As you say, Ibn Saud deserves credit for denouncing Hajj Amin.
But, it is important to note that the House of Saud had already been tightly intertwined with the family and theology of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab for two hundred years by Ibn Saud's time. The Wahhabi grip on the family has not ended.
Wahhabi thinking derives from the 13th-century Hanbali extremist Ibn Taymiyyah. It advocates brutal persecution of anyone deemed apostate, including anyone guilty of "bid'ah"-- even small changes to Islam as it was practiced in the 7th century. It's also big on destroying anything that might possibly connected with idolatry -- not only Buddhist figures, but also tombs and cemeteries of early Islamic heroes. Even music is deemed "haram" (forbidden), with public concerts, music in the schools, and radio banned.
I would add to my previous comment, I assume the British did not attempt to develop an all-Palestine administration due to the difficulty of organizing any governing system that would balance the interests of Palestinian Arabs and Palestinian Jews.
Fascinating insights into the catastrophes this fanatic got his people into . Why the British ( and others ) didn’t kill this ogre when they could have , is a mystery .
As you say, Ibn Saud deserves credit for denouncing Hajj Amin.
But, it is important to note that the House of Saud had already been tightly intertwined with the family and theology of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab for two hundred years by Ibn Saud's time. The Wahhabi grip on the family has not ended.
Wahhabi thinking derives from the 13th-century Hanbali extremist Ibn Taymiyyah. It advocates brutal persecution of anyone deemed apostate, including anyone guilty of "bid'ah"-- even small changes to Islam as it was practiced in the 7th century. It's also big on destroying anything that might possibly connected with idolatry -- not only Buddhist figures, but also tombs and cemeteries of early Islamic heroes. Even music is deemed "haram" (forbidden), with public concerts, music in the schools, and radio banned.
Interesting; thanks for outlining that.
Looking forward to your book on the Mufti!
I still don’t understand why Britain appointed him in the first place and why they didn’t finda replacement in1939.
I would add to my previous comment, I assume the British did not attempt to develop an all-Palestine administration due to the difficulty of organizing any governing system that would balance the interests of Palestinian Arabs and Palestinian Jews.
Invaluable piece; thanks for writing.
For his people, Hajj Amin al-Husseini was a curse.
Did T.E. Lawrence have a relationship with him or the Mufti?
He was in with the king of Iraq iirc
Fascinating insights into the catastrophes this fanatic got his people into . Why the British ( and others ) didn’t kill this ogre when they could have , is a mystery .