Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia: The complete story of British conspiracies against the Ottoman Empire, espionage, betrayal, the Arab revolt and the greatest betrayal in Muslim history. The world’s famous people sometimes include the famous along with the infamous. As the saying goes: “We seek fame, what use is shame to us, if we are infamous, what name will we not have?” Among these infamous characters, Thomas Edward Lawrence, known as “Lawrence of Arabia”, is a prominent example. He was an English spy who disguised himself and sowed the seeds of hatred between the Arabs and the Turks (Ottoman Muslims) and ultimately left the Ottoman Empire in pieces. This story is not only based on historical facts but also presents a complete picture of the “divide and rule” policy of British imperialism, false promises and conspiracies to divide Muslims. This article is written by including Lawrence’s life, conspiracies, events, controversial personality, local traditions and all the suggestions, including the details of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Fakhr al-Din Pasha’s defense of Medina and the role of the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali. The Ottoman Empire was the flag bearer of the Islamic Caliphate for six centuries and the last hope of Muslims. The Muslims of the Hejaz, Syria, Iraq, Palestine and other Arab regions considered the Caliph Sultan their Amir al-Mu’minin. In the First World War (1914-1918), the Ottoman armies stopped the British attacks at the Battle of Gallipoli, fought steadfastly in Palestine and Iraq and stopped the Russians in the Caucasus. During this difficult time, the British Empire carried out a series of secret conspiracies, the main role of which was Lawrence. Lawrence incited the Arab tribes to revolt, which is considered one of the greatest betrayals in Muslim history. The result: the fall of the empire, the partition of the Arab territories, the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the conflicts that continue to this day. Thomas Edward Lawrence was born on 16 August 1888 in Tremadag, Wales. He was the illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Chapman, an Anglo-Irish landowner, and Sarah Lawrence, a governess. He had five illegitimate siblings. The family used the name “Lawrence” and moved several times during his childhood. In 1896, he settled in Oxford, where Lawrence read history and completed his thesis “The Effects of Crusader Castles” in 1910. He was passionate about the Crusades from his student days, considering Muslims to be the enemies of the Crusaders. He was interested in archaeology and ancient buildings. From 1909 to 1914, he visited the Middle East, mastering Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi and English. He excavated for the British Museum at Carchemish. In 1914, he made a military map of the Sinai and the Negev. Joined the Arab Bureau in Cairo when the war broke out. Lawrence was a controversial figure. Short in stature (5 ft 5 in), but with a devilish and cunning mind. Lived austerely – vegetarian, abstained from alcohol and tobacco. Liked to dress in Arab dress. His sex life was controversial; in the Daraa Incident (1917) he was tortured and raped by Turkish soldiers, which left him traumatized and later developed masochistic tendencies. In some traditions he is described as “depraved” and “indulged in sexual vices”. He avoided consensual relationships. In some local traditions he is described as “of Jewish descent”, but this is incorrect; he was Anglo-Irish. The British intrigues began with the McMahon-Hussein correspondence (1915–1916). Sir Henry McMahon falsely promised the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali, a “free Arab kingdom”. But in May 1916, the Sykes-Picot Agreement had been secretly concluded, in which Britain (Mark Sykes) and France (François Georges Picot) divided the Ottoman Arab territories: Syria and Lebanon to France, Iraq and Palestine (including the Jerusalem area) to Britain, while some areas were kept under international control. This agreement was a complete denial of the promises of Arab independence and became the basis for the conversion of Arab territories into mandates (colonies) after the war. The Arabs were unaware of this agreement, but Lawrence and the British authorities were fully aware. This agreement is the greatest example of the deception based on the Arab revolt, which divided the Arabs by giving them the dream of an independent kingdom. The role of Sharif Hussein bin Ali (Sharif of Mecca) was central to this betrayal. He was from the Hashemite dynasty and the emir of Mecca. The Ottomans were prosperous under the Caliphate, but believing the British promises, he declared a revolt in June 1916. He entrusted the leadership to his sons Faisal and Abdullah. Sharif Hussein rebelled against the Caliphate, which was the position of the Commander of the Faithful for Muslims. He was tempted by the power to become the king of the Arabs. But his dream was shattered by Sykes-Picot and the Balfour Declaration. After the war, he became the king of the Hejaz, but in 1924-1925, Abdul Aziz ibn Saud defeated him and expelled him from the Hejaz. His rebellion stabbed the Ottoman Caliphate in the back while the empire was fighting British and Russian attacks. Turkish historians call it the “betrayal of the Caliphate”. The Arab Revolt began on June 10, 1916 in Mecca. Lawrence arrived in Jeddah in October 1916, making Faisal the leader. Strategy: Destroy the Hejaz railway line with explosions, cutting off Turkish and Arab communication. Sharif Hussein was incited to revolt by tempting him with power. “Divide and rule” was successful, later the crown went to Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud) and transferred to the House of Saud. The Ottomans were weakened in the Balkan Wars and WWI, and Europe fell apart by siding with Germany. Fakhreddin Pasha’s (Fakhri Pasha) defense of Medina is a great example of Ottoman heroism in the face of this betrayal. He was appointed defender of Medina in May 1916. When the rebellion broke out, the Hejaz Railway was cut off, supply lines were cut, and the army was struggling with hunger and disease. The Pasha declared Medina a “sacred trust” and for 2 years 7 months (June 1916 to January 1919). Holy relics and manuscripts were sent to Istanbul for safekeeping. He did not surrender even after the armistice (Armistice of Mudros, October 1918), only surrendering from Istanbul in January 1919 on the orders of the Sultan. British and Arab opponents nicknamed him “Lion of the Desert” and “Tiger of the Desert”. This defense symbolized the loyalty of the Ottoman army and the protection of the Caliphate while the Arab revolt was striking from behind. Major events: Conquest of Aqaba (1917), Daraa capture and torture, Battle of Tefillah, Tafas massacre (Lawrence had the prisoners killed in retaliation), Entry into Damascus (1918). 30% of the Ottoman army remained loyal to the Arabs. Lawrence gave gold and weapons to the tribal chiefs. 47,000+ Ottoman soldiers trapped in the Hejaz. Lawrence presented himself to the Arabs as a “true Muslim”, learned the Quran, Hadith, Jurisprudence, prayed, led the Imamate and attended the Madrasa to become popular as a preacher and a Pir. But this was espionage. In some Pakistani traditions, Lawrence is called “Pir” in Anarkali, Lahore, where he opened a langar khana, recited with gusto, and entertained pilgrims. He married a Kashmiri wife, who was the daughter of Colonel Nido (Abdullah). She was accused of being a spy. Nido had Rustam Zamana Gama Pehlwan hanged upside down and divorced her. This story is famous but not proven in reliable sources. Lawrence was in the RAF from 1926-1928 in Karachi and Miram Shah. After the war, he failed in the Paris Conference. He joined the RAF. He died in a motorcycle accident on 13 May 1935. The 1962 film “Lawrence of Arabia” made Lawrence a hero, but this was propaganda. In reality, he was an anti-Muslim spy who tore the empire apart. Lawrence was a conspirator who divided the Ummah. If the Arabs had remained loyal, the Caliphate would have survived. This story teaches the importance of unity. May Allah grant insight and unity to the Muslims.