Born in Ajman 1905, the poet’s full name is Rashid Bin Salim Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Jebran Al Suwaidi. His father was nicknamed Al Khadhar (Verdant) due to the slight dark color in his face, and this nickname soon shifted to his son Rashid in order to add greater prevalence to his own name.
He was orphaned at an early age, and taken in by his cousin Naser Bin Sultan Bin Jebran along with his older brother who soon passed away at the early age, and taken in by his cousin Naser Bin Sultan Bin Jebran along with his older brother who soon passed away at the age of 18, leaving a sad impact and grouchy mood in the poet’s character.
Al Khadhar attended Ajman Madrasas to learn how to read and write, but quite after some time to join his cousin with “Beshout”(or cloak) handcrafting. To his misfortune, death was there to snatch his cousin and leave him in heartbreaking despair. Afterwards, He started working with the handcraft he learned to earn his living.
Al Khadar used ot have daring stands against some Scholars in his home land, and this was the main reason behind moving across many countries like, Bahrain, Saudi Arabian, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen and Socotra to eventually settle down in Ajman, his birth place.
He moved then with some of his folk to reside in Dubai, Port Said Area. Soon afterwards he shifted to live in Sharjah for a while. His shuttles came to end in Ajman where he passed away on Monday 22 Oct. 1980.
With an experience exceeding half a century, Rashid Al Kahdar is reckoned one of the most outstanding Nabati Poets. He was raised among men of letters, and this literary atmosphere enriched his talents and poetical fame. His father and cousins were all poets.
Actually, Ajman was most famous for being a gathering place for poets coming from all other Emirates to mark a cultural and literary saloon amidst the city.
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