Okba Zeidan
- Aug 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 29
Okba Zeidan, born in 1967 in Syria, is a prolific writer, translator (from Russian and English), and journalist. He is an active member of the Syrian Journalists’ Union and has significantly contributed to the country's cultural and intellectual life.
Editorial and Managerial Roles
From 2012 to the end of 2020, Zeidan oversaw the Cultural Supplement of the Syrian newspaper Al-Thawra, curating literary and intellectual content.
Since 2021, he has served as the supervisor of the "Knowledge Gateway", a philosophical-intellectual platform affiliated with the Syrian Scientific Association for Informatics.
Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles in the publishing industry, serving as director of Horan Publishing and Distribution from 1995 to 2010, and director of Kiwan Publishing and Distribution during 2008 and.
Literary Contributions
A Mad Extinction (حالة انقراض مجنونة) – 1995
Sarmad (سرمد) – 2000
Novels
Incantations (تعاويذ) – 1998
Hyle (هيولى) – 2002
Scholarly & Research
Duwani al‑Qutuf in the History of Banu al‑Ma’loof (2 vols) – 2002
On First Philosophy – 2006
The History of Philosophy – 2008
Sufism in Arabic Poetry – 2008
Philosophers and Ethics – 2008
Treasures of the Divine by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi – 2018
The Incoherence of the Philosophers by al‑Ghazali – 2019
The Intentions of the Philosophers by al‑Ghazali – 2019
The Bright Star: The Merits of Dhul‑Nun al‑Misri, Ibn Arabi – 2019
Zeidan's literary voice is deeply philosophical. In an interview captured by eSyria, he remarked:
“Philosophy is existence within a beautiful narrative... I employ philosophical dialectics in my storytelling from multiple angles; philosophy, for me, expands my vision of things.”
Supporting this ethos, a personal reflection of his reads:
“My writings in this column are a coherent series of ideas in which I express my vision of myself, of people, and the concerns that surround us, conveying much of what circulates in my heart and my mind.”
His narrative canvas often spans between city and countryside, symbolizing intellect and soul—“I liken the city to the mind and the countryside to the soul,” he once explained, highlighting his search for beauty and love through both realms.
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