THE ALL-WORLD MOSLEM CONFERENCE
BY SIRDAR IKBAL ALI SHAH
HAVE just returned from Mecca, where I had the -11- honour of attending, as a delegate, the first All- World Moslem Conference. While in the holy city I was most graciously received by His Majesty Ibn Saud, the new ruler of Arabia. It was my first visit to the city of my faith, and I naturally looked forward to the pilgrimage with keen interest. Though a good Mussulman and the guest of the King I quickly discovered that tact and discretion were needed. I was set upon in the streets of Mecca for the innocent offence of smoking a cigarette, and because I tried to take a " snap " with my camera.
I must pass over my interview with Ibn Saud, except to say that this stalwart desert warrior did not hesitate to vindicate his recent actions, including the massacre at Taif and the demolition of certain graves, on the plea that he was acting in accordance with the precepts of the holy book. He rules by the Koran and rigidly shuns additions and reservations of ages of priestcraft. Yet he is a man of vision, and recognizes very clearly the necessity of uniting the scattered forces of Islam.. Hence he has inaugurated the All-World Moslem Con- ference which is to be held yearly at Mecca. It is an attempt to rally Moslems round a common banner where they can settle their differences, discuss their grievances, and come to unanimous decisions. The assembly which has just been concluded is the first of its kind. It began on Sunday, June 6th, and lasted many days. It was held in the Turkish artillery barracks, or fort, outside the western gate of the city and was attended by delegates from the principal Moslem countries. Russia had seven representatives ; Hedjaz, twelve ; Java, five ; India, twelve ; Nejd, five ; Aseer, three ; Palestine, three ; Syria, three ; Sudan, two ; and Egypt, two ; those from the two latter countries having been nominated by Ibn Saud himself.
The King himself opened the proceedings, his private secretary, Hafiz Wahaba, reading his speech. After thanking the delegates for accepting his invitation and explaining the object of the gathering, His Majesty declared that "in the past there had been no such thing as Islamic public opinion," and what Islam lacked was "the spirit of reformation" and a "general uplift." This was largely due to inefficient and incompetent rulers in the past, and he blamed Hussein and his son All for the present deplorable state of affairs in the Hedjaz. He had sold the independence of the country to the foreigners, and was dominated by foreign influences. He had prohibited his people, the Wahabis, from per- forming their holy pilgrimage to Mecca and had treated them so cruelly that he and his people had been forced to intervene and drive them out of the country.
After the speech came the election of officers. It was decided that the oldest delegate should occupy the presidential chair, this honour falling to the lot of Molvi Abdul Wahid, from India, a picturesque old gentleman who belongs to the Al Hadis sect. Sherif Adnana was elected as permanent president, which office, of course, he will fulfil at the next assembly, and Syed Suleman Nudvi and Razaadin vice-presidents, and Tofiq Sherif general secretary. All these officers were elected by vote in the ordinary_ way, but the pro- ceedings were marred by many noisy and even silly interruptions on the part of Mohamed Ali and his brother, whose antagonism to British rule in India is notorious. To the astonishment of many, Mohamed All rose on one occasion and spoke in English, whereas previously he had always spoken in Arabic. This was extraordinary, remembering the place and status of the gathering, seeing that he had declared that the English language should be boycotted. These elections and the appointment of a subject committee ended the first day's proceedings.
The real work of .the Conference now began. It was decided that it should be held yearly in Mecca, or if that were impossible, in some independent Islamic country. It was proposed to purchase the surrounding buildings of the Haram, knock thcm down, and make a wide avenue right round the holy place. It was also agreed to improve the condition of the Zubada Canal and build a dam on the Mecca hills to improve the water supply of the holy city. One of the most far-reaching proposals, which was duly carried after three days' discussion, was the decision to lay a railway between Jeddah and Mecca and link the latter city with the Hedjaz line at Medina, and also construct a branch line to Yambo, the port of Medina. It was also agreed to carry out certain improvements at the port of Robigh.
An interesting feature of the railway proposal is that the money for the construction of the line is to be provided by general subscription among the various Islamic countries, and when the undertaking is completed and running, half of the revenue is to go to the Hedjaz Government and the other half to the upkeep of the lines. Why half the proceeds should go to the Govern- ment when the Hedjaz Arabs arc not prepared to spend a penny on it can best be answered by Ibn Saud himself. Other resolutions were passed, including the decision to carry out certain very essential sanitary work in Mecca, to establish hospitals and camps at Jeddah and other parts of Arabia for the convenience of pilgrims, while it was finally agreed that from next year every delegate must pay £800 towards the running expenses of the assembly.
It should be noted that neither Turkey, Persia, Mesopotamia nor the Yemen were represented at the Conference. The Persians are of the Shia faith and have the greatest respect for the traditional tombs and mausoleums. Mesopotamia, of course, is ruled by King Feisal, a son of Hussein, while the Yemenese cannot be said to be on friendly terms with the Wahabis. When these facts are remembered and also the knowledge that the general capacity of the delegates who gathered at Mecca was certainly not great, one may be inclined to argue that Ibn Saud's vision of a united Islam is somewhat remote. This is true at present, but here it must not be forgotten that the idea of an All-World Moslem Conference has taken root. It is bound to grow, and as it develops so it will attract more competent men who may discover a means of breaking down the barriers of strife and misunderstanding and thereby create a new spirit and a new Islam.
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