'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎58v] (121/470)

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11. Labour. —Such irrigation works as have been undertaken have been
constructed by means of tribal labour organised by the Political Officers. The
small demands of other departments in the area, such as I.W.T. and Resources,
have been similarly met without difficulty. It should, however, be fully realised
in the future that the provision of a large amount of labour for extensive irrigation
works is a matter of great difficulty and the potential source of unrest in this area.
Every man is a cultivator in its fullest sense, that is a settled cultivator, the great
variety of crop giving him a full day’s work most of the year. The date harvest,
shitwi cultivation, rice-growing, which is an intense labour, the rice harvest, and,
above all, the security and upkeep of his intricate irrigation sj^stem—all tend to
drive him hard. He has not yet seen the advantages of scientific irrigation, and
it is improbable that he will willingly dig on projects which in his heart of hearts
he distrusts.
12. Miscellaneous : (a) Pilgrimages .—The number of pilgrimages to Najaf
is large, and there is a tradition that for every true and faithful Muhammadan
any day throughout the whole year is a day for pilgrimage. The special days in
Najaf which attract thousands and thousands of pilgrims from all parts of Shi‘ah
world are five in number, as follows :—
(1) Td al Ghadir on the 18th of Zui-Hajah (September). It is said that on
that day the Prophet Muhammad, when returning from his last pilgrimage from
Mecca, publicly announced to his followers that his successor and Khalif after him
was his cousin and son-in-law, ‘Ali. The meaning of Ghadir is a pool, and the
Prophet on his way to Madinah presumably made this announcement at some famous
well.
(2) Maulud, the birthday of the Prophet on the 17th of Rabi-al-Awal (December).
This should be a pilgrimage day for Madinah, where Muhammad is buried; but as
Madinah is not within the reach, so Najaf is chosen instead, as ‘All is not only the
cousin and son-in-law, but also the successor of Muhammad.
(3) MaVuth on the 27th of Rajab (April). On this day it is stated that
Muhammad began to preach Muhammadism among the Quraish tribe. Same as
in No. 2.
(4) New Year’s Day. On 21st of March. It is the Persian New Year Day.
But there is a tradition that on this day ‘Ali was made successor of the Prophet
Muhammad.
(5) YY afat, on 21st of Ramadhan. On this day ‘Ali died from his wounds,
which he received on the forehead on 19th Ramadhan from ‘Abdul Rahman ibn
Muljim.
Both Ramadhan and Muharram, especially the latter, are observed with great
strictness in lYajaf and also in the Division, most work and business being at a
standstill and the bazaars closed. Arabain is also celebrated and all other Wafats.
Energetic administration is difficult at such times.
(b) The Oudh Bequest. Two distributions of this charity were made in Najaf
during 1918, in March and November, the sums paid out being Rs. 49,892/2/- and
Rs. 62,264/4/- respectively. Mr. Thaddeus and his staff came down specially on
each occasion, and he has dealt with the subject fullv in his reports.
The future method of distribution is, however, deserving of serious consideration.
The six-monthly arrangement is unsatisfactory, and compares very unfavourably
with the system of administration of the many other large charities in Najaf
Agam now thal Government is established the need for Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. members ceases,
ilujtahid distributors have their uses, but the filling up of any vacant posts should
not be undertaken without mature consideration: There are actually only two
real Mujtahids among the Mujtahid distributors. It is highly improbable that
a real Mujtahid will accept such a posk-it is regarded in the common mind as an
open kind of Government pay and an influential Mujtahid will stand to lose more
than he gams. But such posts can very usefully be bestowed among such of the
Mutadaym as are deserving, and who will not lose much by the acceptance of such
a post.
In the future a three-monthly distribution, through the Political Officer, who
is m an excellent position to know deserving cases, is called for.
(c) Najaf Press.—XJnAev orders of the Civil Commissioner early in the next
year an Arabic press will be established at Najaf. This will be solely for the
printing of religious books written in Najaf, and approved by the ‘Ulama of Najaf.