Ibrahim al-Yaziji

A Syrian-Lebanese scholar who modernized Arabic printing and education in the Ottoman Empire

Ibrahim al-Yaziji (1847–1905) was a pivotal figure in Arab cultural revival during the late Ottoman era. Born in Beirut to a Maronite Christian family, he mastered Arabic, French, and Syriac languages. He founded the first Arabic printing press in 1866, revolutionizing book production and literacy access. His press published seminal works like the first Arabic grammar textbook and dictionaries, establishing modern Arabic typography standards. As a teacher, he established schools in Damascus and Beirut that emphasized secular education alongside religious studies. His 1883 publication Kitab al-Aghani preserved classical Arabic poetry, while his 1895 Dictionary of Arabic Language became a foundational reference. Al-Yaziji's efforts laid the groundwork for the Nahda (Arab Renaissance) movement. His legacy is honored at the Lebanese National Museum and the Alexandria Library. For scholarly analyses, see related books.