"ملف 61/11 V (D 95) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [ظ‎‎١‎٩‎٢] (٥٣٠/٤٠١)

\
20
in Jedda. Was said also to be desirous of British naturalisation at that time.
Described as having been a Wahhabi by conviction, even before the Sa'udi
invasion. Deported to 'Aqaba during King 'Ali's short reign. Figured as a
Hejazi delegate at the Moslem Congress in Mecca in June 1926. Was given
the privilege of putting Ibn Sa'ud up during the years following the fall of
Jedda, but has not done so since the King acquired the " Green Palace." Has
not held office, as was expected, under the Sa'udi regime, perhaps owing to doubt
as to his trustworthiness. Kather a dark horse nowadays and may both dislike
;and be disliked by the regime, but keeps quiet. Said to be a good Arabic scholar
•and possesses what passes in Jedda for a remarkable library. An aldermanic
figure.
r
51. Ibrahim ihn Mu'ammar.
Head of the Amir Sa'ud's diwan, or secretariat, at Riyadh. Was formerly
a well-known propagandist and press correspondent for Arabic papers and seems i 11 ® 11
to have spent some years in Egypt and India. Probably identical with the f||i s ]
" Muammar Bey " mentioned in the Jedda report for February 1926 as having ^
been Nejdi representative in Egypt and having just been appointed "head of I j
the Foreign Political Intelligence Department and chief adviser to the King." y
Would appear to have become head of the King's diwan soon after, probably 5
in July 1926. Little known in European circles, but probably important in
Ibn Sa'ud's entourage. Was transferred in September 1932 to the diwan of
the Amir Sa'ud. This transfer, if effective, need not be regarded as relegation
to an inferior post, as it may quite well have been part of a plan to equip the
Amir for his probable role of successor to the throne. (See 1 (2).) Ibrahim ibn
Mu'ammar was described by the Indian vice-consul in 1928 as a good-hearted and
pro-British man. Selected in May 1933 for post of Charge d'Affaires at Bagdad
in place of Rusheyd Pasha {q.v.).
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52. 'Id Rawwdf. | ji |Sw
Assistant Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, formerly Sa'udi
consul in Damascus. Born about 1898. One of a Sherari family which migrated
from Jauf to Damascus in 1910. Family not highly considered in Damascus,
but 'Id's father maintained close connexion with Ibn Sa'ud and was helpful to
him in negotiations with the Turks. He, the father, made a fortune in camel-
dealing and left wealth to his two sons. 'Id was also a camel merchant before W
being appointed to his Damascus post in 1929 in succession to his brother Yasin. | ™
Had then only had primary education, but was stated last year to be busily J™
improving on it. Was considered by His Majesty's present consul in Damascus *
rather stupid, though pleasant and useful. Well informed on local currents of
thought and pushes in Syrian nationalist circles, without apparently carrying
much weight, the idea of an Arab Empire with Ibn Sa'ud as a suitable ruler
for it. The brother Yasin Rawwaf, whom he succeeded, is said to have become pi®
Governor of Medina m 1929-30. He was appointed second assistant to the ^
Viceroy of the Hejaz in September 1930, but has faded out of Sa'udi official
life and now lives at Damascus.
P.S.—-'Id Eawwaf was superseded as consul at Damascus by Rusheyd Pasha
{q.v.) in May 1933 and appointed an Assistant Under-Secretary of State for :
Foreign Affairs.
53. Idrisi Family. ^
Founded by Ahmed al Idrisi, a native of Fez, who became a notable religious
teacher at Mecca and created a Tariqa, or school of religious doctrine. Moved
on to Sabya, in 'Asir, where he acquired land and died in the odour of sanctity .
about 1837 and where his tomb is still venerated. The Idrisis supplanted the j.'^
Sherifian family, which had ruled at Abu 'Arish in the time of his son Muhammad Poi
and Muhammad's son 'Ali. The branch of the family most identified with | ^
'Asir is descended from these two, as appears from the following table, which is ^
not necessarily complete or accurate as regards order of birth :—