When the British troops arrived at Basra, in 1914, al-Naqib was captured and exiled to Bombay (Mumbai); because of his objection on the British occupation. He stayed in his exile for five years, before coming back to Iraq and witnessing the 1920 Iraqi revolt. He didn't approve of the revolt; because he believed that political situations should be solved by peaceful solutions. He also believed that the best solution is to occupy Iraq into Vilayets, just like the Ottomans did.