Page 171 - Arabian Studies (I)

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The Pilgrimage to Mecca in Mamluk Times 155

al-Awwal, all the emirs, commanders and dignitaries would assemble
to pay homage to the sultan and to hear in his presence the recitation
of the maw lid (usually panegyrics commencing with the birth of the
Prophet (Ed.)). During the mawlid an attendant would serve the
sultan and his audience with sweet drinks. He would start by serving
the sultan, who on this particular occasion, would drink part of the
contents of his glass, then secretly instruct the attendant to hand the
remainder to whomsoever the sultan had chosen to occupy the office
of Amir al-Iiajj for that particular year. Thereupon the amir
appointed, having understood the sign, would immediately rise and
proceed to kiss the hand of the sultan. Those present would then
congratulate the amir so designated, and the ceremony would come
to its conclusion.5 3
Upon arrival with pilgrims outside the western limits of Mecca, the
leaders of both the Egyptian and Syrian caravans were usually
welcomed by the Sharif who, accompanied by his retinue, accorded
them a formal reception. As representative of the Mamluk sultan, the
Egyptian Amir al-Hajj presented the Sharif with a robe of honour,
which confirmed his status as viceroy of the sultan.54 At the
conclusion of the pilgrimage the Amir al-Hajj received a grant of
3,000 dinars from the Sharif of Mecca. This payment, which seems
to have been arbitrarily imposed by the sultans upon the SharTfs,
appears to have been instituted by the end of the eighth/fourteenth
century, and although it was abolished by official decree in
824/1421 and again in 844/1441,5 5 it continued in practice up to
the end of Mamluk times.5 6
However, the distinction between the Egyptian Amir al-Hajj and
the Syrian must be noted, above all, in the influence they exercised
during the ceremonies of the pilgrimage. In matters of prestige, such
as precedence during the ceremonies at Mount ‘Arafat, the Egyptian
Amir al-Hajj always took the leading place. Likewise, in the disputes
arising between the Egyptian Amir al-Hajj on the one hand, and the
Sharlfs of Mecca or the leaders of either the ‘Iraqi or the Yemeni
pilgrims on the other, the Syrian Amir al-Hajj was expected to act
either as a neutral party or support his colleague, the Egyptian Amir
al-Hajj, though in fact he is hardly ever found to have gone beyond
his primary function, the supervision of his caravan.
In the event of the sultan’s deciding to arrest or dismiss the
reigning Sharif and appoint another, the Egyptian Amir al-Hajj often
conveyed with him the usual decree of appointment for the nominee,
and was therefore entrusted with the execution of the sultan s
decision. This role, which was far removed from his normal duties,
entailed frequent clashes between the Egyptian Amir al-Hajj, his
soldiers and pilgrims on the one hand, and the Sharif of Mecca, his