Personal Info
- Country of residence: Palestine
Information
Kheder Al-Ahmad (1350 - 1445 AH / 1932 - 2023 AD ), a mathematician and senior professor in Arab universities, Palestinian - Syrian , has authored books, translations, and is interested in Arabizing mathematical terminology. He is a research professor at the University of Colorado Springs and the University of Southern California , and an associate researcher at the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste. He is a member of the Mathematics Terminology Committee at the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus .
His birth and education
Khudr bin Hamed Al-Ahmad was born on Friday, Shaban 22, 1350 AH, corresponding to January 1, 1932 AD , in the city of Haifa , Palestine . Then, following the Palestinian Nakba in 1948, he was forced to move to Syria with his brother when he was sixteen years old. He settled in Damascus and completed his education there, obtaining a high school diploma with the highest ranking in Syria.
He wanted to study mathematics and physics, so he joined the Faculty of Science at Damascus University , from which he obtained a degree in mathematical and physical sciences in 1954 with first place in the faculty, then he obtained a diploma in education from the Faculty of Education at Damascus University in 1955. Then he was sent to complete his postgraduate studies in the Soviet Union , and he obtained a doctorate in mathematics with a specialization in ( celestial mechanics ) from Moscow State University in 1964. This specialization was one of the rare specializations, and it had no practical applications except in America and Russia, and between the two superpowers there was a race to develop it.
At Moscow University, he met his Damascene colleague, Makki al-Hasani al-Jaza’iri , who was preparing his research for a doctorate in nuclear physics . He is now the Secretary-General of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus . The relationship between them became strong and their friendship remained close over the years until the death of Dr. Khader. Among the students who accompanied him in Moscow, who became prominent professors in their specializations, were: Dr. Mustafa Hamoulila (PhD in atomic spectra), Dr. Hafez Junaid (PhD in biochemistry ), Dr. Ghaleb Sayda (PhD in igneous and metamorphic rock petrology ), Dr. Anwar al-Imam (PhD in geophysics ), Dr. Ahmed Deeb Dashash (PhD in industrial medicine), Dr. Daad al-Husseini (PhD in elasticity), and Dr. Walid Hamouda (PhD in dentistry ).
Dr. Khader is fluent in Russian and English, and is familiar with French , in addition to his native language, Arabic.
His work and functions
After obtaining his doctorate, he returned to Damascus as a teacher at the university from which he graduated, and he rose through its ranks over three decades from 1965 AD until his retirement in 1995, and he obtained the rank of professor in 1980 AD.
He was seconded to King Saud University in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia, for five years in two stages; the first in the late 1970s, and the second in the mid-1980s, and wrote some university books for its students. He worked as a research professor at the University of Colorado Springs and the University of Southern California in the United States of America in 1986 during the academic sabbatical year, and as an associate researcher at the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy from 1991 to 1995. He worked as an expert and consultant at the Daaboul Industrial Group in Damascus from 1995 to 2012.
He received many tempting offers from international universities in America and Russia, but he declined and preferred to stay in his beloved city, Damascus, teaching its university students.
He participated in several conferences, seminars and working sessions in: Syria , Jordan , Saudi Arabia , Italy and the United States .
He is a member of the editorial board of the Damascus University Journal, and a member of the Mathematics Terminology Committee at the Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus . The committee was formed in late 2009 and includes the following members: Makki al-Hasani, Secretary-General of the Academy; Muwaffaq Daboul, a member of the Academy (chairman of the committee); Marwan al-Bawab, a member of the Academy and current vice president; Khader al-Ahmad, an expert; and Bashir Qabil, an expert. The committee’s mission is to develop appropriate equivalents for foreign mathematics terms, and to express an opinion on terms and equivalents submitted to the Academy by universities and other institutions.
He left Damascus in 2012 to join his sons in Germany, until his death.
His books and works
In the composition:
A theoretical study and issues in contemporary mathematics: algebraic structures, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Muwaffaq Daboul , Prof. Dr. Adel Sudan, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Al-Barni, Al-Risala Foundation , Beirut 1971.
Introduction to Mathematical Analysis , King Saud University, Riyadh, 1979.
Foundations of Celestial Mechanics , King Saud University , Riyadh 1981.
Contemporary Foundations of Analytical Geometry , published by Damascus University .
Analysis 3 (Real Analysis of a Single Variable), published by Damascus University.
Analysis 4 (Real Analysis of Several Variables), published by Damascus University, 1983.
Principles of General Topology , published by Damascus University, 1983.
The Complex Square, in collaboration with Adel Sudan and Muwaffaq Daboul , Higher Mathematics Series, Al-Risala Foundation, Beirut 1992.
Contemporary Foundations of Analytical Geometry with an Introduction to Non-Euclidean Geometry , Al-Risala Foundation, Beirut 2001.
Dictionary of Mathematics Terms, in collaboration with Muwaffaq Daboul , Prof. Marwan Al-Bawab, and Prof. Dr. Muhammad Bashir Qabil, Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus , 2018.
Glossary of Mathematics Terms (English-Arabic), Mathematics Terms Committee of the Arabic Language Academy in Damascus, 2018.
Glossary of Mathematics Terms (Arabic-English), Mathematics Terms Committee of the Academy of the Arabic Language in Damascus, 2018.
In translation:
Introduction to Functional Analysis and its Applications, by Erwin Krizek, Damascus University , 1985.
School Mathematics in the Nineties, by Jeffrey Howson and Brian Wilson, translated in collaboration with Muwaffaq Daboul , reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Adnan Al-Hamwi, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences , Department of Authorship, Translation and Publication, 1992.
Issue: From Ancient Civilizations to the Computer Age, authored by John MacLeish, translated in collaboration with Muwaffaq Daboul , reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Attia Ashour , World of Knowledge Series , Part 251, National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters , Kuwait , 1999. [
Mathematics and Optimal Form, by Stefan Hildebrandt and Anthony Tromba, translated in collaboration with Adnan Al-Hamawi, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Department of Authorship, Translation and Publishing, 2000.
Stellar Parallels : The Race to Measure the Universe, by Alan W. Hirschfeld, Al-Obeikan Library , Riyadh , 2003.
Modern Strategies for Management and Business, Summaries of Selected Books and Research, Collection in a Three-Part Series, Publications of the Research and Development Department at Madar Aluminum Company, Daboul Industrial Group, Vol. 1/2005, Vol. 2/2008, Vol. 3/2010.
The Dream Manager, by Matthew Kelly, is part of the Modern Strategies for Management and Business series.
His student, the mathematics instructor in Syria and former member of the Curriculum Development Committee at the Syrian Ministry of Education, the late Professor Abdul Majeed Al-Hajji , described his translation of the book “Introduction to Functional Analysis and its Applications” by its author Erwin Krizek, as: “ One of the best scientific translations, to the point that the reader does not feel that the book is translated .” He also described his professor by saying: “ Everyone who studied with him loved him and was influenced by him and his distinctive style of teaching .”
Other scientific works
He published scientific research in celestial mechanics and dynamic systems .
He participated in writing some mathematics books for secondary school in Arab schools.
Participated in translating articles of the Science Magazine, published by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences .
He wrote 23 articles for the Arabic Encyclopedia issued by the Arabic Encyclopedia Authority in Syria, which are: Brahe-Tycho, Kinematics , Uranus , Contemporary Mathematics, Saturn , Al-Battani , Black Hole , Sun , Astronomical Coordinates, Astrology , Integration , Venus , Al-Bitraji , Zodiac , Topology , Kinematics, Natural Numbers , Development of Mathematics, Function (Continued), Sky , Al-Biruni , Pluto , Celestial Mechanics .
His attributes
Khader Al-Ahmad was known for his high morals and pure tongue. He was kind, generous, and kind to his relatives, both near and far. He was cheerful and peaceful, and did not care about positions and leadership.
In describing him, the writer Fawaz Tello said : “ I never heard him utter a single bad word for a third of a century, nor did I hear him insult anyone, no matter the circumstance. He was always a kind diplomat with everyone around him and with whomever he met in any circumstance. I never heard him raise his voice for any reason. He was a generous, financially helpful man who was silently supportive of many of his relatives, both near and far. He had a peaceful, cheerful personality and a broad general culture, far from any sectarian or nationalist fanaticism. He was a Muslim who performed his religious duties far from any extremism, a lover of authentic Arabic music as well as Western classical music. He was generous with his family, with whom he traveled the world and gave them happiness and luxury as much as he could. He always renounced positions and their restrictive requirements and love of appearing, apologizing for heading the Department of Mathematics at Damascus University and other positions .”
His family
Khader Al-Ahmad married the Damascene lady Nahla Bazerbashi in 1966, and he has a son and two daughters from her: dentist Hamed Al-Ahmad, who holds a master’s degree in gum surgery and a master’s degree in computer technology; pharmacist Rafeef, who is married to the opposition writer, Professor Fawaz Tello; and Razan, who holds a bachelor’s degree in library science.
His death
Khader Al-Ahmad died in the German capital, Berlin , on Friday, Rabi’ al-Awwal 14, 1445 AH, corresponding to September 29, 2023 AD . He was buried in the Islamic cemetery in Banco on the morning of Tuesday, Rabi’ al-Awwal 25, 1445 AH, corresponding to October 10, 2023 AD. The Arabic Language Academy in Damascus mourned him on its official website.
Notes
A memorizer of the Qur’an and a female preacher, born in 1938 and died on the 23rd of Rabi’ al-Awwal 1430 AH, corresponding to March 19, 2009 AD.
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