Sharif Hussein bin Ali, may God bless his soul
Sharif Hussein bin Ali, may God bless his soul, was the leader of the Great Arab Revolt at the advent of the twentieth century, which aimed to liberate the land and the people and establish an independent united Arab state.
Sharif Hussein bin Ali was born in Istanbul in 1853, during his father's stay there. He received his early education in Istanbul before returning to Mecca, where he was raised with a sense of Arab nationalism and Islamic values. His orientations emerged, calling for liberation from foreign rule and achieving Arab independence.
The first exile of Sharif Hussein was in 1893 to Istanbul, where he stayed until 1908. He then returned as a ruler of Mecca, administering the country with justice and wisdom, aspiring for complete Arab independence which he strived for.
When the conditions became favorable for the announcement of the Great Arab Revolt, especially after the success of Prince Faisal I in his endeavors with the Arab free men in Damascus, Sharif Hussein fired the first shot of the Great Arab Revolt on June 10, 1916, initiating military operations led by his sons, Princes Ali, Abdullah, Faisal, and Zeid.
Their forces progressed and secured triumphs, leading to the establishment of the Arab state in Syria first, then in Iraq, and then in Jordan.
Hussein bin Ali was firm and decisive in his stances, especially regarding Palestine and Jerusalem. He rejected all treaties and agreements that did not explicitly state the Arab identity of Palestine and Jerusalem.
Sharif Hussein made a generous donation for the reconstruction and renovation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1924 after the mosque's walls and ceilings were damaged. The people of Palestine and the Supreme Islamic Council in Jerusalem appreciated this donation, as the renovation contributed to the mosque's endurance when a severe earthquake hit the area in 1927.
Sharif Hussein was exiled again in 1926 and moved to Cyprus, where he lived as a king and leader, constantly in touch with the nation's notables.
Sharif Hussein died in Raghadan Palace in Amman on June 3, 1931. His body was then transferred to Jerusalem and buried in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
