New issue of Great Arab Revolt’s mouthpiece to be distributed Monday

AMMAN — As part of celebrations of the centennial of the Great Arab Revolt, The Jordan Times is distributing with its issues Arabic copies of Al Qibla newspaper (1916-1924), the mouthpiece of the uprising.

Each Monday and Thursday, a different issue of the Mecca-based bi-weekly, which published news and articles of political, social and religious nature, is distributed free-of-charge with local newspapers.

On Monday, the 7th issue of Al Qibla will be distributed with The Jordan Times.

Al Qibla highlighted the Revolt’s objectives that sought to lead a renaissance in the Arab world. 

The first edition of Al Qibla was issued on Monday, August 15, 1916. A total of 823 editions of the four-page newspaper were published. 

Al Qibla chronicled the events of the Great Arab Revolt, led by Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, who edited part of the paper. Its first editor-in-chief was Muhibeddin Al Khatib.

Sharif Hussein also wrote some of the editorials of the newspaper.

In its editions, the newspaper highlighted the battles during the revolt and covered news published by Arab and Western media. It enjoyed good communication with newspapers published in Europe, North America and South America and it was keen on spreading its messages as copies of its editions were sent to New York, Rio de Janeiro, Chili, Brazil, Paris and London.

It analysed and discussed each article or column published in any newspapers abroad that was about the Arabs or their renaissance, Dr Hind Abu Shaar, a historian, said in a column in Al Rai recently.

“The newspaper was keen to distribute its issue to these countries by sea… Its communication with the countries abroad was incredible at the World War I era,” Abu Shaar said.

“What was interesting about the newspaper is the great presence of poetry in its editions…It also included ads that reveal information about the vessels coming to Jeddah Port and the type of commodities… Al Qibla is a good reference for knowing more about the public life and the activities of the municipal councils in Al Taef, Jeddah and other places…,” she said.

The paper collaborated at the time with Reuters and other international news agencies, in addition to Egyptian newspapers.  

The name Qibla, which literally means “direction of prayers”, was inspired by the fact that the publication was printed in Islam’s holiest city, where the Kaaba is.  

In the 7th issue, the newspaper published an editorial titled the “Greatness of History” by Fouad Al Khatib.

It also featured articles published in other newspapers including Egypt’s Wadi Al Neel and Al Moayyed newspaper.

The paper also published articles on modern war expenditures, soldier’s duties, English loans and German losses in addition to several local, Arab and international news.