Abdel-Nasser Hussein
Father of Gamal Abdel-Nasser
Abdel-Nasser Hussein learned the Holy Quran by rote at the Quranic School (Kuttab)
of the village of Beni Murr. On 18 February 1904, he moved to Alexandria with his
uncle, Mohammad Etman, where he joined the elementary school. The year after, following
the death of his mother, he joined the American Mission School in Assiut whereby
he used to travel daily from Beni Mur to Assiut. His teacher, the American priest,
Chaplain Blyth, helped him improve his English.
By early October 1907, Abdel-Nasser Hussein moved to the Coptic School in Assiut.
He had to work during the summer vacation to cover his living expenses while pursuing
his studies. In 1908, he received his elementary school diploma and joined the Postal
Service in Alexandria. On 15 February 1917, he married Fahima Hamad and had his
first son, Gamal, on 15 January 1918. Tragically though, his wife passed away on
21 April 1926, leaving four children behind: eight-year old Gamal, the eldest; Izz
al-Arab, al-Leithi, and Shawky, a one-day old infant. Five years later, on 3 May
1931, Abdel Nasser Hussein married Enayat Sakr and had six children: Moustafa, Hussein,
Rafik, Adel, Tarek, and Aida.
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