"الشخصيات. العراق (باستثناء بغداد والكاظمين)، ١٩١٩" [و‎‎٧‎٧] (٣١٨/١٥٨)

MAHDI, HAJI.
Nephew of Haji Mukhif of Dagharah. Cultivates Miri land downstream of the Tapu
-Estates in partnership with Haji Shallal. Very garrulous and not to be trusted.
MAHDI, SAIYID.
A Government contractor at Samarra and was for a term a servant of the Manzil. In
the time of the Turks he was a well known bad lot. Integrity doubtful.
MAHDI AL SHAIKH ASADULLAH, SHAIKH.
Of Najaf. Oudh Bequest Mujtahid distributor. A respectable man but of no influence
At heart an admirer and supporter of the British Government, but very weak and liable to
go with the majority.
MAHDI AYATULLAH ZADAH KHURASANI, MIRZA.
Son of Ayatullah Akhund Mulla Kadhim Khurasani, the greatest Mujtahid of his time
and famous as the leader of the Constitutionalist party in Persia. Akhund was a remark
able man, and a large amount of the success of the Constitutionalist party was' due to his
championship. His influence as a Mujtahid, however, decreased in proportion as his
interference in politics increased, and it was on the ruins of his power that Saiyid Muhammad
Kadhim rose. In dealing with Saiyid Muhammad Kadhim or with Mirza Mahdi, it is
well to remember that religious influence is incompatible with political activity. Mirza
Mahdi himself is well known in Persia. He is not particularly clever, but thoroughly
untrustworthy and lives in intrigue. His relations with the shaikhs of Najaf were by no
means such as to endear him to the lovers of order and justice. All communications
between the Persian Capital and 'Iraq are made through him. He is not an 'alim. His
brother, Agha Najafi, is the greatest Mujtahid in the Khurasan. His younger brother,
Mirza Ahmad of Najaf, is an ‘alim.
MAHDI IBN HAJI HASAN, AL MAlIYAH.
Of ‘Amarah. A non-tribal farmer. Farms both under Muhammad ibn ‘Araibi and
‘Usman. A good farmer and treats his fallahs well. A very smart business man, and does
well in spite of the enmity of the Shaikhs which his success and rather sharp tongue en
genders. Mahdi is rather inclined to think that the British will interfere to a greater extent
than they are prepared to do in the internal affairs of tribal Shaikhs.
Mahdi is deserving of the greatest praise. He is the sort of sarkal we should like if
there were no shaikhs, which is the highest praise he could be given. Generous to his
fallahs and loyal without reserve to us. One of the best Arabs in the ‘Amarah division.
MAHDI HAJI HUSAIN.
Badrah district. Rich mallak of Jassan, popular and generous.
MAHDI IBN SAIYID JAWWAD AL SAFI, SAIYID.
Of Karbala. Aged 25. The Safi family have been in Karbala for over 80 years, and
are among the leading families of ashraf of the town. Landowners.
MAHDI KASHMIRI, SHAIKH.
Of Najaf, Oudh Bequest Mujtahid distributor and a British subject. His life was in
d'anger prior to the fall of Baghdad. Pro-British but of no influence whatever. His
brother Ttimad al Islam, in Tehran, is influential.
MAHDI IBN MUHAMMAD.
Shaikh of the Huraith tribe in Dahalah, Mandali district. An old man who gives no
trouble.
MAHDI AL NAHAR AL SHABBAB, HAJI.
Of Shinaflyah, comes from the Albu Din of that town. A follower of 'Abbas abu
Dharb, q.v. Annual income of about Rs. 7,000 derived from agriculture and trade.
MAHDI IBN MULLA SATD.
One of the notables of Qarnabit, Ba'qubah division, but has not much influence.
MAHDI AL HAJI SALIH, AGHA.
Former Rais al Baladiyah of Diwaniyah. A pleasant person, but was too lethargic to
be useful ; succeeded by Salman al Jabbar.
(1705) k 2