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>,• fronds too have also passed away after him. Man should endeavour and
try to do his best for the general welfare and interest.
Peonle have been talking too much about the Hejaz and its people. They
criticize them only because they believe in God Almighty, the ever Praiseworthy.
The Heiaz was once under the Turks and then under the Sherifs before us, and
lliese men are the sons of the past ones. They are aware of the past situation
von are also aware of the bloodshed then done, the sms committed and the
neace violated When God made me its ruler, I did what I could, being a Slave
of God, and have no other rule or way to follow except the true religion, and this
Holy Book between my hands, and the Islamic law.
If what people say is something against religion, the truth is what is men
tioned in the Holy Book. The one who conceals the truth is cursed and every
thing contradictory to religion should be left out and discarded. If anyone has
anything to say as emanating from the wise ancestors . or the conscious
(/recognised) Caliphs or the four Imams, he may mention it to us for verifica
tion • and if anyone has advice to draw our attention from the ‘ Book ’ or the
Traditions Ave are prepared at all times to listen to him, Avhether he may be a
big one or’ a small, important or unimportant. Anyone wishing us to act con-
trarv to these we will never attend to. God commanded us to follow the
< Shar’fa ’ (law) of Islam and to keep to it. He who feels annoyed at us
When we came to rule over the Hejaz, people were of different characters ;
some were malevolent, some were vindictive, some were friends and others
sincere. Of our Moslem brethren we accepted any advice, on condition that it
is right. There are two matters which we cannot consent to even if all the people
of the world were to fight against us until none of us remained, namely, the
slightest deviation from the religion of God ; for it is useless to obey the creature
and to disobev the creator ; so we will never deviate from the Book and the
Traditions. The second thing is that it is impossible for us to allow any action
that may affect the independence or violate the honour of our country, no matter
who may speak and what he may say, for facts are known and established, and
this is our duty so far as religion and the world are concerned.
Some people frequently say ‘ Why does Ibn Sa’ud not arrange for associa
tions and committees to promulgate propaganda against the English, Russian or
Italian people and others, and defend the Moslems ? ’ I wish to bring to light
such suspicion and to explain its reality.
I am not one of the men who make statements without reasoning matters
out. 1 am a practical man and, if I say something, I act accordingly. It is dis
graceful to my religion and honour to say something which I do not actually do.
I am not accustomed to do so and I should never like to become accustomed.
WTiat do people want from me ? Do they want me to speak and say something ;
then 1 get no reply and I keep still. What is the use of the words which are not
followed by deeds ? It is a habit I am not accustomed to, neither are my people.
I do not tell the editor of the ‘ Umm-al-Qura ’ or anyone else to speak against
so-and-so, but I command silence until the time of action has come and, if we
begin to take action, we speak.
We have been keeping still because we were in doubt of the state of people,
and I mean by people most of those who pretend to be Moslems. Such people
are those whose evils I apprehend and whom I watch before all others.
Renounce blame, as the sin is not one, and leave everything you meet m
your way to the circumstances.
‘ If a close friend of your party act dishonestly with you, how wonderful
would it be if those who have no relation with you were to act peace
fully ’ (couplet).
If Moslems speak against Christians, they speak politely and Avith good
manners, but if they speak against Moslems, they accuse wrongfully as if the}
were their enemies.
They say, Ibn Sa’ud said so and so and did such and such, but it is all
wrong and forgery. Why all this !
There are some men who acted vindictively against us, looking with an evil
eye at what God granted us. So the devil tempted them to do many evil deecK
I did not find one of the Moslems defending me, even in one single case. Moslems
presented the Hayameyn charities and Wakfs and began to prevent people