An Analysis of Content and Thematic Patterns in the Local Religious Press of the Qajar-Era Iran

Agharafii, Dawood; Motaghedi, Robabeh

doi:10.22034/lrsi.2026.584316.1525

An Analysis of Content and Thematic Patterns in the Local Religious Press of the Qajar-Era Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Dawood Agharafii ¹

Robabeh Motaghedi ²

¹ Corresponding Author, Assistant Professor of Research Institute, National library and archives of I.R. Iran, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: d-agharafii@nlai.ir

² Assistant Professor of Research Institute, National library and archives of I.R. Iran, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: ro-motaghedi@nlai.ir

10.22034/lrsi.2026.584316.1525

Abstract

Objective:This article adopts an applied approach with the aim of identifying the content-related and thematic concepts embedded in specialized local publications. Its primary objective is to analyze the content patterns of the religious press during the Qajar period, with particular attention to the extent to which these publications addressed local versus national issues, as well as specialized religious topics.
Method: This study examines and evaluates specialized local press within the thematic framework of religious publications, focusing on three periodicals: "Al-Islam" (Isfahan), "Al-Islam" (Shiraz), and "Al-Din Wal-Hiveh" (Tabriz). The research reconsiders the concepts contained within these sources. To this end, the study employs an analytical-citation method alongside a text analysis approach. By constructing a chain of extracted concepts, the analysis identifies and elaborates upon the principal themes present in these locally published, religiously oriented periodicals.
Results: The findings indicate that key themes and concepts - including religious debates, the status of women in Islam, the hijab in Islam, Islam and progress, the pathology of Islamic societies, new sciences in Islam, novel methods of religious propagation, and the concept of oppression in Islam - constitute among the most significant content elements embedded within the local religious press of the period.
Conclusions: Overall, the local religious publications of the Qajar era can be regarded as relatively successful in terms of journalistic style and thematic specialization. However, in terms of content, they adopted a conservative and cautious approach, drawing upon precise but rigid thematic frameworks. This conservatism ultimately prevented these publications from achieving long-term sustainability and hindered their ability to establish a close and enduring connection with their contemporary readership. Furthermore, a principal shortcoming of these publications lies in their neglect of local issues and the specific concerns of regional communities. The content rarely adopts a genuinely local perspective; at a minimum, one would expect such publications to examine the challenges and harms facing their local communities through a religious lens, or to critically address the community's shortcomings. These expectations remain largely unfulfilled.

Keywords

Specialized Journalism

Religious Press

Local Press; Al-Islam Press

Al-Din va Al-Hayat Press; Newspaper; Qajar

References:

Al-Din va Al-Hayat Newspaper. (1930–1931). Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.

Al-Islam (Isfahan) Newspaper. [Various issues].

Al-Islam (Shiraz) Newspaper. (1927–1929). Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Bagheri, E. (2025). A comparative study of women's press in Isfahan and Gilan: "Zaban-e Zanan" and "Nameh-ye Nesvan-e Sharq". "Meskawayh Scientific Quarterly, 17"(3), 39–56. https://doi.org/10.82381/mosk.2025.1223791 (In Persian)

Brown, E. G. (2019). "History of Iran's press and literature during the Mashrotyat period (M. Abbasi, Trans.). Elmi Publishing House. (In Persian)

Eivazi, H. (2012). A dialogue between Islam and Christianity in the first decade of the 20th century in Isfahan. The Quarterly Journal Ayeneh-ye-Pazhoohesh, 23(135–136), 99–102. (In Persian)

Feyzisakha, M. (2016). The position of Shariah supervisory, monitoring and adaptation of press content with Shariah principles in the periods of Qajar and Pahlavi. Biannual Journal of Karnameh Tarikh, 2(6). (In Persian)

Ghandi, H. (2005). Specialized journalism. Media Research and Studies Center. (In Persian)

Ghasemi, S. F. (1993). Guide to the Iranian press of the Qajar era (1252 AH–1215 AH–1304 AH). Printing and Publishing Organization of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. (In Persian)

Ghasemi, S. F. (1996). The first Islamic magazine published in Tehran. Kelk Monthly Cultural and Artistic Magazine, (84). (In Persian)

Handbook of public policy agenda setting. (2016). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Javanmardi, F., Abadin, H., Fallah Totkar, H., & Rahimi, A. (2019). Reflection of medical discourse in press of the constitutional and first Pahlavi periodicals. Journal for the History of Science, 17(1), 117–134. https://doi.org/10.22059/jihs.2019.277649.371475 (In Persian)

Karimi, A., & Salmasizadeh, M. (2025). Teaching and learning history: An analysis of the strategy of magazines and newspapers in contemporary Iran (1289–1320 AH). Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam, 19(36), 291–316. https://doi.org/10.22111/jhr.2025.51073.3756 (In Persian)

Mohit Tabatabai, M. (1987). Analytical history of Iranian press. Ba'ath. (In Persian)

Najafi, M. (2005). Political thought and history of the movement of Hajj Agha Noorollah Isfahani. Institute for Contemporary Iranian History Studies. (In Persian)

Parvin, N. (1998). History of Iranian journalism and other Persian writers. Markaz-e-Nashr-e-Daneshgahi. (In Persian)

Qorbani, H. A. (2015). Al-Islam magazine: Press representative of religious modernist constitutional era. *Biannual Journal of Karnameh Tarikh, 7(15). (In Persian)

Rasoulof, R. (2010). Firsts in the history of Iranian press. Jame-e-Shenasan. (In Persian)

Sadr Hashemi, M. (1948). History of Iranian newspapers and magazines. Kamal Publications. (In Persian)

SeyyedGhotbi, S. (2013). History of the press of Azerbaijan and Tabriz with a look at the magazine of Al-Din Va Al-Hayat. Tarikh Pazhohi Journal, (57), 80–95. (In Persian)

Shabani, A. (2006). List of Isfahan newspapers and magazines. Isfahan Municipality Cultural and Recreational Organization. (In Persian)

Sharafi Safa, H., & Rahimi, F. (2022). The role of modern ideas in the manifestation and growth of religious press. News Science Quarterly (NS), 11(2), 71–94. (In Persian)

Tadayyon Newspaper. (1917, August 9).

Tamaddon Newspaper. (1907, February 1).