Sbilla CRISIS (1348H/1929)
One of the most dangerous and important roles played by Saud in reinforcing the roots and supports of his father's reign, is his prominent contribution to the problems that faced his father. These problems were mainly the actions carried out by the fundamentalists, which were built on misunderstanding and embodied in their claim that Abdul Aziz did not give them their freedom to live according to their traditions which are attacking the enemy tribes or pursuing the jihad for the sake of the Islamic religion and monotheism against those whom they consider to act against it. However, King Abdul Aziz had tried previously to transform the fundamentalists into a group that is in harmony with his cultural aspirations. Thus, he built for them (al Hajr) so that they may settle down, leave the harsh desert life and avoid some of its traditions such as attacking the enemy tribes. (l330H-1912) But some of them, driven by their misunderstanding had certain reservations about these developments.
After the previously mentioned incident of the sedan chair, the problems started with the fundamentalists who were hoping to realize some of their dreams after the conquest of Hijaz. However, when they saw that King Abdul Aziz prevented them from taking advantage of the situation during the Taif incidents, they expressed more their resentment against him. (Pursuant) to the arrival of some of the fundamentalists to the borders of Iraq and Kuwait in view of causing destruction, they started their attempts to ruin the peace, which Abdul Aziz worked on achieving between the tribes. Thus, the British government thought that King Abdul Aziz was behind all these attacks on his neighbors. The movement of the "fundamentalists" was mainly composed of some of the members of the Matir, Atiba and Ojman tribes under the leadership of Faisal Bin Sultan al Douaish and Sultan Bin Bijad who gave himself the title of "Sultan Addin". This fact made Abdul Aziz return quickly to Najd coming from Hijaz. His father Imam Abdul Rahman and his son Saud came before him for they were entrusted with the management of Najd's affairs during the King's absence. And so, they summoned the sheikhs of the tribes and the [english] to meet with the King in Riyadh in order to solve this conflict through a plain dialogue in the light of the Sharia and the religious teachings.
As a result, the rebels held a special meeting in Irtawiya-, which is one of the biggest places for the fundamentalists-, and they were determined to stick to their position. Moreover, Faisal al Douaish and some of the leaders of this movement refused to personally attend the meeting with King Abdul Aziz and so they sent some representatives to inform the attendees about their criticisms and complaints.
The meeting resulted in resolving the conflict between the two parties and Saud presented the Sheikhs of the tribes to his father so that they may swear allegiance to him a second time.
In spite of this apparent reconciliation, some of the Sheikhs still had negative thoughts. This was clearly shown in the letters exchanged between them and Prince Saud .
Saud played an important role in this crisis due to his position in managing Najd's affairs and his father's absence from there while he stayed in Hijaz for a long period which lasted two years. Thus, he faced most of these incidents and developments, and he was the primary speaker in most of these talks. In addition, the trust that the tribes put in his righteous and honest character and in the way he dealt with them and solved their matters with understanding and firminess constituted a great positive role during this crisis. The fundamentalists pursued their attacks outside the borders and within it after the meeting. Consequently, King Abdul Aziz decided to confront them and deter their attacks after he used up all the pacific measures in dealing with them. Thus, he prepared his army and came from Riyadh to Bareeda. He continued his way to Nabkiah waiting for the arrival of his two sons Saud and Muhammad. Meanwhile, the fundamentalists knew about the plan and movements of Abdul Aziz. Hence, they planned to surprise Saud before he comes out to receive his father and kill him with his family in Riyadh. However, the plan wasn't carried out for a vague reason. When Saud and Muhammad reached their father's military camp, he ordered them to continue to Zelfi then to al Siblah to fight the fundamentalists. After a meeting between King Abdul Aziz and al Douaish and long fruitless discussions, the two armies were in battle in the year 1348H-/1929). The fundamentalists fought in vain with their known courage. As a result, they were obliged to retreat in front of the army of King Abdul Aziz's sons, Saud and Muhammad. Finally the battle ended and they were completely defeated in half an hour. After that, Faisal Bin Shiblan the paternal cousin of Faisal al Douaish, had recourse to Saud and entered his tent begging for forgiveness and safety. He also begged for the intercession of King Abdul Aziz who pardoned him and Faisal al Douaish who was gravely wounded. However, his wound did not suppress the uprising of the fundamentalists, which was caused again during the time when King Abdul Aziz was in Hijaz. Thus, King Abdul Aziz returned, prepared a new army to fight them and marched with his soldiers from Makkah. As for Saud, he started gathering soldiers from the inhabitants of Riyadh to meet his father in Ihsa, for the King had ordered Saud to use Ihsa as a base in order to prevent the fundamentalists from attacking it because of the illness that struck Abdallah Bin Jalwy, the Prince of Al Houfouf after he learned about the death of his son Fahd in the battle of Siblah. While Saud was on his way to Ihsa, al Ajman came suddenly upon him in al Dahna desert and they killed many of his escorts. However, Saud was able to escape from them thanks to his father's armored vehicle that was at his disposal. And so, he continued his way to al Houfouf obeying his father's orders. He stayed there several months where he carried huge responsibilities until he received orders to come back to Riyadh after the crush of the rebellion of the fundamentalists and the surrender and imprisonment of al Douaish in Riyadh. [1]
One of the most dangerous and important roles played by Saud in reinforcing the roots and supports of his father's reign, is his prominent contribution to the problems that faced his father. These problems were mainly the actions carried out by the fundamentalists, which were built on misunderstanding and embodied in their claim that Abdul Aziz did not give them their freedom to live according to their traditions which are attacking the enemy tribes or pursuing the jihad for the sake of the Islamic religion and monotheism against those whom they consider to act against it. However, King Abdul Aziz had tried previously to transform the fundamentalists into a group that is in harmony with his cultural aspirations. Thus, he built for them (al Hajr) so that they may settle down, leave the harsh desert life and avoid some of its traditions such as attacking the enemy tribes. (l330H-1912) But some of them, driven by their misunderstanding had certain reservations about these developments.
After the previously mentioned incident of the sedan chair, the problems started with the fundamentalists who were hoping to realize some of their dreams after the conquest of Hijaz. However, when they saw that King Abdul Aziz prevented them from taking advantage of the situation during the Taif incidents, they expressed more their resentment against him. (Pursuant) to the arrival of some of the fundamentalists to the borders of Iraq and Kuwait in view of causing destruction, they started their attempts to ruin the peace, which Abdul Aziz worked on achieving between the tribes. Thus, the British government thought that King Abdul Aziz was behind all these attacks on his neighbors. The movement of the "fundamentalists" was mainly composed of some of the members of the Matir, Atiba and Ojman tribes under the leadership of Faisal Bin Sultan al Douaish and Sultan Bin Bijad who gave himself the title of "Sultan Addin". This fact made Abdul Aziz return quickly to Najd coming from Hijaz. His father Imam Abdul Rahman and his son Saud came before him for they were entrusted with the management of Najd's affairs during the King's absence. And so, they summoned the sheikhs of the tribes and the [english] to meet with the King in Riyadh in order to solve this conflict through a plain dialogue in the light of the Sharia and the religious teachings.
As a result, the rebels held a special meeting in Irtawiya-, which is one of the biggest places for the fundamentalists-, and they were determined to stick to their position. Moreover, Faisal al Douaish and some of the leaders of this movement refused to personally attend the meeting with King Abdul Aziz and so they sent some representatives to inform the attendees about their criticisms and complaints.
The meeting resulted in resolving the conflict between the two parties and Saud presented the Sheikhs of the tribes to his father so that they may swear allegiance to him a second time.
In spite of this apparent reconciliation, some of the Sheikhs still had negative thoughts. This was clearly shown in the letters exchanged between them and Prince Saud .
Saud played an important role in this crisis due to his position in managing Najd's affairs and his father's absence from there while he stayed in Hijaz for a long period which lasted two years. Thus, he faced most of these incidents and developments, and he was the primary speaker in most of these talks. In addition, the trust that the tribes put in his righteous and honest character and in the way he dealt with them and solved their matters with understanding and firminess constituted a great positive role during this crisis. The fundamentalists pursued their attacks outside the borders and within it after the meeting. Consequently, King Abdul Aziz decided to confront them and deter their attacks after he used up all the pacific measures in dealing with them. Thus, he prepared his army and came from Riyadh to Bareeda. He continued his way to Nabkiah waiting for the arrival of his two sons Saud and Muhammad. Meanwhile, the fundamentalists knew about the plan and movements of Abdul Aziz. Hence, they planned to surprise Saud before he comes out to receive his father and kill him with his family in Riyadh. However, the plan wasn't carried out for a vague reason. When Saud and Muhammad reached their father's military camp, he ordered them to continue to Zelfi then to al Siblah to fight the fundamentalists. After a meeting between King Abdul Aziz and al Douaish and long fruitless discussions, the two armies were in battle in the year 1348H-/1929). The fundamentalists fought in vain with their known courage. As a result, they were obliged to retreat in front of the army of King Abdul Aziz's sons, Saud and Muhammad. Finally the battle ended and they were completely defeated in half an hour. After that, Faisal Bin Shiblan the paternal cousin of Faisal al Douaish, had recourse to Saud and entered his tent begging for forgiveness and safety. He also begged for the intercession of King Abdul Aziz who pardoned him and Faisal al Douaish who was gravely wounded. However, his wound did not suppress the uprising of the fundamentalists, which was caused again during the time when King Abdul Aziz was in Hijaz. Thus, King Abdul Aziz returned, prepared a new army to fight them and marched with his soldiers from Makkah. As for Saud, he started gathering soldiers from the inhabitants of Riyadh to meet his father in Ihsa, for the King had ordered Saud to use Ihsa as a base in order to prevent the fundamentalists from attacking it because of the illness that struck Abdallah Bin Jalwy, the Prince of Al Houfouf after he learned about the death of his son Fahd in the battle of Siblah. While Saud was on his way to Ihsa, al Ajman came suddenly upon him in al Dahna desert and they killed many of his escorts. However, Saud was able to escape from them thanks to his father's armored vehicle that was at his disposal. And so, he continued his way to al Houfouf obeying his father's orders. He stayed there several months where he carried huge responsibilities until he received orders to come back to Riyadh after the crush of the rebellion of the fundamentalists and the surrender and imprisonment of al Douaish in Riyadh. [1]
References
- ^ [1] ,. Ibid ص 136. المانع محمد ص . 96 Ibid ص . 106 Ibid ص . 129