'File 11/44 Leading Personalities in Iraq, Iran & Saudi Arabia' [‎44v] (88/96)

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(6) Abdur Rahman as-Sidayri, formerly Governor
of Dhofor, appointed Governor of Jedda in April of
1945. A handsome, cruel-looking man. Not par
ticularly bright, but wisely relies on Aly Taha (q.v.)
for advice in his post. Fond of motoring and
hunting. Probably born about 1910.
51. Shaibi Family.
Important in Mecca as the Keepership of the Key
of the Ka’aba is hereditary in the family. The
prerogative is very lucrative because all persons
entering the Ka’aba are supposed to make a present
to the Keeper according to their means. The family
are admittedly descendants of the Quraysh tribe,
but not of the Prophet. It is claimed that the
pedigree is continuous from pre-Islamic times and
that the right to keep the key also dates from that
early period. According to one story, there was a blot
on the escutcheon in the 19th century, when the
male descent failed and the succession passed
through a lady of the family who married a slave.
The late Keeper’s physical appearance suggested
that this might be true, but there is no proof of it.
Another branch of the family, claiming similar
descent, formerly lived in Tunis, but now resides in
Mecca. The present Keeper of the Key is—
(1) Muhammad ash-Sha’ibi, an elderly man,
probably the nephew of the late Keeper, who died
in January 1934 and whom this relative was
appointed to succeed.
(2) Abdullah ash-Sha'ibi, next in succession as
Keeper of Key. Is member of the Legislative
Assembly and has held numerous other important
posts of an honorary nature. Highly respected.
52. Sherifian Family.
Also called Hashimites by virtue of descent from
the great-grandfather of the Prophet, but this name
seems to be more particularly affected by the family
of King Huseyn. There have been in the past and
are in the present numerous families claiming this
descent through one or other of the sons of ’AH, the
fourth Caliph and son-in-law of the Prophet. There
are in Arabia itself many individuals bearing the
title of Sherif, which is held to imply descent from
Hasan, the elder son of ’Ali, and the whole clan is
known collectively as Ashraf. The strains most con
spicuous in the Hejaz trace this descent through an
intermediate common ancestor Hasan ibn Abu
Numey, who was Grand Sherif of Mecca in the latter
part of the 16th century. Three groups of his
descendants are accounted specially important,
viz.: —
The Dhawl Zeyd,
The Abadila, a particular branch of whom are
the Dhawi ’Aun, and
The Dhawi Barakat.
All Grand Sherifs of Mecca in the 17th century
were drawn from the rival Dhawi Zeyd and Dhawi
’Aun. The last Grand Sherif belonging to the former
was ’Abdul-Mutallib, who held the post three times
at long intervals. The majority belonged to the
Dhawi ’Aun, of whom came the late King Huseyn
and his sons.
Although the most important members of the
Sherifian family now live outside Sa’udi Arabia, their
connexion with the Hejaz is so close as to justify
this general notice. The following list, very incom
plete, shows those who are worthy of notice : —
(A) Dhawi Zeyd.
(1) ’Alt Haydar. —Formerly resided in Constan
tinople. Worked in with the Young Turks and was
at one time Minister of Auqaf. Appointed Grand
Sherif to supersede King Huseyn in or about 1917,
but was naturally unable to assume the post
effectively. Sought early in 1926 for British support
in obtaining post of Regent or Governor of Hejaz
under Ibn Sa’ud. Moved later that year to Beirut,
where he died in 1934. Had several sons, the eldest
of whom, Abdul-Majid, is married to a Turkish
princess (w'ho is not, however, as stated in a previous
Personalities Report, a daughter of the ex-Caliph
’Abdul Majid), and showed signs of political ambition
after the Armistice. He is now Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
Minister in London. One of AH Haydar’s wives
and the mother of two of his younger daughters is
of British birth. Yet another son studied at
St. Andrew’s and had the distinction of acting as
best man at the marriage of a Scotch divine at
St. Giles’s Cathedral. Civilised people, important
to keep in mind, though of no obvious political
importance at present.
(2) Ja’afar Haidar, brother of the above. Also
lived in Constantinople. If alive, may be identical
with the elderly Sherif ’AH Ja’far who lived at Lahej
in 1932 and was described as a descendant of ’Abdul-
Mutallib.
(3) Sharaf 'Adnan Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. al Ghdlib as-Zeyd .—
Formerly frequented both Constantinople and the
Hejaz. Spoken of in 1925 as a possible ruler of the
Hejaz, if Ibn Sa’ud won the war. Elected president
of the Moslem Congress at Mecca in June 1926, and
was later the vehicle of Ibn Sa’ud’s refusal to hold
another owing to attitude of the AH brothers.
Represented Ibn Sa’ud in 1927 at conference at
Jizan to deal with the Red Sea Petroleum Compands
concession in the Farsan Islands. Described in 1^^
as “ grizzled and doddering.” Still resides in Mecca,
but apparently a back number.
(4) Sharaf Ridha, usually called Sherif Sharaf tout
court. —Appointed Acting Minister of Finance under
Ibn Sa’ud in January 1926. Resides in Mecca and
is now a member of the Legislative Council. In 1936
appointed to be a member of the King’s suite.
Appears to spend all his time at Mecca and Taif.
A courteous, dignified man, rather silent and with
something of a brooding air.
(5) Khdlid. —A nephew of the ’AH Ja’far
mentioned at (2). Implicated in the conspiracy
against Ibn Sa’ud in 1932 and was active in and
around Aden. Perhaps the same as Sherif Khalid
Sadiq Adnan.
(B) Dhawi ’Aun.
(6) ’AU ibn ’Abdullah.—Formerly Grand Sherif.
Dismissed by the Turks in 1907. Resides in Egypt.
Described in June 1932 as an active supporter of the
Hizb-al-Ahrar al Hijazi.
(7) ’AU ibn Huseyn. —Ex-King of the Heji^P^^
Succeeded King Huseyn on his abdication in October
1924, but was compelled to abandon untenable
position in Jedda in December 1925. Resided mostly
in Bagdad, where he died on the 13th February, 1935.
(8) Faysal ibn Huseyn. —King of Iraq. Died in
1934 and was succeeded by his son Ghazi, who died
in 1939 leaving an infant son Faysal.
(9) ’Abdullah ibn Huseyn. —Amir of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan .
(10) Zeyd ibn Huseyn. —Had a Turkish mother,
a granddaughter of the well-known Grand Vizier
Reshid Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and has property interests quite
distinct from those of his brothers. Born in
Constantinople in 1900—formerly Iraqi Minister at
Ankara. Appointed Iraqi Minister at Berlin in
September 1935. Now resides in Turkey occasionally
visiting his nephew’ the Amir ’Abdul Hah, Regent of
Iraq.
All these, except perhaps (10), have issue. So had
King Huseyn’s brother Nasir, now’ deceased, whpdeft
six sons and four daughters.
(10a) ’Abdul Hamid Al’Aun. —Understood to be
a grandson of (6). Chiefly noteworthy as being the
principal figure in the Sherifian plot against Ibn Sa’ud
in 1940. Arrested and sentenced to death, he was
pardoned (Amir ’Abdullah of Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan interceded
for him). After a period of detention at Riyadh he
w’as allowed to leave the country with the tw T o
younger brothers and some other relatives who w’ere
also implicated. Now believed to be in Egypt.