This shop is my kingdom. I left nursing to dedicate myself to my passion,” says Ali Hassanein (Abu Wissam).
Ali Hassanein’s passion began with his relationship to his father, who owned an old oud dating back to 1938. One day, the oud was damaged, and despite showing it to many specialists, none were able to fix it. From that moment, Ali decided to take on the challenge himself. He succeeded in repairing it and then chose to devote himself to mastering this craft, leaving behind his nursing profession.
In the old city of Nablus, Abu Wissam owns Ziryab shop, where he works late hours, from 2 PM until midnight. Ali explains: “The profession of repairing the oud is not limited to its technical aspects alone, but it also requires a deep understanding of how it is played in order to restore it with precision.”
Ali Hassanein spends nearly three months crafting each oud, relying on rare woods from Japan and the Philippines. Most of his customers are art students and enthusiasts. Despite his long working hours, his family remains at the center of his life; therefore, he has passed on his love for playing the oud to his eldest son, while the others preferred simply to listen.
