In Search of the “Jeem” – No. 1 by Dr. Mohammad Reza Zaeiri

           ✍️ By: Dr. Mohammad Reza ZAEIRI,
Cultural Counselor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Translated into English by: Dr. Hana Saada  

Dr. Mohammad Reza Zaeiri: A Distinguished Voice in Religious Media and Cultural Diplomacy

Dr. Mohammad Reza Zaeiri is a renowned academic specializing in religious media, Islamic philosophy, and interfaith (Islamic-Christian) dialogue. As a prolific author and eminent literary figure, he has penned over thirty works encompassing literature, translation, creative writing, and narrative arts—several of which have been translated into major foreign languages, including English and French.

With a distinguished media career spanning more than a quarter of a century, Dr. Zaeiri has established an enduring reputation in the journalistic world. He has founded numerous periodicals and magazines and served as editor-in-chief of several prominent newspapers, most notably Hamshahri (¹), the largest Persian-language daily in the world.

His influence extends well beyond journalism. A committed cultural figure, Dr. Zaeiri has made significant contributions to the fields of film and television production. He is also a leading figure in the publishing sector, having established an independent media house that has continuously issued a monthly magazine for the past 23 years.

His most recent intellectual endeavor, “In Search of the Jeem”, marks a new milestone in his ongoing creative exploration. This reflective series, published regularly in Al-Ayam News (Arabic) and jeune-independant.net (French), chronicles his current tenure as Iran’s Cultural Counselor in Algeria. In these writings, Dr. Zaeiri offers a deeply personal and poetic meditation on identity, belonging, and the enduring cultural bonds that unite Iran and Algeria.

Today, Dzair Tube is proud to present the English edition of this compelling series—meticulously translated from both the Arabic and French originals.

At Last… in Algeria!

It is Divine Grace that plays a pivotal role in shaping human destiny.

My name is Mohammad Reza, and I belong to the Zaeiri family.

Between my name and that of the nationality of my host country lies only a slight formal difference—merely a variation in the number of letters or characters. Yet in terms of meaning, it is an entire world, a story in itself.

Indeed, when comparing the two, the only thing that “Zaeiri” lacks to become “Jazaeiri” (4) (Algerian) is a single, seemingly insignificant letter of the Arabic alphabet: the Jeem (ج). And that is precisely why I came to Algeria—to seek that “Jeem”.

This letter, this gem that I long to find, carries a constellation of lofty and noble meanings. It is the letter of beauty, the grandeur of the martyrs of the Revolution of 1st November (5), the symbol of generosity, excellence, solidarity, courage, and valor. It is also the gem of the Republic, the Army, and the iconic Djamaâ El-Djazaïr (6) (the Grand Mosque of Algiers), of the beloved and beautiful Algeria, and of the three heroines—Djamila Boubacha, Djamila Bouazza, and Djamila Bouhired. (7)

It is the authenticity of the people, the earthly Eden adorned with plains, high plateaus, prairies, and majestic mountains. Above all, it is the land of deep-rooted identity, emancipated from colonial subjugation, where sovereignty stands guard over human dignity, liberty, and the right to live in safety and happiness in one’s homeland.

So, would it not be beautiful to say: Al-Zaeiri has arrived, a visitor in his beloved Algeria, aspiring to become El-Jazaeiri? And more than that—he has come in reverence and admiration for the man behind the greatest national anthem in the world (8) , the poet of “The Sacred Flame” and “The Iliad of Algeria,” the activist bard Moufdi Zakaria. (9)

Like a bee collecting nectar from one flower to another in its quest to make healing honey, I, too, have undertaken my own journey to discover the sweetness of Algeria through the composition of these reflections.

True, I have traveled through many countries and wandered in countless cities—not that I claim to be an explorer of the caliber of Ibn Battuta (10), but rather, a humble traveler contemplating the signs of the Eternal on earth, pausing in admiration before instances of human kindness, beauty, love, and sincere smiles.

This is, indeed, my first official mission. I intend to dedicate several years to the soil of a land that distinguishes itself by its majesty, beauty, and glorious history. Although I had previously spent six years in another Arab country, my presence in Algeria marks my very first experience on the African continent.

As an Iranian foreigner to this land, my mind was awash with questions and uncertainties. What awaits me and my small family? What would happen once we arrived in Algeria? How would people treat us? Would we be able to adapt quickly? What would become of my little daughter? Would she find happiness here?

My wife, even more anxious than I was, overwhelmed me with questions. Yet destiny, as always, had its own script. Just hours before our departure to Algeria, she received a WhatsApp message describing, with great enthusiasm, the warmth, generosity, and hospitality of the Algerian people. It was as though Providence had decided to grant us a sign—an auspicious beginning and a harbinger of joy for our journey ahead.

And so, we departed… to Algeria, at last!

Endnotes

1. Hamshahri (in Persian: همشهری) is a major Iranian daily newspaper founded in 1990. The name means “fellow citizen” or “co-dweller” in Persian. It is the largest Persian-language newspaper in the world.

2. Jeem (ج) is the fifth letter of the Arabic alphabet and holds the phonetic value of the “j” sound in English. In this context, it symbolizes the moral and symbolic bridge between the author’s identity and his host country, Algeria.

3. Zaeiri (الزائري) is the author’s surname. When the letter “Jeem” (ج) is added, it becomes Jazaeiri (الجزائري), meaning “Algerian” in Arabic. This clever linguistic play underpins the philosophical theme of identity and belonging that permeates the text.

4. Jazaeiri (الجزائري) is the Arabic term for “Algerian.” It signifies both national identity and spiritual rootedness. The author’s aspiration to become “El-Jazaeiri” symbolizes a moral and cultural affiliation with Algeria.

5. The Declaration of November 1, 1954, also known as the FLN Manifesto, marked the beginning of the Algerian War of Independence against French colonial rule. It was a foundational call to arms issued by the National Liberation Front (FLN), setting the tone for the eight-year struggle that would eventually lead to Algerian sovereignty.

6. Djamaâ El-Djazaïr, or the Grand Mosque of Algiers, is the largest mosque in Africa and the third largest in the world. Completed in 2019, it symbolizes modern Algerian identity, Islamic heritage, and national pride.

7. Djamila Boubacha, Djamila Bouazza, and Djamila Bouhired were heroic figures in the Algerian War of Independence. All three women were involved in the armed struggle against French colonial rule and became symbols of resistance, sacrifice, and the central role of women in the liberation movement.

8. The descriptive Arabic words used by the author—denoting beauty, bravery, generosity, etc.—all begin with the letter Jeem (ج). This poetic motif strengthens the symbolic quest for the “Jeem” and connects it linguistically to Algerian identity and virtue.

9. Moufdi Zakaria was the nationalist poet who authored the Algerian national anthem “Kassaman” (We Pledge). His poems, including “The Sacred Flame” and “The Iliad of Algeria,” are celebrated for encapsulating the spirit of resistance and patriotic fervor. Kassaman is widely recognized as one of the most powerful anthems in the world.

10. Ibn Battuta (Arabic: ابن بطوطة) was a 14th-century Maghrebi explorer and geographer. Known as “the Traveler of Islam,” he journeyed extensively across the Islamic world—from Mali to Sumatra, and from Kenya to Central Asia—documenting his experiences in one of the most important travel memoirs of medieval times.

📡🌍 | About Dzair Tube Media Group | 🌍📡
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📰 Dzair Tube is a trailblazer in Algerian digital journalism, delivering high-quality content in Arabic, French, and English. With more than 📈 500,000 daily clicks, it ranks among the most influential media platforms in the country.

🏆 Awarded the President of the Republic’s Prize for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category (🗓 October 22, 2022), Dzair Tube is widely recognized for its editorial excellence and integrity.

📱 Massive Digital Reach:
🔴 350,000+ YouTube subscribers
🔵 6 million+ followers across Facebook pages
📸 450,000+ Instagram followers

🎥 Operating from state-of-the-art studios, Dzair Tube broadcasts rich and diverse programming, including:
🗞 News | ⚽ Sports | 🎭 Entertainment | 🕌 Religion | 🎨 Culture

🗣️ Featuring interactive talk shows and exclusive interviews with prominent figures from politics, business, arts, and more, Dzair Tube serves as a key platform for public discourse and civic engagement.

📰 Its print sports daily, “Dzair Sport,” enjoys over 50,000 daily downloads via the official website—further cementing the platform’s multimedia leadership.

🎖️ Honored with the Media Leadership Award by the former Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, and celebrated at the Hilals of the Television awards, Dzair Tube continues to lead with innovation, influence, and impact.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🌐 Stay Connected:
🔗 Website: www.dzair-tube.dz
🔗 English: www.dzair-tube.dz/en
📲 Follow us on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━