HERITAGE IN PROVERBS
Bin Dalmook’s work inspired by folklore and conversations among the elderly
Proverbs have been part of human culture for hundreds of years. Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook, CEO of Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre (HHC), says they are like “lungs from where heritage breathes”.
In time for the UAE’s golden jubilee anniversary, he has launched the second edition of Al Mtwassef, an expanded collection of 534 Emirati proverbs. The book was researched and collected by Bin Dalmook based on oral tradition, interviews and collecting passages of wisdom from Emirati elders.
Al Mtwassef, written in both Arabic and English, is also a proof that the UAE may be just 50 years old, but its heritage dates back way beyond the country’s formation in 1971.
Centre of civilisation
Bin Dalmook noted: “The Arabian Gulf was a centre of civilisation, an important trade hub and a vital passageway that survived through various historical epochs. What is regrettable is that some members of the new generation lack knowledge about the customs and past traditions.”
It is for this reason that Al Mtwassef was born — out of Bin Dalmook’s keenness to revive the UAE’s oral tradition. He noted: “The Emirati proverbs represent the essence of the experiences of our forefathers and reflect their wisdom. By collecting and collating them, I convey the present and future generations excerpts of our heritage. I also infuse them with a longing for the past as a source of inspiration and where we can draw lessons from.”
Bin Dalmook began collecting the proverbs in 1990. He started by listening to older people around him and he was
The Emirati proverbs represent the essence of the experiences of our forefathers and reflect their wisdom.”
particularly inspired by an oftrepeated proverb shared by his father whenever he sought advice: ‘If you grasped a fist of blessing, grasp ten fists of humility’.”
Bin Dalmook noted: “It would be impossible to define the period when popular proverbs began to circulate in the UAE. However, we may identify the period of flourishing and evolution of the popular proverbs in the period preceding the advent of oil in the UAE.”
He said some proverbs were based on Quranic verses and Hadiths. An example is the proverb ‘One who consults others shall not regret it’ is based on the Prophetic Hadith: ‘He does not falter one who trusts in God in His choice, and one who consults others shall not regret it, and one who economises shall not be impoverished’.”
Abdullah Hamdan Bin Dalmook | CEO of Hamdan Bin Mohammad Heritage Centre