File 3300/1916 Pt 1 'Aden News Letters:- (June 1916-Dec. 1916)' [‎403v] (186/348)

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We offered a reward of Rs. 400 to whomsoever will arrest him. Subsequently a
messenger from Saeed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. has come bearing letters to Hadramaut and Nisab
(the capital of the Upper Aulaki Sultan). We secured him, but found his condition
was not worthy of detention or kept as captive. He was a poor man.
We herewith forward the letters found, through Husen bin Ali Ar-Ramah.
We did not peruse them, but you may please keep them.
We had to spend Rs. 400 on account of the men kept on the look-out and for
those who brought us the letters. This was because you have urged us in your
letter. Please remit to us the reward you offered us through Husen bin Ali
Ar-Ramah. We shall send you any communication we might find and are prepared
to perform any service you may require. Please let us know whenever you want
anything of us and we shall obey without carelessness. Please God.
Dated the 16th Shaban 1334—the 7th June 1916.
From— Brigadier-General Ali Said, Commanding the Islamic-Ottoman Armies
in Lahej,
To —Saiyid Abdurrahman bin Obiedallah as Saqqaf.
After Compliments ,—
On an auspicious occasion we had the honour to receive your letter which
was soothing and pleasant and which filled the ears and the organ of hearing (with
pleasure). We are pleased with its receipt and we were glad on its arrival. We
thank God, the Exalted, for your health. Thanks for your giving full particulars.
You have discharged your essential duty by giving admonitions and instructions
to the people of Hadramaut although, as you state, that some of them do not listen
to the call of God. That is a sign of ignorance. Continue to advise them stre-
nously and acquaint them with the bad result, because they are ignorant people.
If it were not due to the influence of ignorance they would not have -recognised
the sway of a foreigner. We wonder at the people of Hadramaut who submit to
the foreigner without realising what his ulterior object is. - If their submission is
due to the fact that they are eager to receive financial mundane matters and such
worldly dross which is liable to waste away then that which they receive from the
foreigners is a despicable thing for they do not give away their property but for
some objectknowable to those who are conversant with the intrigues of the foreign
ers. By extravagantly giving away their property their ulterior object is the
extortion of property. Let this be set aside and direct your attention towards that
v hich they have been doing to the Moslems who, by means of their intrigues, have
become their prey and fallen in their traps. They have been destroying the
mosques, despising the learned people and closing the Muhammadan schools. You
ha\e been seeing them granting absolute freedom to women for the committal
of abominable deeds, etc., which the pen hesitates to mention. Although they
seemingly ignore it yet the people of Hadramaut have known that the right is with
us and their hands and ours are Islamic hands. We do not want to be elated with
insolence on the earth nor to commit violence. Neither we wish to be proud or
obstinate. This is our path of duty. Whatever you may think it advisable to
P u 1S ^ m T 0l l r Otters you may do so and do not pay heed to those who are in
a state ot confusion or mental doubt and whose cupidity has thrown away in every
F i ^ our victorious soldiers will move towards the blast for the purpose
otpumshmg every obstinate or a helper of the English. God willing this will take
e ec a er t le Ramadan Id festival is over, dhere is no doubt that injustice will
e wipe out from those directions and the Muhammadan Shari’a will be enforced
so tnat it may take its [observed course. At that stage our hearts will be tied
toge.ner along with those of the believers and our weapons will be one and the same
against those who are wicked people.
Couplet.
He uho will approach us out of his own accord will be held by us in esteem.
But he who dechne must not blame our actions.
And \ve acquaint you that the military force will arrive from the sacred city of
c erca Y tlm ] P er ta ( i of at least months. Part of it has already arrived on
e JOr er ^ emen and shortly its final arrival will be complete in Lahej for the