Qawl Fassel’s second issue covered a variety of topics in ten sections. In addition to articles, the magazine published local and international news. The magazine’s website and social media accounts combine objective editorial treatment with narrative storytelling, allowing readers to understand better the articles presented. This is complemented by artistic layouts that highlight the different aspects of each article through visually appealing graphic design and animations.
First Week
In the first week of its second issue, the magazine highlighted three legal and human rights articles in the Traffic Section, the Islamics Section, and the United Nations World Days Section.
In the Traffic Section, the magazine featured an article titled Traffic Violations: Between Regulation, Deterrence, and Safety Preservation Journalist Huda Mohammed highlighted the emergence of the automotive industry and the subsequent traffic regulations, notably the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968. The article discussed the efforts of the Traffic Department to shed light on the dangers of using mobile phones while driving, noting that this traffic misconduct is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents, both locally and globally.
In the Islamic section, writer Ahmed Aqab Al-Bab had an article titled The Complexities of Sadaq: Navigating Material Obligation and Moral Testing in Islam He discussed the relationship between truthfulness and dowry, considering it a psychological test and a moral filter that reveals an essential aspect of both parties’ character. It is a practical test during the courtship phase, in which only the pure-hearted succeed. Blessings in marriage only occur between souls that deserve each other in contentment and satisfaction. There can be no contentment without heartfelt generosity, regardless of financial status, and no greed without some form of selfishness and stinginess.
In the United Nations International Days section, writer Yousif Al Hamadi had an article titled World Press Freedom Day – May 3. The article overlooked the killing of journalists in Gaza by Israeli occupation forces. Instead, it highlighted the economic lobbies that suppress journalists who expose the hidden causes behind the environmental crisis. In this context, freedom of expression considered the foundation of all other freedoms, faces a significant dilemma in Western countries claiming democracy, systematically suppressing any dissent from their political narrative.
Journalist Mohamed Al-Ghazali expressed his happiness with the magazine’s initiative to “keep up with current news, striving to inform the public about events from legal, legislative, and constitutional perspectives, in addition to its unique approach to addressing sensitive issues with engaging narrative storytelling.”
Second Week
This issue’s second week covered the History and Incidents sections.
In the History section, writer Mohamed Shaaban Ayyoub presented an article titled Abu Yusuf Al-Ansari: The First Chief Judge in Islam He discussed the role of jurist and judge Abu Yusuf Al-Ansari, one of the most prolific and diligent founders of the Hanafi school. He is considered the first to hold the position of Chief Judge, a role that did not exist before the Abbasid era. Once the Abbasids established their rule and expanded their control over a vast area of the Islamic world, they gave special attention to the judiciary as one of the state’s most important pillars. The writer also explained how Abu Yusuf achieved justice and applied Sharia flexibly and precision, enhancing the Islamic judiciary’s stature throughout the ages.
Qawl Fassel covered the crimes section with an article titled Honor Crimes… Fleeing Toward Annihilation by Ahmed Aqab Al-Bab. The article discusses the definition and rates of honour crimes in the Arab world, highlighting the differences between Islamic law, which unequivocally condemns such crimes and the lenient penalties of secular laws in the Arab world that contradict Islamic Sharia. This discrepancy has significantly limited these laws’ deterrent effect.
In his article, Aqab Al-Bab commented on how deeply he was influenced by the author Nicole Pope in her book “Honor Crimes in the 21st Century” (2012). He stated, “Through interviews and investigations conducted on the issue, the author was able to showcase a profound understanding of what is happening in the Middle East, emphasizing the necessity to raise awareness about the harms of these crimes and to work towards changing the false concepts that justify them.”
Third Week
In its third week, the magazine covered three sections: Judiciary, Child, and Women.
In the Judiciary section, writer Youssef Al-Hammadi discussed an article titled Judicial System Challenges and the Importance of Enforcing Rulings.He examined the three levels of litigation in courts: primary, appellate, and cassation, and the typical periods required to adjudicate the cases before them. He pointed out that judicial rulings acquire the force of res judicata when they cannot be appealed. He cited, as an example, a case where he obtained a final judgment in his favour but has been unable to execute it so far due to procedural reasons.
In the Women’s section, we read an article titled Males and Females .. Men and Women by Yasmin Anbar, who tries to address the extremism of feminist movements in Arab societies and their influence by Western capitalist ideas without consideration for Islamic and Middle Eastern culture. In her article, she interviewed Dr. Amal Al-Malki, the founding dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and a member of the Qatar Foundation. Dr Al-Malki highlighted the regional and global roles of Arab and Gulf women and explained the hoped-for social and political reforms.
In the Children’s section, we find an article titled Adapting Civilization with Stable Upbringing and Evolving Education by Dr. Shadi Al-Sayed. The author sees upbringing as a concept that focuses on the system of values, ethics, and building the conscience, while education concentrates on abstract knowledge and information. They cannot be isolated from each other during childhood. The author discussed the onslaught of globalization with its corrupting foreign values that have hit Arab societies, along with political, social, and economic changes that have escalated the crisis in upbringing, resulting in behavioural deviations, unprecedented signs of family disintegration, and a disruptive shake to the entire social system.
Dr. Shadi Al-Sayed expressed concern about the impact of modern technology and social media on children, stating that “if these tools are not used wisely and under supervision, they can lead to significant problems in upbringing and education. It is important to integrate technology into education in a balanced way that ensures children benefit from it without harming their values and ethics.”
Forth Week
The magazine covered the local affairs and expatriate sections in its fourth week.
In the expatriates section, writer Ahmed Aqab Al-Bab’s article Sexual Restrictions and Barriers to Immigrant Integration discusses the issues expatriates face abroad while searching for a life partner. On the one hand, it addresses voluntary isolation at the level of races and sects and at the level of laws in some countries, which negatively affects children regarding citizenship rights.
In the local affairs section, journalist Huda Mohammed, in her article Dream of Ownership vs Nightmare of Construction, tackles the problems faced by those seeking to build their homes primarily with contractors and consultants. She explains the regulations and laws related to the procedures and forms for building permit applications. She interviewed Dr Yasser Al-Minyawi, the legal advisor at the law firm of Rashid Bin Nasser Al-Nuaimi, who highlighted the importance of having a clear pre-agreement between the owner and the contractor to avoid construction delays and the resulting financial and psychological losses and wastage of time.
Journalist Huda Mohammed suggests after her investigation that “owners should provide reasonable specifications for the intended construction and choose a trustworthy consultant to prevent contractors from exploiting the owners’ limited experience.” She added that “owners should request detailed maps to limit contractors’ demands for high additional costs that were not anticipated.”
We can see the diversity of sections and issues covered by the weekly online magazine Qawl Fassel. Addressing legal, religious, historical, educational, and social topics reflects the comprehensive and in-depth approach the magazine strives to achieve. The magazine is making a concerted effort to provide content that enriches the reader and contributes to raising awareness on various issues of local and international concern. Amid the digital evolution and widespread reach of online magazines, Qawl Fassel stands as a good model of an online magazine that combines intellectual depth with visual appeal, making it capable of competing and attracting a broad reader base.
