Sheikh Toufik El Hibri, (1869–1954) () was one of the primary founders of the Scout movement in

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

, as well as one of the earliest promoters of the

Scouting Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth social movement, movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activi ...

movement in the

Arab world The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...

, while much of the region was still within the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. He was born in "Harat Eljourah" (حارة الجورة) neighborhood of central Beirut. He died in Beirut on 7 October 1954.

Life

His family was brought up in a religious family and received his education in the presence of well known sheiks in the "Omari Mosque" and Emir Monzer Mosque. He had the opportunity to learn his religion and life wisdom from different scientist from around the world like

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

and many famous visitors to Beirut who had acquaintance with his father.

Social activities

He had many social activities some of which are: President of the Islamic Teaching and Education Committee school which started in 1899.

Scouting activities

In 1905, he sponsored two young Indian men who came to Beirut to continue their post secondary education. He supported them to establish a new youth movement that was initiated by

Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder of The Boy Scouts Association and its first Chief Scout, and founder, with ...

which he called the "Ottoman Scout." After the end of World War I, he recreated the Scout movement under the name "The Moslem Scout" (الكشاف المسلم ). He sent delegates to Libya to help establishing a Scout movement there.Muntada
In 1973, his son Muhammad el-Hibri was awarded the ''

Bronze Wolf The Bronze Wolf Award is an award presented by the World Organization of the Scout Movement for outstanding service by an individual to the Scout Movement. Just over 400 people have received the Bronze Wolf since its creation in 1935. WOSM has r ...

'', the only distinction of the

World Organization of the Scout Movement The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest and, after the Order of World Scouts (formed in 1911), is the second-oldest international organization in the Scout Movement, having been established in 1922. It has 176 members. ...

, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.

Offspring

He was the father of

Khalil al-Hibri Khalil al-Hibri () was a Lebanese people, Lebanese politician and businessman. Biography Al-Hibri served in parliament in 1957 and as Minister of Public Works in the government of Sami el-Solh during the presidency of Camille Chamoun. In 195 ...

, a prominent Lebanese politician and businessman, and Mohamad al-Hibri who was an active member of the Lebanese jarah Scout and Yahya Al-Hibri who was a Lebanese Diplomat. His grandchildren are

Azizah Y. al-Hibri Azizah Y. al-Hibri (; born 1943) is an American philosopher and legal scholar who specializes in Islam and law. Biography Al-Hibri is professor emerita at the T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond. She is a former professor of phi ...

, a prominent women's rights activist, law professor and Islamic scholar in the United States, and Hind Al Hibri who is involved in scientific research. Ibrahim Al-Hibri was an industrialist and philanthropist and the father of Fuad El-Hibri.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hibri, Toufik El 1869 births 1954 deaths Arab people from the Ottoman Empire Scouting pioneers Scouting and Guiding in Lebanon

Life

Social activities

Scouting activities

Offspring

See also

References