Abdullah an-Nadeem

Abdullah an-Nadeem (Arabic: عبد الله النديم ) was a significant Egyptian writer and political activist.

[1] Poverty played an important role in his life, as he did not receive a formal education and came from the poor districts of Egypt at a time of financial and economic crisis.

His nationalist ideologies and political activism were greatly influenced by Jamal al-Din al-Afghani and Muhammed Abduh.

In 1855, the poor conditions of his family prevented him from studying at Al-Azhar so his father sent him to El Noor mosque, near his home.

Instead, he decided to roam the streets and towns in Alexandria in search for intellectual seminars, poetry recitals, and lectures at local cafes and ventures.

When he was 17, an-Nadeem learned Morse code and got a job as a telegraph operator in Banha and was later transferred to Qasar al-Ali in Cairo, which was the residential palace of Hoshiyar Hanim, mother of the Khedive Ismail.

He befriended Al-Azhar writers and scholars along with well-known figures such as Mahmoud Sami el-Baroudi (who later on became the 5th prime minister of Egypt), Abdullah Fekry Pasha, Sheikh Abou Al- Nasr, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Rizkani, Mohammed Said Bey, and Mahmoud Safwat.

He became a recurring member of al-Afghani's councils and engaged in his seminars and learned from him reformation of religion, freedom of research, criticism and boldness in defending the right.

When he finally found a job again as a government employee he headed back to Cairo where he was reunited with al-Afghani who began to take a more nationalist approach in his teachings and lessons.

During the period of Khedive Ismail Egypt was on the verge of modernisation and connections with Europe increased specifically after the opening of the Suez Canal.

Many Europeans came to Egypt to take advantage of the problematic fiscal situation that emerged during that time hoping to make huge fortunes from loaning the government money.

Al-Afghani had a major impact on nationalists and helped spread national political thought along with religious reformation.

The spread of national ideologies and religious reform played an important role in the emergence of political newspapers.

The end of the American Civil War attributed to the decrease in cotton prices, which was Egypt's major revenue.

Tewfik Pasha was one of many students of al-Afghani and had many times attended seminars and lectures with national figures and writers including an-Nadeem.

Military officers under the leadership of Ahmed Urabi began to form secret movements spreading awareness of the foreign intervention in Egyptian affairs.

With his style and articulation, an-Nadeem was able to summon people to the Urabi movement and he spoke of the importance of political activism and social reform.

An-Nadeem was a major component of a demonstration led by Urabi consisting of military officers and Egyptian civilians that headed to Abdeen Palace where the Khedive resided.

He saw great danger from an-Nadeem and his writings as someone who was able to shape public opinion and sway people to the officers’ movement.

An-Nadeem mentioned in an article entitled “Bashing idiots” that it was the time in which laws protected citizens from the oppressors.

The British were especially concerned that Urabi would default on Egypt's massive debt and that he might try to regain control of the Suez Canal.

The British warships in the harbor opened fire on the city's gun emplacements after the Egyptians ignored an ultimatum from Admiral Seymour to remove them.

[5] An-Nadeem was exiled to Jaffa for the first time in September 1891, although he did roam in many cities in this region including Nablus and Qalqilya.

[6] He specifically attacked many Egyptians who aided the British as he wrote a piece in Al Ustadh saying "I am your brother, why do you deny it?".

[8] This piece which was published in Al Ustadh infuriated Lord Cormer himself who demanded from the Khedive to exile an-Nadeem again.

His student Ahmed Samir and writers who have mentioned him have all claimed that his vocal abilities and linguistic capacities were immense.