M. Alaa Abdul Kazem – College of Islamic Sciences, Department of Quranic Studies
Jaafar Al-Khalili represents a genuine school in the realms of journalism and literature. His professional career is filled with diligence and creativity. At the dawn of the 20th century, Al-Khalili ventured into the field of journalism, excelling in its various forms and arts. He founded three newspapers: Al-Fajr Al-Sadiq, Al-Ra’i, and Al-Hatif. These publications laid the foundation for a Najaf-based journalistic school, where he collaborated with Yusuf Rajib and Muhammad Mahdi Al-Jawahiri, forming three key pillars in the history of Iraqi journalism.
His newspaper, Al-Hatif, published in Najaf and later moved to Baghdad, rivaled the Baghdad-based newspapers in distribution and circulation. It stood out by opening its pages to a group of Arab critics, writers, and poets, alongside translations, which occupied a significant part of its content.
Al-Khalili may have been the first Iraqi journalist to navigate the field while maintaining his neutrality and independence amidst the political polarization that engulfed party-affiliated journalism in Iraq at the time. If we were to compare Al-Khalili’s experience from over half a century ago with today’s journalistic practices, we would favor his vision and approach. His ability to perform his role with honesty, integrity, and a firm belief that journalism is a noble mission aiming to deepen public awareness and combat ignorance, corruption, and societal ailments is remarkable.
His dedication to the cause was evident through the sacrifices he made, including selling his household furniture and family belongings to buy paper and ensure his newspaper’s survival, which endured for over twenty years.
Al-Khalili adhered to media ethics under the harshest circumstances, preserving his reputation and dignity despite the threats he faced and the financial temptations offered to him. He nearly lost his life for boldly confronting oppressive ideologies and advocating reform in religious sermons.
His personality and intellectual prowess played a significant role in elevating journalism to a respected profession, earning the admiration of various societal classes. The headquarters of his newspaper in Baghdad became a cultural, literary, and media hub, attracting politicians, writers, and notable figures.
Today, Iraqi journalism lacks such a comprehensive and exceptional figure whose influence reached the Arab world and beyond. This influence prompted an American doctoral candidate, Thomas Hammel, to dedicate his dissertation to Jaafar Al-Khalili and his publications.
It is worth noting that Al-Khalili avoided delving into politics, as he believed it lacked moral principles and conflicted with the mission of journalism. He aimed to keep journalism as a platform for the masses and a window to literature and culture. Moreover, Al-Khalili’s works were characterized by the elegance of expression, refined language, and aesthetic style. His mastery of the Arabic language and vast knowledge created a polymathic persona, embodying the ideal journalist—a quality lacking in many of today’s Iraqi journalists.
We urge academic and media institutions to draw lessons from Al-Khalili’s rich experience and incorporate his contributions into the curricula of Iraqi journalism schools, highlighting his newspapers and unique legacy.