Abdullah an-Nadeem

Abdullah an-Nadeem (1843–October 1896) was a well-known Egyptian writer and political activist. He grew up in Alexandria and faced many difficulties because of poverty, which shaped his views on life and society.

An-Nadeem became an important voice during the Urabi revolt, a time when people in Egypt were standing up for their rights. He did not have a formal education but taught himself many things, calling himself a self-taught scholar in his book “Kan wa yakoon” (Was and Will Be).

His writings and speeches often talked about problems like government corruption, foreign control, and unfair treatment of people. He wanted to see a government that protected its nation and did not rely too much on outsiders. His ideas were influenced by other important thinkers like Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Muhammed Abduh.

Early life

Abdullah an-Nadeem was born in Alexandria in 1843. He came from a poor family and grew up in a neighborhood near the city's main port. He learned to read and write at a local school and memorized the Qur’an by age nine. Though he was good at his studies, he later chose to explore the city instead of continuing at a mosque school.

As a young man, he moved to Cairo where he met many writers and thinkers. He learned about new ideas that shaped his views on his country. These experiences helped start his journey as a writer and voice for change.

Background

During the time of Khedive Ismail, Egypt was changing and connecting more with Europe, especially after the Suez Canal opened. Many Europeans came to Egypt, hoping to profit from the country's financial struggles by lending money to the government. They also became part of Egypt's cultural and economic life.

At the same time, a well-known Islamic leader and political activist named Jamal al-Din al-Afghani arrived in Egypt. He taught ideas about religious reform and opposed foreign control, encouraging national pride. His ideas influenced many Egyptians and helped spread national political thoughts and religious changes.

These ideas led to the creation of many political newspapers. For example, Yaqub Sanu started a funny magazine called Abu Naddara Zarqha, which used simple language and drawings to criticize the government's actions and remind people about their rights. This made him very popular, but it also made the Khedive unhappy, leading to Sanu being sent away from Egypt. Even from Paris, Sanu continued to send copies of his magazine to Egypt.

During this time, from 1876 to 1879, al-Afghani helped more newspapers and journalists start, such as Mekhail Abdel Sayyid with the Watan (nation) newspaper, Adeeb Isaiah with Misr (Egypt) newspaper, Selim Al Naqqash with Al Tejara (commerce), and brothers Selim and Beshara Tuqla who started Al-Ahram. Other newspapers like Al Mahrousa and Al Asr Al Jadeed also appeared.

These newspapers used language that everyday Egyptians could understand. They talked about needing government reforms and opposed foreign control, not just in politics but in social life too. The writers were inspired by al-Afghani's teachings.

Egypt faced tough times because of money problems. The Khedive spent a lot on modernizing the country in a European style, including projects, luxury items, and payments to the Ottoman Sultan. Lots of money also went into the Suez Canal project. When the American Civil War ended, cotton prices dropped, which hurt Egypt's main source of income.

Political life

Abdullah an-Nadeem returned to Alexandria, where he wrote many articles for newspapers like Misr and Al-Tejara. He joined a secret group called “Misr Al-Fatah” that wanted to change the government led by Khedive Ismail. An-Nadeem helped teach people about important ideas like democracy and national pride through his writing and speeches.

Later, he joined the Urabi Revolt, a movement led by military officers who wanted Egypt to be free from foreign control. An-Nadeem used his powerful words to encourage people to support the revolt. He became an important advisor to the leader, Ahmed Urabi, and helped many join the movement. However, when the British army came to Egypt in 1882, the revolt ended, and foreign control continued.

Later life

Abdullah an-Nadeem was a well-known writer and activist in Egypt. He was an important voice during a big revolution called the Urabi revolt. After the revolution ended, an-Nadeem had to leave his home to avoid being found. He lived in different places and changed his appearance to stay safe.

An-Nadeem was sent away from Egypt for a time but was allowed to return when a new leader took over. He started a magazine called Al Ustadh, where he wrote about his ideas and criticized foreign control of his country. His strong words made some powerful people unhappy, and he was sent away again. Despite this, an-Nadeem kept speaking out for his beliefs, inspiring many people with his speeches and writings. He believed in fair treatment for all and opposed outside control of Arab countries.

Death

Abdullah an-Nadeem passed away in October 1896 at the age of 54. He received an official funeral led by the Sultan, and many important people attended, including al-Afghani and Sheikh Mohammed al-Zafer. He was buried in Yahya Efendi cemetery in Beşiktaş, which is now part of Istanbul.