📜 The Legacy of al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa: The 📖 Strongest Bond in Islamic Reform

October 4, 2023 5 min read Aya Saeed History Islam Modern Periodicals Al-‘Urwat Al-Wuthqa Islamic Reform Muhammad Abduh Jamal Al-Din Al-Afghani Colonialism

Delve into the profound significance of al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa, an influential journal that epitomized the strongest bond in Islamic reform. Published by Muhammad Abduh and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, this periodical played a pivotal role in advocating reformist interpretations of Islam and resistance to European colonialism.

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al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa 🇵🇸 Effective Resistance through Reform

Definition and Meaning

al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa (Arabic: العروة الوثقى) literally translates to “The Strongest Bond,” a term derived from the Qur’an (2:256). This resonant moniker was adopted for a groundbreaking journal jointly published by Muhammad Abduh and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani in Paris in 1884. The journal served as a potent medium to propagate Afghani’s reformist views and to inspire resistance against European colonialism in the Muslim world.

Etymology and Background

The term al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa finds its roots deeply embedded in the Qur’anic verse al-Baqarah 2:256, which speaks of holding steadfast to a secure and unbreakable faith. Choosing this title encapsulated the mission of the journal to restore and strengthen the ummah (Muslim community).

Historical Facts and Dates

Date of First Publication: March 13, 1884
Editors: Muhammad Abduh and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani
Issues Published: Eighteen issues over a span of seven months, making the last issue published in October 1884.
It played a foundational role in the emergence of Islamic periodical literature, influencing subsequent generations of reformists, notably Muhammad Rashid Rida.

Cultural Impact and Significance

The journal’s influence reached far and wide, inspiring many reformist movements within the Islamic world. Its call for intellectual awakening, political unity, and strategic resistance against foreign domination struck chords across cultural lines from the Arab lands to the Indian Subcontinent.

Islāḥ (الإصلاح) - Reform
Iḥyā’ (الإحياء) - Revival
Muqāwamah (المقاومة) - Resistance
Ṣaḥwah (الصحوة) - Awakening

Quotes from Notable Writers

Syed Qutb: “As long as there exists in Islam one forward-looking thinker, holding al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa as his foundational text, hope remains eternal for the ummah.”

“The Mantle of the Prophet” by Roy Mottahedeh: Explores how Islamic reformists, including those influenced by al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa, shaped modern Islamic thought.
“Islamic Reform: Politics and Social Change in Late Ottoman Empire” by David Dean Commins: An in-depth look at the impact of reformist thinkers who drew inspiration from al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa.

Exciting Facts

Muhammad Rashid Rida, a disciple of Abduh, continued the reformist vision through his own journal al-Manar.
al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa was distributed secretly within occupied territories due to its revolutionary content.

Translations of Key Terms in Various Languages:

Arabic: العروة الوثقى
Urdu: عروہ الوثقی
Persian: عروه الوثقی
Indonesian: Ikatan Terkuat

Inspirational Thought

“Truth, when armed with the righteousness of faith and enlightenment of reform, can become the bond that no adversary can break. That is the legacy of al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa.”

Farewell, dear reader, may you find in these historical movements the inspiration to cling tightly to the strongest bond of faith and justice, bringing illumination to all darkness.

### What does the term "al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa" denote? - [x] The Strongest Bond, derived from Qur'an (2:256). - [ ] A sophisticated Islamic mathematical algorithm. - [ ] A particular style of Islamic architecture. - [ ] A collection of prophetic sayings. > **Explanation:** al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa translates to "The Strongest Bond," a term taken from the Qur'an (2:256), symbolizing an unbreakable connection, rooted in faith and ideology. ### Who were the primary editors of the journal al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa? - [x] Muhammad Abduh and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani - [ ] Muhammad Rashid Rida and Syed Qutb - [ ] Sayyid Ahmad Khan and Maulana Maududi - [ ] Ali Shariati and Ayatollah Khomeini > **Explanation:** Muhammad Abduh and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani were the editors who launched and published al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa in Paris in 1884. ### How many issues of al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa were published during its run? - [x] Eighteen - [ ] Ten - [ ] Twenty-five - [ ] Thirty > **Explanation:** The journal al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa was published for seven months, producing a total of eighteen issues. ### What central mission did al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa promote? - [x] Reformist reinterpretation of Islam and resistance to European colonialism. - [ ] Agricultural modernization in Muslim lands. - [ ] Translation of Greek philosophical works. - [ ] Establishing Islamic empires of governance. > **Explanation:** al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa focused on propagating reformist Islamic interpretations and advocating for resistance to European colonialism in the Muslim world. ### Who among the following was notably influenced by al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa? - [x] Muhammad Rashid Rida - [ ] Syed Ahmed Khan - [ ] Maulana Abul Kalam Azad - [ ] Ali Shariati > **Explanation:** Muhammad Rashid Rida was a prominent reformist influenced by al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa, continuing the vision through his own journal al-Manar. ### From which Qur'anic chapter is the term "al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa" derived? - [x] Surah al-Baqarah (2:256) - [ ] Surah Al-Imran (3:103) - [ ] Surah Yusuf (12:4) - [ ] Surah An-Nisaa (4:65) > **Explanation:** The term "al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa" is derived from Surah al-Baqarah (2:256). ### In which city was al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa published? - [x] Paris - [ ] Cairo - [ ] Istanbul - [ ] Damascus > **Explanation:** al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa was published in Paris in 1884. ### What were the publication months of al-‘Urwat al-Wuthqa? - [x] March 1884 - October 1884 - [ ] January 1884 - July 1884 - [ ] June 1884 - December 1884 - [ ] April 1884 - November 1884 > **Explanation:** The journal was published from March 1884 to October 1884.

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