Ali Moustafa Mosharafa

(The Arab Einstein) 

Dr. Ali Moustafa Mosharafa was an Egyptian mathematician and physicist. He was professor of applied mathematics in the Faculty of Science at Cairo University, and also served as its first dean. He contributed to the development of the quantum theory as well as the theory of relativity and corresponded with Albert Einstein.

Ali Mosharafa was born in Damietta in july 1898. His father is Mr. Mustafa Attia superintendent of clerics and religious school of Imam Jamal al-Afghani and Sheikh Muhammad Abdo. Ali had three brothers and a sister.

 In 1907, Ali obtained a certificate of primary when he was 12 years old but his father died in the same year. He obtained his Baccalaureate at the age of 16 in 1914, the youngest student at that time to be awarded such a certificate. He preferred to enroll in the Teachers' College due to his deep interest in mathematics. He graduated in 1917.

Due to his excellence in mathematics, the Egyptian Ministry of Education sent him to England where he obtained BSc  from Tottenham University, 1920. The Egyptian University consented to grant Mosharafa another scholarship to complete his doctoral thesis for, as a boarder. He obtained a Ph.D. in 1923 from the Royal College of London in the shortest possible time permissible according to the regulations there. In 1924 he was awarded DSc. (the greatest academic degree in Sciences), the first Egyptian and 11th scientist in the entire world to obtain such a degree.

He returned to Egypt and worked as a teacher in the Higher Teachers' college. When the University of Cairo was opened in 1925, he became an associate professor of mathematics in the Faculty of Science because he was under the age of 30, the minimum age required for fulfilling the post of a professor. In 1926 his promotion to professor was raised in the Parliament. The Parliament lauded his qualifications and merits which surpassed those of the English dean of the faculty and he was promoted to professor. He was the first Egyptian professor of applied mathematics in the Faculty of Science. He became dean of the faculty in 1936.

He was keen on disseminating public scientific awareness, and wrote several articles and books for the public about science in simple forms. He wrote 26 significant papers including theoretical explanations of natural phenomena. He wrote 15 books in relativity and mathematics. Among which is a book on the theory of relativity translated into English, French, German and Polish. It was reprinted in the USA. He produced around 15 scientific books about relativity, mathematics, atom and space invasion. His most important books are:

·         We and Science

·         Science and Life

·         Atom and Atomic Bomb

·         Scientific Claims

·         Engineering in Pharaohs Times

He was against the use of atomic energy in war and warned against the exploitation of science as a means of destruction. His relentless endeavors to explore all that is mysterious made all his researches a series of discoveries.

"Egypt & Europe Magazine" published a cartoon of him standing between Russia and the USA holding in his hands rolled paper, and both superpowers awaiting him to unfold the secrets of science. Among his students was Dr. Samira Moussa.

Mosharafa was one of the distinguished few who were in close contact with the great scientist Einstein. He enriched Einstein's theory on relativity. He was an Arab pioneer in natural sciences. He was an Arab genius who gave a lot to the West and received very little in return. He believed that education is the way out to freedom.

In 1947 Einstein established the Advanced Sciences Institute in the USA. Mosharafa was invited and nominated by his professor Piageur Barton Nilspor to work there but both the king and government disapproved.

King Farouq granted him the title "Pasha", but he declined the king's offer claiming that no title is worthier than a PhD. in sciences. In spite of his merit, he was denied the presidency of the university… He remained in office as a dean of the Faculty of Science until he died under mysterious circumstances that point to being murdered in January 1950

Einstein morn Ali Moshrafa in confident tone said, "I can not believe that Mosharafa is dead, he is alive through his researches. We are in need of his talents, it is a great loss, and he was a genius. I used to follow up his researches in atomic energy; definitely he is one of the best scientists in physics."

By Nouran Radwan

References:

http://www.islamic-world.net/youth/MoustafaMosharafa.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Moustafa_Mosharafa