Together with Aḥmad Riḍā (1872-1953) and Sulaimān Ẓāhir (1873-1960) he initiated a new stage of Nahda with this encyclopedic educational journal in South Lebanon.

[2][3] The subtitle ("maǧalla ʿilmīya, adabīya, aḫlāqīya, iǧtimāʿīya") explains clearly that al-ʿIrfān was a journal for science, literature, morals and social issues.

[4] Its stated objectives were to create a suitable educational institution for a broader audience that should guarantee the well-being of the public and serve the progress.

Articles on technical progress and new inventions, on Shiite history as well as on women's topics such as upbringing and emancipation were now included.

[2] This was explicitly shown, i. e. in the cover of the 5th year, with the addition šuʿūn aš-šīʿa (Arabic: concerns of the Shia).