Page 109 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter III A- 87
of tlic now route on account of its insecurity. This order was withdrawn on a
secret, warning from the Porto. The Mivjtnhid afterwards proceeded to Con­
stantinople, was well received by the Sultan aud returned with strong Pan-
Islamic tendencies.
(ii) Tho Nakib of Basrah, tlio late Sycd Mahomed Said.
20G. 'With his letter No. GG2, dated 24th Novombor 1897, Colonel Mocklcr
forwarded to tlio Govornmcut of India tho following account of the lato Nakib
of Basrah:—
Memorandum regarding the late Syed Mahomed Said, Nakib-cl-Ashraf oj Basrah.
Tho Into Syod Mahomed Said (who died in August 189G) belonged to the well-known
family of Itafai and v.as appointed in 1874 as Nakib of Basrah (Secretary to tlw Mosque
of Sayid Ahmed Rafai) after tho death of his brother Sayid Abdul Rahman Effendi, whoso
co-adjutor ho had been.
lie was appointed in 188G Vice-President of the Royal Property Administration on a
monthly salary of 40 Liras, but while accepting the appointment he declined to receive any
salary, faying that tho honour of serving his master the Sultan was a sufficient reward.
In 1890 owing to hia advanced age he nominated with the sanction of the Sublime Porto
his eldest s »n Syed Rcjcb to act ns Nakib. Mo bad in 1890 risen by grades to the rank of
" Istaraboul Payaei ” aud two decorations, viz., the “ Osmanich ” and 1st class " Mcdjidich,"
had also been conferred on him, tho former in recognition of the services which he had rendered
to the Turkish Government in inducing Sheikh Jasim Thani of Katar to submit to their
authority.
The late Nakib was not a man of high moral principle—a fact which Hamdi Pasha, the
present Wali, is said to have discovered shortly after his arrival, with the result that his
relations with Syed Mahomed Said were the reverse of friendly.
His 6 in Syed Rejeb Effendi was on his death appointed Nakib.
The Nakib's family is said to receive support in Constantinople from Abdul Huda, one
of the “ Palace parly.”
(iii) Nakibs of Baghdad.
207. In 1882 the Ambassador at Constantinople wrote tho following in­
teresting letter about tho Seyvid Sulomau
Secret, November 1890, Nos. G-14.
Effendi, Nakib of Baghdad :—
No. 803, dated Therapia, tho 30th August 1880.
Prom—TTxs ExcnunNCT Gftonon J. Goscnnv, H M.’s Ambassador, Constantinople,
To—Earn. Guakvillb, K.G., Sccrotary of Stato for Foreign Affairs.
I have the honour to forward herewith to Your Lordship a memorandum, in which it is
stated that the Sultan is about to confer a high civil dignity on Scid Sclman Effendi, Nakib-
ul-IicbrafF of Baghdad, similar to that which llis Imperial Majesty conferred on Sheikh Fadhl
as reported in my despatch No. 2Gt), Confidential, of tho 21sl instant, and that Scid Suliman
Effendi is about to return to Baghdad, beariug with him tho instructions of His Imperial
Majesty.
I am told that tho powor and influence of Seid Suleman Effendi extend far beyond the
Province of Baghdad, even as far as India, and that ho owes this partly to his position as
Nakib-ul-Echraff, or chief of the descendants of the Prophet, in the Province of Baghdad, but
chiefly to the fact that he is himself a descendant of Abdul Kadar Keylani, a highly-cstocmed
Mussulman saint.
Great importance seems to bo attached in the memorandum to the influoncc that this
pers.-nage is alleged to possess in the Mussulman world, and, consequently, over the Mussulman
population of India. However this may bo, the statement is at any rate interesting, as
giving a fresh indication of the line of conduct that the Sultan seems inclined to pursuo with
regard to his own position ns Caliph, from which it would appear that His Imperial Majesty
hopes, by increasing the importauco of the Caliphate, to increase thereby his owu power and
authority over Mussulmans.
I have sent a copy of this memorandum to Her Majesty's Consul-General at Baghdad, and
have instructed him to give me any information that ho may obtain as to the proceedings of
Seid Selmau Effendi on his return to Baghdad.