Ahmed Fadhl al-Qumindan

Emir Ahmed Fadhl al-Qumindan CMG
Ahmed Fadl bin Ali bin Mohsen al-Abdali (1881–1943 AD)
Native name	Arabic: أَحْمَد فَضْل القُمِنْدان
Born	November 23, 1881 Lahij, Sultanate of Lahej
Died	August 1943 Tawahi, Aden Colony
Occupation	Poet, composer, and soldier
Language	Arabic
Notable works	"Al-Masdar Al-Mofeed fi Ghenaa Lahj Al-Gadid” “Hadiyat Al-Zaman Fi Akhbar Mulok Lahj wa Aden"
Notable awards	Order of St Michael and St George
Spouse	Fatima Ahmed Fadl

Ahmed Fadhl Al-Abdali^[a] (1881–1943), commonly known as "al-Qumindan",^[b] was a Yemeni poet, composer, and military figure belonging to the "Al-Abdali" family that ruled the Sultanate of Lahej during the British occupation of southern Yemen.^[1] Additionally, he was a historian and played a pivotal role in the agricultural renaissance of Lahij. Some even considered him as faqih. al-Qumindan played an active role in the establishment of the Arab Literary Club in Aden in 1925, holding various leadership positions over time. He is regarded as one of the most celebrated poets of the Yemeni dialect, with his oeuvre enjoying considerable popularity in Lahij and the surrounding regions. As a composer, he is regarded as the founder of modern Lahij music, which is regarded as one of the principal musical styles in Yemen, alongside Sanaani and Hadrami music.^[2]

One factor that contributed to his renown was the introduction of the phonograph in Aden, which facilitated the dissemination of his music to a wider audience. However, his work was subject to competition from Indian and Egyptian songs that enjoyed considerable popularity at the time. Furthermore, certain religious scholars in Aden and Lahij issued fatwas that prohibited music, specifically condemning al-Qumindan's songs. Nevertheless, this did not significantly impede the dissemination of his music.^[3]

In the present era, al-Qumindan is regarded as a pivotal figure in the cultural and literary renaissance that Aden underwent in the early 20th century. He assumed the role of establishing numerous educational institutions and literary forums and was a close associate of the Adeni Yemeni writer and lawyer Muhammad Ali Luqman. Despite occasional characterization as a vocalist, this perspective is not widely endorsed and is met with considerable opposition.^[4]

al-Qumindan's oeuvre comprises a single poetry collection, entitled "Al-Masdar Al-Mufid Fi Ghina' Lahj Al-Jadid" "The Useful Source for New Lahij Songs". This collection encompasses the majority of his compositions, including 90 out of the 95 poems that have been attributed to him. While he is primarily recognized as a folk poet, al-Qumindan also produced several prose works. His most significant prose contribution is arguably his historical account of Aden and Lahij under British colonial rule, titled Hadiyyat Al-Zaman Fi Akhbar Muluk Lahij wa 'Adan ("The Gift of Time in the Chronicles of the Kings of Lahij and Aden"). Additionally, he authored a brief treatise, "Fasl Al-Khitab Fi Ibāhat Al-oud wa Al-Rebab" ("The Decisive Word on the Permissibility of the Oud and Rebab"), wherein he presents a legal argument in favor of music and cites the opinions of prominent Islamic scholars who deemed music permissible within sharia. In addition to these works, al-Qumindan produced several articles, some of which were included in the introduction to his poetry collection, published in 1938, while others appeared in the Fatāt Al-Jazīrah newspaper, which was published in Aden.^[5]

His compositions, which he did not perform himself, achieved considerable popularity in Lahij, Aden, and the surrounding regions during the 1930s and 1940s. The initial songs to be recorded were "Al-Badriyya," "Taj Shamsan," and "Hammahum 'Ala Al-Maṭir Ḥabib Nashwan." These were recorded by the German companies Odeon and Bedafun, as well as by the Adeni recording company Al-Taj Al-'Adani. The songs were performed by members of al-Qumindan's musical ensemble, including Fadl Muhammad Jubaili and Mas'ad bin Ahmed Hussein. In the present era, al-Qumindan is regarded as an integral component of the cultural heritage of Lahij . He is esteemed as a seminal figure in Lahij Governorate and the city of Al-Hawtah, where he is considered one of the most prominent poets and intellectuals.^[6]

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