Habl-ol-Matin

Political newspaper Editor in chief : Jalal-addin al-Hosseini Kashani [Mo’ayyed-ol-Eslam], Hassan Kashani Date of publication: 1907 Place of publication: Calcutta, Tehran, Rasht

      One of the largely circulated newspapers in Persian language which was published abroad nearly about 40 years is the famous weekly Habl-ol-Matin.

Calcutta Hab-ol-Matin

      This newspaper was published by seyyed Jalal-adin Al Hoseini, known as Mo’ayyed ol-Eslam in Calcutta in Persian language and its first issue was released in 10 December 1893. It was in 24 pages. It was typographical. Each Monday was printed and was circulated in tuesdays. The title of the newspaper was written in Naskh (a type of Islamic landwriting) below which the year of its foundation was printed, on one side  the price for subscription and on the other side some other features were brought down (such as all responsibilities lie with Moayyed-ol-Eslam).

      The price for monthly and  yearly subscription was as follows in different countries:

      India and Burma: Yearly subscription 12 Rupees, and for 6 months was 7 Rupees.

      In Iran and Afghanistan, the yearly subscription was 40 Krans and for 6 months 25 Krans.

      The contents of the newspaper, further to the editors note included the news relating to events in Iran and Egypt, Iraq and Turkey… and translation of foreign telegrams and different articles. Habl-ol-Matin had agencies, in Iran. India, Egypt and Russia, so it published the news of these countries in full length, especially the news of Iran which were sent from important cities of the country. The comprehensiveness and detailedness led to the large circulation of this newspaper in Iran. The other fact was its being gratuitous. For about ten consecutive years each week 5000 copies of it were circulated among the clergy of Najaf and Ulamas and intellectuals of Iran. Due to the great influence and dauntlessness in publishing articles, out of a sudden. Atabak took notice of the great danger of this paper; and for the first time preventd the circulation of paper in Iran for four years. Following the suppression of the newspaper by Iranian government, the Indian government suppressed it once again from 1916 and in 1924 it was released and published again. The publication of the newspaper continued until the death of Mo’ayyed ol Eslam that was November 1930. In his late years, due to his weak sight, his second daughter Farah-ul Soltan undertook the responsibility of the newspaper and her name came as the second editor.

      Foundation of Habl-ol-Matin: In 1893 following successive correspondence with Mr. Mo’ayyed, and Seyyed Jamal-addin Assad Abadi  in England and Prince Malam Khan, the Iranian minister in London decided on the publication of this newspaper, for the prupose of promoting Iranian intellectual movement. Hence forward the paper Qanoun in London and Habl-ol-Matin  in Calcutta from 19 December 1893 were published and circulated until the death of Mo’ayyed ol-Eslam.

Habl-ol-Matin of Tehran

      The paper was published in Tehran under Mirza Seyyed Hassan Kashani, the younger brother of Mo’ayyed ol-Eslam, the first issue of which was in the same size of Calcutta Habl-ol-Matin in famous printing house. The first issue was released from print in 29 April 1907. The editor in chief  was Jalal-addin al-Hosseini Mo’ayyed ol Eslam and its address was Tehran, Lalehzar st. Nayeb Mirza Seyyed Hassan Kashani.

      This newspaper was a branch of Calcutta Habl-ol-Matin.  It was introduced as a daily newspaper. The year and place of publication came below the title. At the end of page 4 column, the signiture of Hassan al Hosseini could be seen. (Habl-ol-Matin) was introduced as a national, free, political, commercial, scientific, literary daily.

      Further to the editor’s note, the contents of the newspaper included home and foreign news. Due to its affiliation to Calcutta Habl-ol-Matin , the newspaper included a good volume of foreign news. The pourparlers of Majlis (Parliament) and home and foreign telegrams were published too.

      Following the Majlis incidents and Bagh-e-Shah events, five people were exiled from Tehran by orders from Mohammad Ali Shah. Mirza Seyyed Hassan Kashani was one of these people, who went to Rasht and published some issues of the paper in that city. In mid 1909 simultaneous with the departure of Mohammad Ali Shah, he returned to Tehran and continued the publication of the paper. Following the publication of issue no. 6 in August 1909,simultanaeous with the departure of Mohammad Ali Shah, he returned to Tehran and continued the publication of the work. Following the publication of issue no.6 in August 1909, due to an article appeared on the paper titled: ”when the clergy corrupts, the world becomes corrupted” by Seyyed Nouraddin, son of Seyyed Assadullah Khaqani, which contained insulting sentences against clergy, there was led a vast opposition against the paper and its editor. Because they considered it  against the press law. The ministry of Education asked the ministry of Justice for the trial of the editor and suppression of newspaper. Following the proceedings, Seyyed Hassan retired himself and did not try to publish another paper.

Rasht Habl-ol-Matin

      This paper was published in Rasht by Agha Mirza Seyyed Hassan Kashani in 1909. The first number appeared in the month of Moharrem and the next numbers in the same year. Thereafter Seyyed Hassan returned to Tehran and published the paper in the capital.

Calcutta Habl-ol-Matin

      1314 (1315-1316) 1317 (1318) 1319-1321 (1322) (1323-1325) (1326-1333, 1342) 1343 (1344) 1345-1346 (1347) 1348 (1349)

Tehran Habl-ol-Matin

      1318, 1322-1323) 1325 (1326-1327)

Rasht Habl-ol-Matin    

        1327