The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-12
Plan to Proclaim the New Sultan of Egypt As the Religious Head Of the Mahonetdn World

London. April Especial. )-when few months ago England deposed the Khedive of Egypt, Abbas II, and for mally severed the last link which bound the country of the Pharaohs to Turkey. by proelaiming 1t British protectorate there were a good many people in England and elsewhere who feared that she was laying up trouble for herself with her vast number Of Mahometan subjects who owed ale glance to the Sultan of Turkey. in his capacity of Caliph of Islam, or religi- ous ruler of the Moslem community.
 When a few days later came the news that Prince Hussein, the deposed khedive's uncle had been chosen to rule in his place under the title of Sul- tan, it began to be whispered that even greater events than the secular severance of Egypt from Turkey were preparing, and I am now in a position to say that the days of the Turk as religious leaders of Islam are num- bered. When the Turk disappears from Egypt as he may do before very long now heS will lose not only his control over great territories, but h. will lose what is far more precious te him, the religious leadership of the Mahometan world
 In fact, it would be fair to say that he has already lost it. The spectacle Of the Moslem races laughing at the proclamation of a jehad or holy war by the Caliph of Islam, backed by a fetvah, or bull, issued by the Shelk ul Islam or high priest, is enough to mak 10 Mahomet turn in his coffin This, however. is exactly what has happened. The Sultan. at the instgation of the Kaiser, proclaimed holy war and had his proclamation indorsed by the SheilS ul Islam, who could not very well re- fuse as he Is the Sultan's appointed 1t was expected that this would rally the Mahometans all over the world, iu~ oluding those under British rule, to ths green flag of the prohpet, but nothing Of the sort happened. What kind of a holy war is this?" one Arab sheil< asked. 'I can understand a holy war by the followers of the prophet against the unbelievers, I can also understand am ordinary war by followers of tho prophet in alliance with some unbeiev- CTS against other unbelievers. but l cannot understand a holy war in which unbelievers fight side by side with the AoiioWtIs oI the pTOpnet.
 This mistake of the Sultan of Tur- key in abusing his position as caIiph has made easier the step which 1t IS now proposed to take, although even had he not disgusted the faithful in this way there would have been little difficulty, for the Turk for many years has not been popular with the stricter Moslem races. He is looked on as q lax follower of the prophet, very mucii a of tha ,oIa bvic 1fr are regarded by the strict old Scottish Presbyterlans. for instance, and they resent his position as the leader Of their faith. They will turn gladly to the new caliph whom 1t is propose l to set up in Cairo.
 The plans for the transfer of tine oaliphate have been carefully discussed and worked out in Cairo in consulta- tion with the two great religious lead CTS of the Moslem world outside Fur key. These are the Aga Khan, the re- ligious head of the Indian and Persian Moslems and the sheik of the Senussi who is a very holy man among the African followers of the prophet. The utmost efforts were made to keep the conferences secret The Aga Khan's visit to Cairo was explained by the fact that he was on his way back to India from London and merely broke his journey in Egypt, and the visit Of the Shiek of the Senussi was never announced at all. It was allowed 10 be made public that he had left his casis in central Africa and had come as far as Sollum on the Egyptian frontier from which place he sent as- surances of his loyalty to England and his respect for the new Sultan of Egypt. but nothing was said about hls further Journey. As a matter of fact, however I am informed, he went on to Cairo and there met the Aga Khan and the Egyptian and British agents who are in charge of the great religl- ous revolution
 A very significant fact is that shortly after that interview the British govern ment in Egypt in conjunction with the new Sultan, issued a proclamation pro- viding extremely severe penalties for any one who insults or in any way shows any lack of respect to the Mahometan religion. So strictly worded is this proclamation that some lawyers have interpreted it as wide enough to include the activities of Christian missionaries in any but the quietest and most unobtrusive way.
 The plan then is to set up the new Sul- tan of Egypt as the Caliph. and thus to bring back to Cairo the religious head ship of Moslem There are many argu- ments in favor of this course in addition to the political one. The chief is that of legitimacy, and this will appeal more than any other to the Moslem mind. The word Caliph simply means 'successor"- of Mahomet, of course. and the Caliph as successor of the prophet is the vicegerent of God on earth. In the early days of the caliphate is was an unbroken rule that 1t should be held If not by a descendant of the prophet himself, at least by one of the tribe of Koreish to which tho prophet belonged. For centuries it was confined strictly to the family of the prophet and 1t was not until 1517, when the Caliph Selim was defeated by the Turks and the caliphate forcibly removed to Constantinople that this rule was de parted from. Even then an attempt. was made to justify the claim on the grounds of descent by faking a pedigree showine descent from Mahomet. but this has never been accepted by the stricter sects oi Mahometans. although they acknowledge the rule of the Turkish callphs. The first seat of the caliphate. of course, was Mec. ca, which is now in the possession oi Egypt. but it was soon moved to Damas GUS. There were 37 caliphs of Bagdad ans after Bagdad, Cairo became the seat Fo a time during the Moorish occupation O Spain the caliph had his headquarter there
 On the ground of descent, however tn claim of the new Sultan of Egypt Is un assailable. He traces his descent in al rect line from Ali the son of Fatima Mahomet's favorite daughter. Moreover he is a strict observer of all the rule of the Mahometan religion, and while h has come to great extent under tn