In pivotal moments of history, ink becomes more precious than gold, and documents become the voice of generations yet unborn. In the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, where oral tradition was the dominant record, the historian Sheikh Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Issa (1270–1343 AH) undertook an extraordinary task: to be the custodian of Najd's memory during a crucial transitional period that witnessed the formation of the third Saudi state. Today, his efforts are embodied in a monumental cultural and national project, "The Complete Works of the Historian Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Issa," published in 19 volumes by the King Abdulaziz Foundation, representing a solid foundation for modern Saudi history.

Historical context: We find ourselves in a time of great transformations

Sheikh Ibrahim bin Isa lived during a period when the Najd region was undergoing profound political and social transformations. This era witnessed the end of the Second Saudi State, a period of instability, and the dawn of the Third Saudi State under its founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. In this climate, written documents were scarce, and the recording of events relied heavily on oral accounts, which could be lost or altered over time. Hence the exceptional value of Ibn Isa's work. He was not merely a transmitter of news, but a witness to and participant in his era, a judge, a jurist, and a traveler, which granted him a comprehensive perspective and a unique ability to verify and document.

The encyclopedia's contents: A comprehensive knowledge museum

Browsing through these nineteen volumes, the reader finds themselves not before traditional history books, but rather entering a comprehensive museum of knowledge reflecting all aspects of life in Najd. Its treasures are distributed as follows:

• The annual records: In works such as “A History of Some Events that Occurred in Najd” and “The Necklace of Pearls,” Ibn Isa provides an accurate record of political and military events, but he goes beyond that to document the climate, epidemics, years of drought, commodity prices, and the movement of people, drawing a panoramic picture of society.
• Jurisprudence and Islamic Sciences: His works, such as “Hashiyat al-Rawd al-Murabba’,” demonstrate his depth as a jurist, as he connects the legal text with lived reality, which explains his strict methodology in historical documentation.
• Social and economic history: “The Great Collection” and “The Collection of Benefits” (seven volumes) are considered among the greatest treasures of the encyclopedia. Here we find the history of daily life: folk medicine, astronomy, the geography of wells and villages, and the Nabataean poems that he preserved from being lost.
• The documentary archive: The collection of biographies and rare documents includes what can be considered the “secret archive” of Najd, including deeds, wills, correspondence, genealogies, and biographies of scholars and families not mentioned in other sources.

Importance and impact: From local to global

The significance of these complete works extends far beyond the Saudi library. Locally , they are a cornerstone in preserving national memory and an essential reference for researchers and new generations to understand the roots of their nation and identity. Regionally , the encyclopedia provides raw material for studying the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the relationships between its various regions. Internationally , it offers researchers and scholars a rare and reliable primary source, written from a local perspective, for studying the region's history beyond purely external narratives. It contributes to writing a more balanced and profound history of the Middle East.

Institutional effort to preserve an individual legacy

Collecting this heritage was no easy task, as Ibn Isa's manuscripts were scattered across libraries and archives worldwide, from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt to the United States. It required a monumental institutional effort from the King Abdulaziz Foundation, which formed specialized committees comprising nearly 20 researchers who worked for years to collect, verify, edit, and catalog the manuscripts. The result is this monumental work, exceeding 7,000 pages, an achievement considered one of the largest documentation projects in the Kingdom's history.

In conclusion, Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Issa passed away a century ago, but he has returned today through these volumes, more present than ever before. These are not merely books to be read, but a homeland to be explored, and proof that when ink is faithful, it becomes more powerful than time itself.

The acquisition of this collection came through a gift from Minister of State Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al-Issa, the historian’s grandson, to the editor-in-chief of “Okaz”, colleague Jamil Al-Dhiyabi, in an initiative that represents a knowledge endowment that enhances the value of the document and its role in preserving the nation’s heritage.

Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel Wahab, through her lawyer Yasser Qantoush, announced the initiation of strict legal proceedings against those circulating fabricated and offensive images of her on social media platforms. This move highlights once again the growing threat of deepfake technology, which now endangers the privacy and reputation of public figures in the Arab world.

Details of the crisis and its psychological impact

In an official statement, lawyer Yasser Qantoush explained that his client is going through a difficult psychological crisis, exacerbated by seeing the doctored images created using artificial intelligence to portray her in compromising situations. Qantoush confirmed that the artist, Sherine, is determined to pursue legal action against everyone involved in producing and distributing this offensive material. He noted that the legal team has already begun gathering evidence and identifying the responsible accounts and pages in preparation for filing the necessary lawsuits to protect her reputation, which has been directly affected and has distressed her entire family.

The Deepfake Phenomenon: A Global and Local Context

The case of Sherine Abdel Wahab is no longer an isolated incident, but rather part of a worrying global phenomenon known as “deepfakes,” which use artificial intelligence to create fake videos or images that are difficult to distinguish from reality. Initially used for entertainment purposes, this technology has quickly become a dangerous tool for defamation, blackmail, and spreading misinformation. In the Arab world, there has been a recent increase in the targeting of artists and celebrities, raising widespread concern about the lack of effective legal deterrents to combat these emerging cybercrimes.

The importance of legal action and its potential impact

Sherine Abdel Wahab's move is particularly significant, coming as it does after actress Yasmin Abdel Aziz announced she was taking similar legal action against similar defamation cases. This joint action by Egypt's top female stars sends a powerful message that the artistic community will not stand idly by in the face of such violations. These cases are expected to spark a broader societal and legal debate about the need to update legislation to keep pace with technological advancements and to establish strict regulations criminalizing the creation and distribution of fake content. These lawsuits could also set an important legal precedent for similar future cases, further strengthening the protection of the right to privacy and reputation in the digital age.

The battle that Sherine is fighting today is not only about defending her personal reputation, but also represents a front in defense of the dignity of every public figure who may be the next victim, and it underscores the urgent need to raise awareness of the dangers of these technologies and the need for concerted efforts to combat them at all levels.

The capital city of Riyadh is preparing to host a prominent art event, as the exhibition “Beginnings: The Beginnings of the Saudi Art Movement” at the Saudi National Museum in the historic Al-Murabba neighborhood, from January 27 to April 11, 2026. The exhibition presents a rich documentary journey, exploring the roots of visual art in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its development during a pivotal period that extended from the 1960s to the end of the 1980s.

Historical background and cultural context

The period covered by the exhibition coincided with major social and economic transformations in the Kingdom, which profoundly impacted the cultural landscape. During those decades, a generation of Saudi artists, many of whom had received their education abroad, began returning home, bringing with them modern artistic styles and new visions. This return was not merely a transfer of Western artistic trends, but a creative interaction through which these pioneers sought to integrate modern concepts with elements of local heritage and Saudi identity, resulting in unique artistic experiences that formed the nucleus of the country's visual arts movement.

The importance of the exhibition and its expected impact

The “Beginnings” exhibition is of exceptional importance because it not only displays artworks but also offers an in-depth analysis of the intellectual and cultural contexts that surrounded that foundational period. Locally, the exhibition provides an opportunity for new generations to connect with their artistic history and understand the efforts of the early pioneers. Regionally and internationally, the exhibition contributes to highlighting the depth and history of the Saudi art scene, presenting it as an integral part of the history of modern Arab art, which aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 that aim to promote culture as a fundamental element of national identity and a soft power for the Kingdom.

Exhibition contents and main themes

The exhibition showcases the evolution of artistic practices through a diverse collection of works, including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, alongside rare archival materials displayed for the first time. This offers visitors a unique opportunity to view the initial drafts and documents that accompanied the creation of these works. The exhibition is divided into three main sections: the first addresses the origins of the modern art movement; the second explores the various modernist currents embraced by artists; and the third focuses on the contributions of four of the movement's leading figures— Abdulhalim Radwi, Mohammed Al-Saleem, Munira Mosli, and Safia Binzagr —as pivotal figures who helped shape the landscape of Saudi art.

Accompanying cultural program

To support the exhibition’s message, an integrated cultural program will be launched, including the publication of a documentary print, the screening of a documentary film that tells the stories of pioneers, as well as organizing a series of dialogue sessions and workshops that discuss pressing issues such as early art education, the role of cultural institutions in supporting artists, and the importance of building and documenting the Saudi art archive to preserve the Kingdom’s cultural memory and make it available to researchers and the public.