Riyadh: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) has released the second issue of the 51st volume of Al-Darah Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal and one of the oldest and most reputable academic periodicals in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. The journal serves as a leading platform for publishing historical, linguistic, cultural, and humanities studies in accordance with the highest standards of academic review.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the latest issue continues the journal's longstanding mission of documenting national, Arab, and Islamic history while enriching human knowledge through original and rigorous research that harmonizes scholarly authenticity with modern scientific methodology. The issue comprises four peer-reviewed research papers covering a range of topics in history, literature, language, and cultural heritage, reflecting the diversity of scholarly interests and the academic breadth that has distinguished Darah since its establishment in 1975 (AH 1395).
The first paper, titled 'The Renowned Scholar of the Arabian Peninsula, Shaykh Hamad al-Jasir, and His Attention to Moroccan Narratives of Travel to the Hijaz' by Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Chabou, adopts a descriptive and inductive approach to explore Shaykh Hamad al-Jasir's deep interest in Moroccan travel accounts to the Hijaz. The study highlights his scholarly efforts in identifying, annotating, and summarizing these journeys, as well as the challenges he faced in accessing and studying their manuscripts. It also examines the motivations and criteria behind his selections and his methodology for verifying geographical locations, particularly within the Hijaz, thereby establishing these travel narratives as credible historical sources for the region's geography and routes.
The second paper, 'Scientific and Religious Conditions in the Two Holy Mosques through the Travel Accounts of Abu Salim al-Ayyashi and Evliya ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¡elebi' by Prof. Muhammad Helmi Abdalwahab, presents an analytical study of the cultural, intellectual, and religious life in the Hijaz during the 11th / 17th century. By comparing the travel narratives of the two eminent travelers-Abu Salim al-Ayyashi and Evliya ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¡elebi-the study draws a detailed picture of the social and civilizational aspects of the region, highlighting similarities in their descriptions of religious and schol arly life, as well as differences in writing style shaped by their distinct cultural backgrounds.
The third paper, 'Linguistic Argumentation in Political Speeches: An Applied Study on Selected Saudi Royal Speeches' by Dr. Abdullah bin Saad Alhogbani, is grounded in the theory of linguistic argumentation. The study posits that argumentation is an intrinsic feature of language rather than a secondary function. Applying this theory, the researcher analyzes selected Saudi royal speeches as examples of political discourse rich in argumentative structure, examining elements such as topoi (commonplaces), connectors, argumentative operators, and scales. The findings reveal the cohesive and persuasive linguistic nature of royal political discourse in Saudi Arabia.
The fourth paper, titled 'Early Arab Scholars and the Deciphering of Inscriptions and Ancient Scripts' by Dr. Ahmed Elsaghir Mohamed Amin, addresses inscriptions and ancient scripts as key sources for understanding literature, history, and human civilization. Drawing on a range of historical and textual evidence, the study demonstrates the deep interest of early Arab scholars in inscriptions discovered across the Arab world, showcasing their ability to read, interpret, and analyze them with scholarly precision. The study thus underscores the Arabs' significant contribution to preserving and interpreting the written heritage of human history.
This issue represents a continuation of Darah journal's distinguished journey, spanning more than half a century of scholarly contribution. It reaffirms the journal's mission to support research in history, geography, linguistics, literature, and the social sciences, while encouraging Saudi and Arab researchers to publish original and high-quality studies. Through this ongoing effort, the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives strengthens its standing as a leading research and cultural institution dedicated to preserving national memory and documenting Arab and Islamic heritage within a comprehensive academic vision that reflects its pioneering role in serving history and humanity.