Being Modern: A Case Study of Muh̖ammad Abd-al-֤Husayn’s Writings Between 1917-1947 Among the intellectuals of Hashemite Iraq who contributed to Arab press, Muh̖ammad Abd-al-֤Husayn (1898-1952) stands out as a journalist, an author, a teacher, and a historian. His writings in newspapers such as al-Istiqlal, al-shaab, al-lisan, and Dar asslam, and books such as alma’arif fi aliraq alaa A’ahd alihtilal (1922), Mihnat Al-Arab (1935), and others have revealed not just maturity in political modernity but commitment to social change through print media. Though raised and educated in a traditional environment, he like the generation of Iraqi intelligentsia, have been shaped in a multilingual culture. His “Efendification” throughout his travels to Iranian cities during WWI, and European travels just before WWII had prepared him to observe missionary schools and Western institutes and identify ills in the Mandate education system. Furthermore, his interactions and his readings of different cultures sharpened his awareness of social transnational issues and modern political discourse. Between 1917 (first known published articles) and 1947 his lasts’, Abd-al-֤Husayn, focused on education and reforms, citing history as an important factor in nationhood, and publicized the public debate on political and social issues. However, a distinction between modernity and Westernization, between traditions and modernity, and between democracy and authority surfaced often in his writings. He promoted European modern thoughts while rejecting colonialism. He preached on ethical issues, citing European thinkers. He documented 1920’s revolution and King’s Faysal’s reign, aiming to conceptualize an Iraqi identity. He battled the colonial British treaties through publicized discourses, while supporting a monarchy. Scrutinizing the writings of Muh̖ammad Abd-al-֤Husayn, the research answers questions such as: What it means to become a modern Shia intellect in an emerging Hashemite Iraq? Who influenced or shaped Muh̖ammad Abd-al-֤Husayn’s writing and assessments to social issues? How did his writings permeate his audience? How intellects like him grappled with national identity issues? And how education and writing history was used to shape the Iraqi identity? This paper highlights Muh̖ammad Abd-al-֤Husayn’s published and unpublished work such as the novella Muthakarāt Jundy Basil (1926), articles in magazines, personal notes (1921-1922), and a collection of books. The research consults the works of Keith David Watenpaugh, Michael Eppel, Hoda Yousef, and Orit Bashkin on Arab modernity and Iraqi middle class. The research examines the work of Peter Wein, Phebe Marr, and Roger Owen on colonial and post-colonial Iraq.