Al Lataif
{{Short description|Masonic magazine in Egypt (1885–1996}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox magazine
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| frequency = Monthly
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| category = Political magazine
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| founded = 1885
| finaldate = 1896
| based = Cairo
| country = Khedivate of Egypt
| language = Arabic
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Al Lataif ({{langx|ar|اللطائف}}) was a monthly Egyptian masonic publication which existed between 1885 and 1896. It was headquartered in Cairo.{{cite book|author=Thierry Zarcone|editor1=Henrik Bogdan|editor2=J.A.M. Snoek|year=2014 |title=Handbook of Freemasonry|publisher=Brill
|location=Leiden|isbn=9789004273122|volume=8|chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004273122_014|chapter=Freemasonry and Islam|pages=233–257
|doi=10.1163/9789004273122_014 }}
History and profile
Al Lataif was launched in Cairo in 1885{{cite journal|author=Byron D. Cannon|title=Nineteenth-Century Arabic Writings on Women and Society: The Interim Role of the Masonic Press in Cairo - (al-Lataif, 1885-1895)|journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies|year=1985|volume=17|issue=4|doi=10.1017/S0020743800029433|pages=463–484|s2cid=154672274}}{{cite book|author=Beth Baron|title=Egypt As a Woman: Nationalism, Gender, and Politics|year=2005|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley, CA|page=89|hdl=2027/heb04411.0001.001 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb04411.0001.001}} to improve the masonic activities in Egypt.{{cite journal|author=Karim Wissa|title=Freemasonry in Egypt 1798-1921: A Study in Cultural and Political Encounters|journal=Bulletin (British Society for Middle Eastern Studies)|year=1989|volume=16|issue=2|page=146|jstor=195148}} Its editor and founder was Shahin Makariyus who was the husband of Maryam Nimr, sister of the journalist Faris Nimr.{{cite journal|author=Donald M. Reid|title=Syrian Christians, the Rags-To-Riches Story, and Free Enterprise|journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies|date=October 1970|page=361
|volume=1|issue=4|doi=10.1017/S0020743800000738|s2cid=163113257}} The magazine was published by Faris Nimr's publishing house which also owned a newspaper entitled Al Muqattam.
Al Lataif came out monthly and contained many articles about women, including biographies of leading women. It also covered writings about the search for progress, the defense of individual freedoms, rejection of the oppressive use of authority, respect for the laws that govern society, compassion for the weakest, and eventually respect for women. All these topics were discussed based on the principles of the freemasonry.{{cite journal|year=2021|author=Barbara De Poli|title=Italians, freemasons and the Dawn of Egyptian nationalism|journal=The Journal of North African Studies|volume=27|issue=4|page=4|s2cid=233860784
|doi=10.1080/13629387.2021.1891533}} The magazine played a significant role in the unveiling of the Egyptian women.{{cite journal|author=Beth Baron|title=Unveiling in Early Twentieth Century Egypt: Practical and Symbolic Considerations|journal=Middle Eastern Studies|date=July 1989|volume=25|issue=3|page=371|jstor=4283318|doi=10.1080/00263208908700787}} The magazine also featured short stories.{{cite thesis|author=Constantin Georgescu|title=A Forgotten Pioneer of the Lebanese Nahdah: Salim al-Bustani (1848–1884)|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/302884803|location=New York University|page=38|degree=PhD|id={{ProQuest|302884803}}
|year=1978|isbn=979-8-204-67080-8}}
Maryam Nimr was among the contributors of Al Lataif until her death in 1898. Another major contributors were Amir Amin Arslan and Salma Qusatli. Al Lataif folded in 1896.
References
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Category:1885 establishments in Egypt
Category:1896 disestablishments in Egypt
Category:Arabic-language magazines
Category:Defunct political magazines published in Egypt
Category:Magazines established in 1885
Category:Magazines disestablished in 1896