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Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa

Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa (Arabic: العروة الوثقى, romanized: al-ʿurwa al-wuthqā, lit. 'The Firmest Bond') was an Islamic revolutionary journal founded by Muhammad Abduh and Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī.[1][2] Despite only running from 13 March 1884 to October 1884, it was one of the first and most important publications of the Nahda. The journal targeted people across the Islamic ummah, calling upon them to unite.[3] Its firm stance against European colonialism caused British authorities to ban it in Egypt and India.[4] Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa is an Arabic term with religious significance, appearing twice in the Quran.

"Al-Urwah" redirects here. For other uses, see Al-Urwah (disambiguation).

Editor

Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī and Muhammad Abduh

literary, political

13 March 1884 (1884-03-13)

October 1884 (1884-10)

France

Paris

Arabic

Censorship[edit]

Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa was banned by British authorities in Egypt and India, and an elaborate network including Arab businessmen in Bombay disseminated copies throughout the Arab world.[4]

End of publication[edit]

Muhammad Abduh and Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī decided to end the magazine in October 1884 after publishing 18 editions over the course of eight months, probably due to financial problems resulting from the ban.[6]

Legacy[edit]

Some issues of Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa were found in the library of Dar al-Arab publishers, in addition to some other writings and speeches of Muhammad Abduh and Jamāl al-Dīn al-Afghānī. In 1957, these were published with a foreword from Gamal Abdel Nasser in a book entitled Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa wa al-Thawra al-Tahririya al-Kubra (العروة الوثقى والثورة التحريرية الكبرى).[7][8]