About
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The tradition of women's literary circles in the Arab world dates back to the pre-Islamic period when the eminent literary figure, Al-Khansa, would stand in the 'Ukaz market in Mecca reciting her poetry and airing her views on the scholarship of others. From this, a culture of literary criticism emerged among Arab women, and under the Umayyad dynasty, Sukaynah Bint Al-Husayn (رضي الله عنها), also known as Sakina, established the first literary salon in her home.
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The tradition was revived during the late nineteenth century as a result of sweeping social, political and economic change within the Ottoman Empire and Europe's increasing political and cultural influence in the region. The initial pioneers of the Arab salon were women from wealthy families in Greater Syria and Egypt, who returned influenced by interaction with European women during their time spent studying abroad and frequenting Parisian salons, or studying in schools run by European or American missionaries.
The vision of the Sakina Literary Society is to augment and enrich the cultural, literary, creative, and social development of its members and furnish avenues of expression and social fellowship, which we hope will contribute much to personal, spiritual, and creative growth.
The vision of the Sakina Literary Society is to augment and enrich the cultural, literary, creative, and social development of its members and furnish avenues of expression and social fellowship, which we hope will contribute much to personal, spiritual, and creative growth.
