Sharif Hussein bin Ali
Sharif Hussein bin Ali, may his soul rest in peace, led the Great Arab Revolt in the early 20th century, which sought to liberate Arab land and people and establish one independent Arab state.
Sharif Hussein bin Ali was born in Istanbul in 1853 while his father was there. He received his early education in Istanbul, before returning to Mecca and being raised in line with the values of Islam and Arabism. Therefore, he grew towards the aim of ridding Arabs of foreign rule and achieving independence.
Sharif Hussein was banished for the first time in 1893 to Istanbul, where he stayed until 1908, before returning as Emir of Mecca to run the affairs of the state justly and wisely, while working towards a future of complete Arab independence.
When the time was right to launch the Great Arab Revolt, especially after Prince Faisal I succeeded in his talks with the free Arabs in Damascus, Sharif Hussein fired the Revolt’s first shot on 10 June 1916, heralding the beginning of military operations led by his sons Ali, Abdullah, Faisal and Zeid. Their armies advanced and achieved victory, arriving at the establishment of an Arab state in Syria, followed by Iraq and then in Jordan.
Al Hussein bin Ali was steadfast in his stances, especially on matters concerning Palestine and Jerusalem. He rejected all agreements and accords that do not state outright the Arab identity of Palestine and Jerusalem.
Sharif Hussein also presented a generous donation to rebuild and restore Al Aqsa Mosque in 1924 after its walls and ceiling were damaged. The people of Palestine and the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem commended the donation, as the restoration contributed to the resilience of Al Aqsa Mosque’s facilities when a strong earthquake hit the area in 1927.
Sharif Hussein was banished again in 1925 to Cyprus, but he lived there as a King and a leader who did not lose touch with the leading figures of the Arab nation.
Sharif Hussein passed away at Raghadan Palace in Amman on 3 June 1931, but the leaders of Jerusalem insisted that he be buried in the Holy City that he loved and donated to rebuild its mosque, offering unwavering allegiance to its cause. His remains were taken to Jerusalem where he was laid to rest at Al Aqsa Mosque.
