Prof. Nafeesah as-Saed, a professor of media and children’s culture at Ain Shams University, published her first international research article in the journal “Historical Encounters,” one of the most important journals in the field of historical awareness and historical culture. This journal is among the top-ranked journals in the field of history. She collaborated with Professor Robert Thorp, a history education professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, on a study titled: “The Role of Al-Azhar ash-Sharif as a Religious and Cultural Institution in Combating Extremism and Terrorism,” presented in Noor Magazine which targets children from 8 to 18 years, entitled:
“Using History to Protect Children from Extremist Ideologies: The Noor Magazine Model in Egypt”.
Summary of the research
The Arab and Islamic world has witnessed escalating waves of religious extremism and terrorism during the past decade. This has prompted Arab and Islamic cultural institutions to focus on ways to protect the youth from falling into the trap of extremist groups. In this context, al-Azhar, the most moderate institution in the Islamic world, launched “Noor” magazine for children aged 8-18 at the end of 2015. The aim was to provide Egyptian and Arab youth with positive examples and advice to combat religious extremism. The magazine began its pages with
a message from His Eminence the Grand Imam of al-Azhar ash-Sharif, Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, addressed to the children and young people saying:
“This magazine is being published at a crucial time when your nation needs your young energy and emerging minds. You are the bearers of the responsibility of this great country,
and you are the youth of tomorrow and the leaders of the future. Let us, dear ones, strive in our studies, manage our time, and aspire to excellence so that we truly become loyal future leaders. This is not far from your capabilities, for you are the descendants of Egyptians who built al-Azhar ash-Sharif and preserved the culture of Islam and the sciences of Muslims all over the world, both in the East and the West. We hope that this magazine will be a beacon guiding you with its light, uniting you under its guidance, and seeking, through its guidance, the path to your promising future, which we hope, in the Almighty’s name, will be a future filled with knowledge, work, dignity, patriotism, and honor”.
The history was present strongly on the pages of Noor magazine from its very first issue, making it an excellent source for studying practices of collective memory and historical culture in Egypt and the Arab world. Therefore, the current study addressed two main questions: the first question was about the nature of history presented on the magazine’s pages, and the second was about how this history is presented to young people and children.
Regarding the presented history, a total of 237 historical contents were identified, distributed across 36 issues of the magazine, starting from the first issue in November 2015 until October 2018. Notably, Egyptian history took the lead with 106 historical contents, ranging from the military history of the Egyptian army, especially during the attrition war and the recovery of Taba in 1982, to the period after the January revolution and the resistance against armed groups in Sinai. It also covered Egypt’s Pharaonic history and its cultural contributions, Egyptian antiquities throughout different eras, the history of al-Azhar, and the social history of Egyptians. Furthermore, there were 102 historical contents related to Arab and Islamic history, including the history of Islamic civilization’s scholars, political, religious, and social history of Arabs. Lastly, there were 29 historical contents related to world history, covering significant historical figures and events in human history.
Regarding the presentation of history, four strategies for countering extremism and terrorism using history were identified:
1- The first strategy: Presenting Egyptian history to children in a way that supports their Egyptian identity and goes beyond limiting Egyptian identity to a specific period. The magazine aimed to present Egyptian history as a comprehensive whole, combining Pharaonic, Coptic, and Islamic history in harmony and integration, refuting extremist claims that Egypt’s identity is solely Islamic.
2- Second strategy: Utilizing positive modeling in presenting history to children. This involved invoking historical examples that support values of coexistence, solidarity, religious and intellectual tolerance, and strengthen national unity among Muslims and Christians in Egypt.
3- Third strategy: Responding to the use of history by extremists who justify aggressive actions through extremist interpretations of religious texts. This strategy involved countering such narratives and interpretations
4- Fourth strategy: Presenting evidence from Egyptian, Arab, and world history to highlight that knowledge is the key to progress and prosperity, while ignorance and violence are detrimental to cultural advancement.
The authors of the study praised the model of using history presented by al-Azhar ash-Sharif in Noor magazine, suggesting that this model could open the door for discussions on these ideas in school history textbooks and other media for children in the Arab world. This would help enhance historical understanding among young people and enable them to establish connections between their present lives and history.
It is worth mentioning that the authors recommended that presenting history to children should provide a balanced view of Egyptian,Arab, and Islamic history. Our history is not only filled with victories and achievements but also contains various perspectives on the past and different historical narratives. It is crucial to understand and absorb these perspectives to avoid their negative impact on our present and future.
On the occasion of publishing this research, the researcher extends her gratitude to al-Azhar ash-Sharif, particularly His Eminence Prof. Ahmad at-Tayyeb, for their commitment to building the national and cultural identity of Egyptian children. She also expresses her appreciation to the entire team at the magazine for their exceptional efforts in producing this work, the values of which have been translated on the pages of this research. Special mention goes to Ms. Noha Abbas, the Editor-in-Chief, and editor of Noor and the History Gate, Mr. Abdel-Monem Hussein, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and editor of the section of Taqet Noor, Mr. Samih al-Zahar, editor of the Antiquities and Secrets section, Mr. Mahmoud Qasim, editor of the History of Civilizations section, and to Mr. Najah Amer, Ms. Asmaa Emara, Mr. Hamdallah al-Safti, and Mr. Abdeljawad al-Hamzawi, responsible for editing the sections on the Prophets’ Stories, the Prophet’s Biography, and Quranic Stories. Thanks are also extended to the entire team of writers, editors, and illustrators of the magazine.
The study was not funded by any party, and there is no conflict of interest.
