Skip to item: of 434
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎8v] (16/434)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 file (214 folios). It was created in 31 Aug 1933-20 Mar 1939. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

12
Enclosure 3 to Serial No.
(13).
Summary of the Speech delivered by His Majesty King 'Abdul Aziz ibn Sa’ud at the
banquet given on the 31st March 1933 at the Royal Palace at Mecca.
As published in the Mecca No. 434 of the 11th Dhud Hijja 1351
(April 6, 1933).
The Arab people, His Majesty said, enjoy one great blessing from God in the
teachings of the Prophet, which have descended on them like the fertilizing rain
on the earth and have been the means by which they have spread their influence
over vast territories. All Muslims were indebted to that great Teacher for the
good that they had ; and if they would but adhere to the commands of God, as
given in the Quran and the sacred writings, they would be successful and united,
but if they set aside these commands they would become separated and degraded.
And this, the King went on, is what is happening now; and he drew a picture
of the sad condition of the Muslim world in general and the Arab people in particular
at the present time. Some people imagine, he said, that the only remedy for this
state is for Muslims to adopt European civilisation ; but this was not true, for the
teachings of the Quran guarantee prosperity, unity and happiness to those who
follow them, because they make no differentiation between King and commoner,
save in respect of piety alone.
Nor were foreigners alone to blame for all the calamities which had overtaken
Islam, for amongst Muslims themselves they found some who were misguided and
who were willing to aid them to work against Islam.
“ I am the Herald of Islam ”, the King concluded. He was an Arab Muslim who
served Islam and who worked for the spread of Islam and for Muslim unity ; and
he was prepared to sacrifice himself and his family in the defence of Islam. He
did not aim to be a chief of earth ; of greatest importance to him was to make
God’s word supreme, and in pursuit of this he cared for no difficulties. Many
had opposed him since he first put forward this aim but had been vanquished.
What did they want of him ? His actions were clear ; he followed the Way.
It had been said that he claimed to be Khalif over all Islam. He made no such
claim. A Khalif must enforce the commands of the Islamic religion over the whole
world of Islam, and this was possible in the time of the Khalifat ; but was there a
man who could so do at the present time ? It was clearly impossible and all he
himself desired was unity and co-operation among Muslims.
Behind him were'more than 400,000 warriors ; if he wept they wept; if he re
joiced they rejoiced and if he ecommanded they obeyed his commands. These
were the Troops of Unity, the brethren of all who obeyed God, ready to fight for
God and expecting nothing from it except to satisfy God ; and this was the force
destined to confirm the Religious Law and Islam throughout the territories over
which he ruled.
(14)
Endorsement by the Foreign and Political Department, No. F. 47-N/33,
DATED THE 27TH MAY 1933.
A copy of the ubdermentioned paper is forwarded to the Hon’ble the Poli
tical Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire, for information:—
Arabia Series of 1933 [Serial Nos. (1) to (12)].
(15)
Endorsement by the Foreign and and Political Department, No. F. 47-N/33,
DATED THE 27TH MAY 1933.
A copy of the undermentioned paper is forwarded to the (1) Department of
Education, Health and Lands and (2) Army Department (G. S. Branch), for infor
mation :—
Arabia Series of 1933 [Serial Nos. (1) to (12)].

About this item

Content

The file contains the Foreign Office confidential prints of the Arabia Series for the years 1933 to 1938. It includes correspondence, memoranda, and extracts from newspapers. The correspondence is principally between the British Legation in Jedda and the Foreign Office. Other correspondents include British diplomatic, political, and military offices, foreign diplomats, heads of state, tribal leaders, corporations, and individuals in the Middle East region.

Each annual series is composed of several numbered serials that are often connected to a particular subject. The file covers many subjects related to the affairs of Saudi Arabia.

Included in the file are the following:

  • a memorandum on Arab Unity produced by the Foreign Office dated 12 June 1933 (author unknown), folios 11-13;
  • a memorandum on petroleum in Arabia produced by the Petroleum Department dated 5 August 1933 (author unknown), folios 23-26;
  • a record of interviews with Ibn Sa‘ūd, King of Saudi Arabia, conducted by Reader Bullard and George William Rendel between 20 and 22 March 1937;
  • a memorandum on Yemen by Captain B W Seager, the Frontier Officer, dated 20 July 1937;
  • several records of proceedings of ships on patrol in the Red Sea, including that of HMS Penzance , Hastings , Colombo , Bideford , and Londonderry .

Folios 213-15 are internal office notes.

Extent and format
1 file (214 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged chronologically.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 217; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 2-215; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [‎8v] (16/434), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/310, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025548486.0x000011> [accessed 19 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100025548486.0x000011">'File 8/15 Arab Series - 1933-1939' [&lrm;8v] (16/434)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100025548486.0x000011">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000115/IOR_R_15_2_310_0016.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000115/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image