Jerusalem Mufti Has Religious Power Only; Political Views Binding on No One, Says Grand Mufti of Cai

“The Jerusalem Mufti is by no means superior to other Muftis, either on account of the sanctity of the city of his residence or personal claims of being a lineal descendant of Kalif Ali, grandson of Mohammed.” declared Abdul Meguid Selim, Grand Mufti of Cairo, who is the final arbiter of religious disputes of the entire Moslem world, and is considered one of the most eminent Koranic teachers of the present epoch, enjoying a high standing in the theological faculty of the world-famous Alazar University at Cairo. His Eminence received me in a council meeting of a group of distinguished Ulamas who were summoned as witnesses and councillors when informed I had come especially from Palestine to ask for his Eminence’s statement regarding the status of Amin El Husseini, the Jerusalem Mufti, who was made out to appear as speaking for the entire Mohammedan world in his opposition to the establishment of a Jewish National Home in Palestine.

Abdul Meguid began explaining the meaning of the Mufti’s office which, he said, is the religious function of teacher and interpreter of the Koranic law and doctrines of Islam. “When interpreting the sacred scriptures, a Mufti has the authority vested in his office. In such his authority is the same as the Mufti of Jaffa, Bombay or Teheran. In regard to the superiority of the Jerusalem Mufti above his colleagues in other dioceses, this is out of the question.” “If any superiority exists on account of world-wide prestige, this devolves on the Grand Mufti of Egypt,” interjected Sheik Ali, famous Ulamo of Cairo. To this His Eminence countered, “There is no question of superiority in this matter. Before Allah we are equal as teachers and interpreters of the divine will and commandments. When the Jerusalem Mufti speaks on religious matters and is within the precepts of Orthodox doctrines, the entire Moslem world is in accord with him but when he makes declaration of a political nature or engages in any other activity, this is a purely private affair and cannot be accepted as binding up any Moslem anywhere, not even upon those residing within the confines of his own religious jurisdiction. In short, the Jerusalem Mufti is a Moslem religious teacher of Jerusalem and as such has religious authority, but nothing more.” The words were spoken in Arabic and translated into French by Abdul Suleiman El Said, Cairo Arabic newspaperman, who took notes of the conversation. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, I repeated the Mufti’s words back.

His Eminence declined to express an opinion on the Palestine situation, saying his interest is purely religious, in which seven distinguished Ulamas solemnly concurred.

The same influences which engineered three years ago the Druse revolt against France in Syria, are now taking the lead in anti-Jewish agitation, with headquarters at Cairo. The native language papers are under the control of Christian Syrians who are members of the Syro-Palestine Committee. They are not making any noticeable inroad on unconcerned public opinion which has hitherto remained absolutely unruffled, to the extent that not five dollars has been realized towards the subscription opened by the Syro-Arab paper “Kokatam” in behalf of Palestine Arabs suffering from so-called Jewish oppression. The Egyptian Government is preserving strict neutrality.

Leading in the anti-Jewish behind the scenes movement is Dr. Shanbander, who in conjunction with Prince Lotfallah and Dervish Sultan Latrash, were implicated in the Druse revolt in Syria, and who fled from French justice and settled in Egypt.

The Chief of the Egyptian State Police, following the complaints of Egyptian citizens that the agitation of the Syro-Palestine Committee and the newspapers under its control, may have serious consequences for Egypt, warned the newspapers today that they are under strictest surveillance by the political branch of the Intelligence Service of the Egyptian Government.

The myth of a Moslem world solidarity which is upheld as a bugaboo by the Jerusalem Moslem council, was completely exploded as the surrounding Moslem countries remain calm, showing a minimum of interest in Palestinian affairs, especially Egypt, where the Syro-Palestine Committee’s doings have failed to cause any ripple despite the grotesque assertions about Jewish atrocities on the Mosque of Omar, the slaughtering of Moslems while at prayer, the printing of a photograph alleged to show a prominent Palestine Arab’s home destroyed and books scattered, this being in reality a photograph of the Hebron Jewish Yeshiva, rumors that the Egyptian Consul was murdered in Jerusalem and further that fifty Arabs are being starved to death while prisoners of the Haifa Jewish Army. All this fails to affect the Egyptian population.

The Moslem world is fast becoming like the Christian world, each nation placing national interests before international relations. They are one solely in religious doctrine and local interests are too varied and contrasting to make a common cause on behalf of any

(Continued on Page 4)

(Continued from Page 3) group which happens to share Moslem faith.

Support of this contention is contained in the words of Colonel Sakkim. Selim Beg who commanded a regiment in Jamal Pasha’s army against Allenby while defending the old Hedjaz Railway now director of a shipping company in Smyrna, who is on a visit to Cairo, having made the journey here through Palestine which he had not seen in twelve years. When Kemal Pasha deposed the Sultan, who was ex-officio Kalif El Islam, meaning supreme head of the entire Moslem world, there were predictions galore that Moslems the world over would rise over the abolition of the Caliphate. Nothing came of it, but a few weak-kneed protests. The Colonel declared he takes his hat off to the men and women who made a garden of Palestine, where he knew only desolation twelve years ago. “I motored from Beirut to Haifa and Jaffa, over excellent roads where even mules had difficulty in my time. The Turks of Smyrna are uninterested in local Palestinian politics. Turkey is a modern country and is every time on the side of civilization.”