Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
Philosopher of Afghanistan; Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan (Part 41)
Introduction and Objectives of the Magazine Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa:
Keywords: Reform, Unity, Awakening, Anti-Colonialism, Ijtihad, Awareness
Abstract:
Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa: The Cry for Unity in the Age of Decline
In the mid-nineteenth century, when the echoes of colonialism had deepened the slumber of the Muslim Ummah and the cries of mosques and pulpits were lost in negligence, stagnation, and inertia, a voice rose from the heart of Western civilization—Paris—and carried the call for awakening across the Islamic world. This voice came through the lines of a journal named after a Qur’anic expression: Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa— “the firmest bond,” the very divine rope to which Muslims have been commanded to hold fast: “وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا”.
The magazine Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa was established through the pen and efforts of two leading reformist thinkers of the Islamic world: Sayyed Jamal al-din Asad Abadi (Afghani), (MABH), and his distinguished student, Shaykh Muhammad Abduh, (MABH). It was published in Paris in 1884 (1301 AH). Despite lasting only about six months with a total of eighteen issues, the journal left a profound intellectual and political impact on Muslims. Many scholars consider it one of the starting points of modern Islamic awakening.
Context and Background of the Magazine’s Emergence:
The emergence of Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa cannot be separated from its historical background. In the 19th century, the Muslim Ummah faced severe internal and external crises:
• The Ottoman Caliphate was on the brink of weakness and instability.
• Muslim nations were under direct or indirect domination of colonial powers such as Britain and France.
• Imitative thinking and intellectual stagnation had prevailed in religious seminaries.
• A disconnect had developed between intellectuals and the traditional religious class.
With deep historical insight, Sayyed Jamal al-Din Afghan diagnosed the collective affliction of the Ummah and identified its remedy in intellectual awakening, Islamic unity, and resistance against colonialism and despotism.
Together with Muhammad Abduh, he decided to raise this voice of awakening through a modern medium—the journal. Paris, being the hub of free press and a symbol of Western cultural power, was a wise choice: the message had to emanate from the heart of Western civilization as a declaration of the Muslim intellectual presence on the global stage.
Objectives and Content of the Journal:
Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa was not merely a news or cultural publication; it was a passionate manifesto for the revival of the Islamic Ummah. Its main objectives can be summarized as follows:
1. Revival of authentic Islamic thought based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, and sound reason.
2. A call for Islamic unity beyond national, sectarian, or ethnic boundaries.
3. Intellectual and political resistance against Western colonialism, especially British influence in the East.
4. Critique of internal despotic regimes viewed as allies of colonialism.
5. Revival of rational thought in understanding religion and an invitation to Ijtihad against blind imitation.
6. Reinforcement of Muslim self-confidence and a reminder of the glorious Islamic civilization.
The articles addressed topics such as Islamic history, the conditions in Egypt, India, and the Ottoman Empire, the dangers of cultural and military colonialism, critique of blind imitation, political philosophy in Islam, and the role of scholars in awakening the Ummah. The language of the journal was eloquent, scholarly, and passionate stimulating both intellect and emotion.
Distribution Method and Popular Reception
Although colonial governments, especially Britain in India and Egypt, attempted to obstruct its distribution from the beginning, the journal was secretly disseminated throughout the Muslim lands via underground networks and local supporters. Some copies reached Islamic countries through pilgrims, others via students and merchants. Its message stirred a spirit of awakening particularly among intellectuals, students, and justice-seeking scholars.
Intellectual Legacy and Historical Impact
Although Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa ceased publication after only eighteen issues due to political pressure, its intellectual, political, and cultural influence endured for decades. It laid the foundation for subsequent reformist movements in the Islamic world, such as:
• The Nahdlatul Ulama movement in Indonesia,
• The Constitutional Revolution in Iran,
• The Islamic awakening in India,
• The Muslim Brotherhood movement,
• And the broader Islamic modernist thought in the 20th century.
Through this magazine, Sayyed Jamal al-din Afghan introduced a new model of the “Muslim scholar”—one who does not confine himself to secluded chambers but stands alongside the people in the battlefield of anti-colonial struggle, understands the language of the masses, and heals societal wounds through Islamic thought.
Conclusion
In summary, Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa can be regarded as a mirror reflecting Sayyed Jamal al-Din Afghan’s reformist, rational, and activist spirit. It was the true voice of the Muslim conscience in an age of weakness and decline—a call from the depths of darkness, summoning the Ummah to the light of the Qur’an, reason, justice, and unity. Although physical copies of the magazine are now rare, its message lives on—among justice-seeking youth, reformist scholars, and all those devoted to reviving the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Continues…
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