Sheikh Ibrahim Abu al-Yaqzan: His Reformative Role, Intellectual Activity, and Associative Work (1920–1962)

Abstract

This study aims to highlight the achievements of reformist figures who contributed to combating ignorance and illiteracy, through which the French colonial administration sought to efface the Algerian identity. The efforts of these figures served as a beacon of hope for the Algerian people. Prominent among them was Sheikh Ibrahim ibn Isa Hamdi "Abu al-Yaqzan", a pivotal figure in the Algerian reform movement who combined journalism, educational thought, and community associative work to offer an integrated model for comprehensive reform. This study analyzes three fundamental pillars of his reformative journey during the crucial period (1920–1962), a defining landmark in modern Algerian history: the press as a tool for shaping collective consciousness, educational thought as a methodology for civilizational renewal, and associative work as a practical mechanism for implementing reformist ideas.