Palestinian writer and poet Zakaria Muhammad passed away today, Wednesday, at the age of 73, after a prolific journey filled with contributions in poetry and prose. Palestinian Culture Minister Atef Abu Saif stated, "The departure of Zakaria Muhammad represents a loss for culture and for Palestinian intellectuals." He added in a statement from the Ministry of Culture that Zakaria Muhammad "made significant contributions to Palestinian poetry and national culture, and his literary and research activities were always valued and appreciated."
He continued, "His poetic works and literary contributions stimulated creativity, and he dedicated most of his life to his people's cause, freedom, and struggle." Muhammad was born in the village of Al-Zawiya in the Salfit Governorate in 1950 and studied Arabic literature at the University of Baghdad before moving to Beirut, where he worked in journalism starting in 1975. Since the 1980s, he worked for various Palestinian media and cultural platforms in Beirut, Amman, and Damascus, including the magazines "Al-Hurriya" and "Democratic Thought."
The Ministry of Culture’s statement noted that "he returned to Palestine in 1994 and took on the role of deputy editor of the magazine "Al-Karmel," which was headed by Mahmoud Darwish."
#### Numerous Publications
Some of Zakaria Muhammad's published works include "The Religion of Mecca in Pre-Islam: The Book of Divination and Lots," "The Religion of Mecca in Pre-Islam: The Hams, Talas, and Halla," "The Twisting of Stones: The Book of Title and Myth," "The Year of the Two Turns: Pre-Islamic Proverbs Between Ritual and Myth," "Arabic Inscriptions Before Islam," "The Riddle and the Key: The Number of Deir Alla and Early Sinai Inscriptions," "The Palm Tree of Tayyi: Uncovering the Secret of Ancient Palestinians," and "Worship of Isis and Osiris in Pre-Islamic Mecca."
In children's literature, he published "The First Flower on Earth" and "The Rain Singer." He also released novels like "The Dark Eye" and "The Shepherd's Stick." In poetry, he published collections such as "Final Poems," "Handicrafts," "The Horse Crosses Askdar," "Sunstroke," "Stone of Bewilderment," "Kushtaban," "Alindi," and "Zarwand." The Ministry of Culture stated that Zakaria Muhammad's works have been translated into several languages, including Korean.
