admiration for the presence of prominent figures in Arabic language and literature in Sudan and wished he had been present at the seminar "Arabic Language Among the Languages of Europe" presented by Professor Jaafar Mirghani. He pointed out that Arabic has contributed more than 4,000 words to the Spanish language, about 3,000 words to English, and 2,500 words to German. He expressed his eagerness to organize Sudanese activities at the University of Ottawa and mentioned in this regard that he still remembers the lecture given by Mr. Abdul Karim Al-Kabli at the University of Ottawa about Sudanese music and singing in the early 1980s. He said that the hall, which accommodates 1,500 people, was completely full, forcing many who could not find seats to stand until the end of the lecture.

I had happy dreams during my sitting with Dr. Abdullah Obeid to establish cooperation with the Department of Arabic Studies at the University of Ottawa and suggested to him signing a memorandum of understanding between the Khartoum Institute of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers and the Department of Arabic Studies at the University of Ottawa, as well as inviting Professor Jaafar Mirghani, Director of the Sudan Civilization Institute, to give lectures at the University of Ottawa at the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year, and also to exchange academic visits between the Department of Arabic Studies and the Khartoum Institute of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers, headed by Professor Ali Abdullah Al-Naeem. Dr. Abdullah Obeid agreed to our proposal and confirmed his full readiness to implement it to see the light at the earliest possible opportunity in coordination with us, but unfortunately, all these dreams were blown away as Sudan in those days following the fall of the Salvation regime was suffering from the labor pains of transition to democratic rule amid sharp tensions and deep disagreements among Sudanese political forces, which caused a state of instability in the country that affected state institutions.

Perhaps fate, if it had led those efforts to success, would have worked to strengthen our cultural diplomacy, which has become the main driver of diplomacy in our time, and that would have played a great role in consolidating relations between Sudan and Canada, as such activities can effectively contribute to advancing bilateral relations between the two countries by significant steps forward.

Dr. Abdullah Obeid was humble, kind-hearted, pure-tongued, and pure-hearted, with a lovable personality and a light spirit. You would see him smiling at everyone, leaving an impact on everyone he met in his life. His smile never left his face even when the illness worsened, and he was treated at Ottawa General Hospital and May Court Hospice, which provided him with distinguished care.

In the presence of his grieving family and a large gathering of his friends, we bid the final farewell to the late resident Abdullah Obeid last Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre hall. On Friday, July 25, his funeral was held at the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, then he was buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa on the same day at noon.

With the passing of Professor Dr. Abdullah Al-Hajj Obeid, a sharp mind and sound thought disappear, and a towering star of the Arabic language in North America goes out. He devoted his life to this language as a skilled researcher, brilliant linguist, and exceptional thinker who built bridges of intellectual and cultural communication between civilizations. His absence is a great loss to the Arab communities and the Canadian academic society, as he was one of the most prominent Arabic language scholars in Canada, credited with spreading and teaching Arabic language and literature in Canada. Thanks to his efforts, the University of Ottawa dedicated the Abdullah Obeid Scholarship for Arabic Studies to provide financial assistance to students interested in Arabic studies. At this occasion, we call on the University of Ottawa to elevate the Department of Arabic Studies to an institute and to name it the Abdullah Obeid Institute for Arabic Studies in memory of its founder, the founder of the Arabic Language Department at the University of Ottawa. We hope that the accredited Arab embassies in Canada will make efforts to achieve this goal. There is no doubt that the leadership, supervision, and follow-up of His Excellency Brother Jamal Abdullah Al-Sallal, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen and Dean of the Arab Ambassadors Council in Ottawa, and Her Excellency Sister Souria Othmani, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Ottawa, will contribute to making this dream a reality.

In conclusion, we can only extend our sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family of our late friend, resident Dr. Abdullah Obeid, his faithful wife Marian Chammas, his daughters Caroline (Mark Nassim), Nicole (Corey Matsuzaka), Alma (David Del Giudici), and his grandchildren Layla, Malik, Zain, and to his siblings Salwa, Shahada, and Ellen in Lebanon, to the honorable brother and dear friend His Excellency Fadi Ziada, Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic in Canada, to the members of the Lebanese community and Arab communities, and to the friends, admirers, students, and colleagues of the dear deceased among the professors and faculty members of the Department of Arabic Studies at the University of Ottawa.

* Former Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan in Canada abusalih@minister.com