Abu Dhabi: Veteran Saudi Arabian historian and writer Qinan Al Zahrani,85, died on Thursday of COVID-19, Saudi media reported.
Al Zahrani succumbed to coronavirus only a week after his wife also died of the highly contagious infection. He was buried in Jeddah on Friday, next to his wife in the same cemetery.
Al Zahrani was a leading intellectual and author interested in history and genealogy in Saudi Arabia and especially in the Al Baha region. He was born in 1935 and worked as an officer in the Ministry of Defence, before retiring in 1987.
In his historical research and literature, Al Zahrani focused specifically on the southern region and the history of the Zahran tribe. He wrote several books about them, including ‘A Comprehensive Study of the Zahran Tribe’, ‘A House from Zahran’, ‘Tribe from Zahran, Bani Kenana’ and ‘A House from Zahran (part two)’, all published in the last decade.
Writers and media professionals paid tribute to Al Zahrani.
Journalist Mahdi Al Zahrani said in his obituary: “We have lost a veteran historian, a symbol of generosity, nobility and humanity. Abu Abdul Rahman, the friend who gave us a lot of his generosity.”
Journalist Fawaz Al Mallahi said: “May God have mercy on uncle, father, brother, friend of everybody, respected historian Al Zahrani. I have never heard of him fighting with or abusing someone. But he was the last and the least to speak in any seminar.”
Journalist Ali Al Saali said: “Al Zahrani’s writing is rooted in the Saudi heritage and culture, may God have mercy on him.”
Writer Saleh Geraie said: “Al Zahrani devoted himself to researching the history of the tribe and authored five books about it.”
