Fazl-e-Umar — Page 362
Fazle Umar 362 Arabs, the British government definitely gave this type of help to some eminent Arabs. For instance, Ibn Saud received £60,000 and similarly Sharif Hussein also received some money. I wrote to Lord Chelmsford that this was the help given by his government and there is no doubt that the Muslims cannot bear British influence over the Arabs under any circumstances. He replied to my letter that this is true but what was the point of proclaiming this news openly thereby leading to disorder. He ensured me that it was not the intention of the British government to bring the Arabs under their sphere of influence. “Hence we have always taken a keen interest in the affairs of the Arabs. When the Turks ruled over the Arabs, we sided with the Turks. When Sharif Hussein became the ruler, many people showed their strong opposition but we said this is not the time to create disorder. Whoever Allah has chosen as the ruler we ought to accept his rule so that disorder is not created again and again in Arab lands. After this the people of Najd occupied the seat of power. But despite the fact that many people raised voices complaining that they had desecrated the holy shrines and defamed many customs…. We supported Sultan Ibn Saud solely because it is not favourable to have persistent wars in Mecca even though our followers suffered at their hands. The Ahmadis went there for the Pilgrimage and they were beaten and abused. However, we did not raise our voices in protest for our rights because we do not want disorder in these lands. ” (Farooq, 7 Dec 1935). Even before this episode, in 1925, he made his views clear about the mistreatment of the people of Syria at the hands of the British: “I cannot refrain from making it plain that the people of Damascus who were already helpless and powerless have been badly abused and persecuted. They are so helpless and powerless that far from being their own masters they are totally dependent on others. In my opinion, the Syrians have a right to freedom.