Rida and Al-Kawakibi discussed ideas of Pan-Arabism as well as Quranic interpretations. Al-Kawakibi believed that Arabs should be representatives of Islam, not the Ottomans.
Rida and Al-Kawakibi deliberated on the notion of a unified Arab state, in addition to their discussions about Quranic exegesis. Al-Kawakibi believed that Arabs should serve as the standard-bearers of Islam, rather than the Ottoman Empire.