Al Urwah al Wuthqa, later Al Urwa (1918) Affiliated with the Al-Urwa al-Wuthqa association (1918- 1955)
al-ʻUrwah al-Wuthqá Society was one of the most important and influential AUB student associations which had a major influence on Harakat al Qawmiyyin al Arab, and on Arab Nationalism in general throughout the Arab world, and which boasted among its members major Arab intellectuals, politicians and writers e.g.: Ibrahim Tuqan, Usamah and Ismail al Khalidi, Emile al Bustani, Anwar al Khalil, Anis Nsouli, Khaldun el Husari, Rose Ghurayyib, Said Takieddine, Shafiq el Hout, Abdallah el Mashnouq, Aliya el Solh, Ghassan Tueini, etc.) Al-ʻUrwah al-Wuthqá magazine was a focus for cultural and political activity. Edited by prominent intellectuals throughout its years of appearance, it featured articles encouraging its readers to connect with and discover the richness and depth of their Arab culture, the beauty of the Arabic language, and to reflect upon their unique position as Arab citizens in the modern world. Al Urwa al Wuthqa magazine (and some say the association itself) reached its peak of intellectual maturity and depth in the 30s and 40s, when both the association and the magazine were supervised by their advisor, Dr. Constantine Zureik. Among the topics discussed in the magazine were questions of nationalism, what distinguishes the Arab nation as such, and what are some of the obstacles facing its unification. Looked at with some distance from the angle of the 21st century, many of the articles are truly striking in their subtlety, complexity and candidness. Also noteworthy, is the level of artistic and graphic design that the magazine achieved. Displayed here are several issues featuring drawings by Rafaat Buheiry, and a sketch and study for a famous painting by renowned painter Omar Farroukh, who was also amongst the paper's staff.