(1) In his foreword to the applicant book “The Arabs and The Art of Translation” Syrian Professor Zaidan A Jassem of the International Islamic University, Malaysia, says:“…This book is long overdue. It sets the Arabic translation in perspective, showing the contributions of Arabic Translators to the development of the field of Translation Science and Art, which is either ignored, unheard of or neglected by historians and scholars of translation, most of whom write about and introduce Western Theory and practice. The book is very interesting to read and is thought provoking. While I wish to commend the author on his superb book, I would like to kindly ask him to keep unearthing the Arabic translation treasures in future works, which I am sure, readers will find stimulating and enjoyable…”
(2) In his foreword to this book, Pengiran Dato Seri Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abd Rahman says that” in his book, Dr Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi gives us an interesting account of his efforts in translating several works into his Arabic language. Thus I welcome this valuable book and congratulate the author on his great accomplishment.”
(3) On the applicant researches accomplishments, Egyptian Professor ,critic and novelist A.S Mustafa of Cairo University states: “Dr Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi is an established scholar. His book, Drills in Arabic Writing, investigates a significant linguistic issue which makes this book an important work in reading and learning Arabic. His series, The Introduction to the Arabic Language, crystallizes his profound experience in teaching Arabic in Brunei Darussalam. His major academic works ‘Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabs: A Study on Curriculum and Methods’ and ‘Arabic: Selected Essays’ are significant contributions to the Arabic studies as they are scholarly and beautifully researched and written. His paper Riddles in Language Teaching, for instance, is an original work.
Dr Arif’s researches show him as a skillful scholar, a unique, talented researcher with a wide scope of knowledge, and a clear mastery of modern theories and methodologies. He is also very creative. His translations and his works on teaching Arabic to Malays are both creative and unique in the field of comparative studies.”
(4) In a review about the applicant book”Shukri Zain :Pioneer of Modern Islamic Poetry in Brunei Darussalam” Malysian Professor Dr Mahayudin Haji Yahya remarks:” Buku Shukri Zain merupakan karya berbentuk”Biografi Sastera” yang disusun dan diolah dengan begitu rupa oleh penulisnya sehingga menjadi sebuah buku sastera yang boleh dijadikkan sebuah bahan rujukan dalam bidang sastera Melayu-Islam Moden.Kerja mengumpul,menyusun,menulis dan menterjemah buku bukanlah suatu tugas mudah,ia memerlukan kemahiran bahasa yang tinggi,ilmu pengetahuan sastera yang mendalam,serta tenaga yang mencukupi.Jika sekiranya Shukri Zain dianggap sebagai”Pelopor Puisi Islam Moden” ,maka Dr Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi pula bolehlah disifatkan sebagi “ Perintis Terjemahan Melayu-Arab Melayu Moden.”
(5)In another review about the same book Badaruddin H.O.,a Bruneian poet and critic states that” Buku yang ditulis oleh Dr Arif Karkhi Abukhudairi mengenai penyair Skukri Zain dengan mengemukakannya sebagai pelopor syair Islam di Brunei Darussalam sagatlah dialualukan.Ianya suatu usaha besar,walau pun mungkin baru sebagai usaha mengenal karya sastera bernafaskan Islam dari Brunei.Tambahan pula usaha ini dari luar negeri yang memperkenalkan karya sastera Brunei kepada kalangan budaya dan sastera di Mesir.Dalam buku yang megetegahkannya sebagai pelopor puisi Islam ini Dr Arif telah berhasil baik menyoroti karya Shukri Zain dari sudut-sudut seni sastera khasnya puisi. Tentulah pembaca di Nusantara dan di luarnya akan terdorong untuk menjejak lebih jauh keujudan puisi Islam atau yang bernafaskan Islam hasil karya penyair-penyair yang terdahulu dan yang sezaman dengan Shukri Zain.Kita mengucapkan tahniah kepada penulis dan penyusun buku ini yang dengan gigih mengikuti kemudian memahami dan sekaligus menikmati karya sastera Brunei sehingga telah mendorongkannya memperkenalkan keujudan sasterawan Islam di Brunei kepada dunia luar.”
(6) In a review of Tales From the Arabian Sahara: The Trip and Other Stories , Jonathan Grimes ,a British critic says, “As with his beautiful, quietist poetry collection, "Trees Leaves", Mr Khudairi here demonstrates a keen sense of beauty-in-istigkeit, in the this-ness of the desert, the sanguine warmth of human contact, and the existential commonplaces which, in truth, are never commonplace as before, and come to one continually, as Chesterton once happily described it, as if God were a delighted child raising the dawn each day for the sheer undiluted joy of "doing it again". The author here marries this natural percipience of wonderment to an equally keen sense of comedy and horror: the result is a superb transcription of the little-known Arabic folk tales. "The Reward" - a strangely familiar folk tale which will strike a chilling chord with those who read it, while the others delineate a fabulous backdrop of scheming bedouins, honour and blood-soaked princes, and women of strength and autonomy, a pleasant catholicon to the traditional Western perspective which has too often viewed Eastern women as pitiable, oppressed ciphers. Khudairi, a Professor of Arabic Studies, is as informed a scholar of these matters as can be imagined - comparisons can be made with Miguel Orio's passionate advocacy of Maoritanga - and it is to be hoped that he will continue his role as de facto custodian of the folk tale re-interpreted and written anew for many years to come.”
(7) In a review of The Abode of Peace, the Malaysian Professor Dato’ Dr Hashim Awang asserts that” Dr Arif Khudairi is a well-known bilingual scholar-poet. His new anthology is considered to be very interesting anthology in terms of theme and structure of the poems. Its main theme the author has focused on is ‘peace’ an important issue to be seriously highlighted or discussed, especially in this particular era of globalization .The author has chosen appropriate form of poem to effectively convey his important messages. He creates two different forms which can easily be called short-form and prose-form poem .What makes his poems look beautiful and interesting is that the author just gives the ‘story’ and the readers themselves have to think and reveal the meaning behind it. This shows that professor Mahir Shafiq Farid ,Professor of English at Cairo University, whohas commented on these short poems written by Dr Arif Khudairi is very true when he says that they are ”incisive ,ironic and witty.” This new literary work of Dr. Arif Khudairi is very delightful to be read. The readers can experience the enjoyment as well can gain some benefit from it.”
(8) In an introduction to The Rubaiyat of Arif Khudairi, Pofessor Mahir Shafiq Farid says that” Khudairi as pointed out by several commentators on his work, is a man with a deep religious sense. In his world, barriers between body and soul come down. His poems offer a fresh perspective on man’s relation to God. This he achieves not through flat assertion or discursive argumentation but through a passionate grasp of personal experience. A true Muslim, Khudairi does not blame man’s defects on destiny. Given the importance attached by Islam to man’s responsibility and free will, the doctrine of Predestination has never really taken root in Arabic culture. One does not read far into this slim volume of 100 pages before one realizes that Khudairi is a master of his craft. There is no cleavage in his work between emotion and thought. With a through grounding in two cultures, he has managed to fuse what is best in both.
These short poems-incisive, ironic and witty-are a record of his own inmost experience. But they are not out of touch with some major current of thought of our- and of all times.”
(9) In a review of the same anthology, American poet, Cyndy Shubert-jett, says, Rubaiyat!The very name brings to mind images of Arabian Nights, magic carpets and mystical adventures, sensual nights and romantic encounters, a deep appreciation of beauty within the world around us, and an acknowledgement of shared emotions touching each of us, soul to soul! Step into the world of Arif Khudairi, share the beauty and romance of his world. It has been my pleasure to share these journeyings through the world of Arif Khudairi. Please, sit in his tent, listen to the desert winds whisper of those other times and places that still captivate our hearts!”
(10) In this introduction to “Love Poems”, Professor Dr S.R. Siddiqui, a Pakistani critic states that “ Arif Khudairi is not only a poet, but a Philosopher-Poet. He is a learned and well- read scholar. He studied widely and at last he stands in the long line of the well-known poets of the east, starting from Hafiz,Umar khayyam, Rumi and ending at Iqbal.
Arif Khudairi’s Love Poems is indeed a marvelous collection. Its profound and lively poems arouse the aesthetic sense within its reader. The melody of the poetry is high and the construction is precise. It is an anthology that will definitely take its place among the works of the great love poets.
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