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For recent additions and modifications to our site, go to ARBORIUM where you will learn more about the woman whose name graces many of our web pages here, and whose inspiration we seek in the many pursuits of our endeavor.  Dr. Zahira Hafez Abdin ( Also known as Abdeen) bears the honorary title of Mother of Physicians in Egypt in recognition of her many services to the profession, and of the exemplary manner in which she dedicated a lifetime in philanthropy applying her skills and knowledge  as pediatrician and rheumatic heart specialist in the service of the poor and the needy.  In fact,  the scope of Dr. Zahira's activities may have begun in the medical field tending to sick children and extending to the mothers and families of the poor and needy, but they did not stop there.  The range of her sustained and selfless pursuits extended to a wider scope of preventive and restorative care that included educational, social welfare, and cultural activities - that were not confined to Egypt. (Eg. Check out the  Dubai Medical College for Girls!)

Dr. Zahira passed away on May 7, 2002, after a long and arduous struggle with disease that may have debilitated her physically, but left her mentally and spiritually indefatiguable until the very end.  Meet the Mother of Egyptian Doctors here at bio-synopsis for an overview in English and at  'what's in a name' for a brief Arabic overview.

On the loose leaves that follow we attempt to capture some of  the thoughts and tributes that appeared in memory of a great woman. Admittedly, much remains to be done to give the measure of her contributions, as well as to convey something of the esteem and love she inspires in the heart of countless many whose lives intersected at some point with her own...

   Upcoming 2007

We are currently in the process of compiling a volume in the memory of the Mother of Egyptian Doctors, on the occasion of the Fiftieth anniversary of her founding of the Association of the Friends of Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease in 1957 - which constituted the foundation for the many other public and philanthropic institutions she would set up over the next 40 years.  We will keep you posted on developments as the project progresses. You may follow some of our work on the following link.  Memorium_ Bio_Project.htm  and the Five-Fifty-Fest previews.

December 2006

Fragments from a Treasure Trough brings back to life bygone moments that today are cherished, as they help us put together a life well lived... We hope to be adding to Safiyya's memoires others by those who once walked a shared path with Dr. Zahira Abdin... Check out our links, beginning with  

For a snapshot of more to come go to our Album of fresh memories and 'reconstructed lives' - that might be of special interest to those pondering the mother-child bonding.   Head for the path down ... 

Backup from our Archives

Spring 2002

Our ACTIVITIES have an excerpt from one of our maiden publications in Arabic:  Women and Society in the Arab World - A Century in Review:  This is a bibliographic compendium that is chronologically and thematically classified.  It is prefaced by a 100 page long analytical essay that places the subject in context and comments on the documentation.

Jan -Feb 2004

PERSPECTIVES  has seen the addition of some topical material on Muslim women in Europe. The subject was provoked by the Hijab issue,  Muslim girls' freedom to don the veil in public schools... and its impact on more than French politics! Beauty daring the Beast and other Foulardies...

Spring 2004

Go to our CURRICULUM for a preview of a provisional draft of a course under design that was taught at Cairo University in the Spring 2005 in an innovative Masters Program in EuroMed Studies.  The subject of this course deals with civilizational encounters. Euro- Arab /Civilizations..

July 2004

Where East Meets West:The West on the Agenda of the Islamic Revival

This is a copy of the first edition of a monograph published in the early nineties.  Since it has been out of print for some time, and it has been in demand, the author will try to meet her publisher's request for permission to reprint.  The work is currently being revised for the purpose.  To view the web posted version go to  PERSPECTIVES: EAST  /WEST

November 28-29, 2004

Forthcoming Seminar hosted at FEPS- Cairo University - Jointly sponsored by the Program for Dialogue of Civilizations & Center for Episteme Studies (Cairo) :  Theme:  Revisiting Some Contemporary Arabic Discourses on Women: Towards a Civilizational Perspective for Women's Studies?   Key ASWIC participants will be joined by their colleagues from other scholarly circles in Cairo, foremost, members from the Women & Memory Forum..

Papers and discussions will span two days that will be rounded up on an interactive forum discussing some state of the art trends and developments in the emergent civilizational perspective as it is applied to  women's studies -