Sheikh Mubarak a ‘resourceful man’
‘Crafty, skilled horseman’
– Editor
his last years of ruling Sheikh Abdullah II Al Sabah tried to pacify his cousins in Bahrain when in 1867a strife broke out between Sheikh Mohammed, Amir of Bahrain, and his brother Sheikh Ali under the instigation of the British, who displeased with Mohammed, helped Sheikh Ali to expel his brother from Bahrain.
Sheikh Mohammed sought sanctuary in Kuwait and was received with great cordiality by his cousin, Sheikh Abdullah (II) Al Sabah; who feeling committed to pacify the parties, he first sent a letter to Sheikh Ali, then met him in person trying to reach a compromise between the brothers, when he couldn’t, he left them to solve their own problem.
From Darain Sheikh Mohammed took up arms against his brother to regain his position, when he failed he returned to Kuwait as guest of Al Sabah for sometime.
In 1892 Sheikh Abdullah (II) Al Sabah, beloved by his people died; he was succeeded by his brother Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah, a man reputed for his humility and religious fervour who delighted in the company of religious scholars, but he lacked the resoluteness and willpower needed in fast decision. This weakness proved fatal to him.
Sheikh Mohammed ruled sharing the government with his brother, Sheikh Jerrah, while excluding his half-brother, Sheikh Mubarak, who was kept busy out of Kuwait on the advice of Yousef Al Ibrahim, with the pretext that he had to impose law and order among subject tribes.
Yousef Bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim was an immensely rich Kuwaiti pearl-merchant, a crafty individual related through marriage to Sheikh Mohammed and Jerrah. His ambition was to replace Al Sabah one day by taking advantage of Sheikh Mohammed blind trust in him. His only obstacle in achieving his objective was Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah, a man he could not gain by any means.
Sheikh Mubarak was the total opposite of Sheikh Mohammed, he was a shrewd, resourceful man, resolute and crafty, a skilled horseman, an expert shot; a thorough warrior excellent in those feats of physical daring that always excite the admiration of men. In short he was a person Yousef Abdullah Al Ibrahim had every reason to fear; against whim he provoked an enmity with his brothers Mohammed and Jarrah that ended in tragedy.
At the time Sheikh Mohammed came to power, Kuwait was in a greater need than ever of a strong man of action, a shrewd statesman to guide his country through the turbulence of political intrigues of European powers with an eye on the dying Ottoman Empire. Another threat to Kuwait’s security was the Amir Abdul Aziz Al Rashid, the Turkish allay and an archenemy of Kuwait.
Sheikh Mubarak distrusted Yousef Al Ibrahim and the influence he had on his brothers, Mohammed and Jarrah, because he was their trusted advisor and the real man in power . He tried to warn his brothers of his intention, but his warning only raised an enmity that widened the gulf between them.
Kept out of town fighting hostile tribes, with his life in constant danger, Sheikh Mubarak knew what was going on in the mind of Yousef Al Ibrahim. When he criticized his brother, Sheikh Mohammed for his increase on taxes, which created discontent among his people; he was promptly sent into the desert with no money or supplies to deal with rebel tribes.
Sheikh Mubarak had to use all his resourcefulness and diplomatic skill to win over some of the boldest tribal sheiks, with whom he successfully carried out his mission and curtailed the danger of being killed. When he asked Sheikh Mohammed for money to continue his job in keeping order, his brother refused.
Crucial
The crucial factor in the immediate situation was money. Sheikh Mohammed gave to his brother, Sheikh Jarrah complete control of the finance of state, and Jerrah on the advice of Yousef Al Ibrahim was keeping Sheikh Mubarak on a very tight budget. At the same time Sheikh Mubarak was requested to fight marauders on the border, for this he needed money to buy weapons and supplies and hire men. Even for his family basic needs Sheikh Mubarak was kept on the tight. This money situation inevitably drove him to the point of exacerbation.
The relation between Sheikh Mubarak and Mohammed ( reported by different eye witnesses and other reliable sources ) deteriorated to the point that the latter would not talk to his brother. The only way Mubarak could communicate with him was through a delegation of concerned citizens of the elite merchant class he himself summoned on behalf of both parties. The men were: Fahad Al Khalid, Abdul Aziz Al Fares, Abdul Aziz Al Sumeit, Selman Abdul Jalil, Seied Khalaf Basha Al Naqib, Selman Al Beder and Fahed Al Dweizery. In spite of their efforts to come to a compromise, the meddling of Yousef Al Ibrahim made the situation critical.
To mention but one or two instances in the amounting crisis, as reported by the Kuwaiti historian Abdul Aziz Alrashd in “Tarikh Al Kuwait” (History of Kuwait). Before leaving Kuwait to deal with some hostile tribes on the border, Sheikh Mubarak had to purchase supplies and camels to carry out his duty. Having no money to pay for them, he endorsed the bill to Sheikh Mohammed.
When the merchant went to the Sheikh for his due, he refused to pay him and sent him back to his brother. Sheikh Mubarak had already left town with his army. When the man caught up with him at Malh, he told him what happened.
Mubarak was furious. Henceforth he contacted Naser Al Beder, one of the wealthiest merchants in town, who sympathizing with Sheikh Mubarak’s financial situation, willingly complied to his request, but before paying the bill he went to Sheikh Mohammed, who got angry with him for interfering in his family affairs.
The role of Yousef Al Ibrahim in widening and deepening the gulf between the brothers can’t be underestimated, for it is further revealed in the testimony of people who acted in behalf of both parties, trying to save the situation. The countdown in the crisis began, when Sheikh Mubarak, frustrated by the behaviour of his brothers and their lack of respect towards him asked for his legal rights.
Devoted
The delegation, called upon to mediate in the matter, suggested that three official papers should be written, one of which was to be devoted to military matters -guns, ammunitions, men, supplies, camels and horses and be kept for everyone to see; the other two papers were to bear the statement of what was due to Sheikh Mubarak and to his brothers.
Though resenting the whole affair Yousef Al Ibrahim wrote the papers and each party received his. On the technical side the matter was solved, but due to military duties endorsed on Sheikh Mubarak, he was soon in need of money. The refusal of Sheikh Mohammed to comply increased the tension.
Fearing the worse, the mediating party met with Sheikh Mohammed trying to persuade him to give his brother what he needed for doing his job; at first the Sheikh was willing to comply and asked his secretary, Fahad Khalid Al Khoder to draw a paper for the amount of 6000 Riyal to be given to Sheikh Mubarak. Before Fahad stamped the document, Yousef Al Ibrahim stopped him, and sent Abdul Aziz Al Sumait to Sheikh Mubarak with a letter requesting him to hand over the document he had in his possession. Sheikh Mubarak refused, knowing that it would have been destroyed the moment it fell in his hand.
Exacerbated and infuriated by Yousef’s intriguing Sheikh Mubarak was reaching the limit of his patience. Fearing his wrath Yousef left town and went to “Al Ragey” waiting for the storm to settle. In the meantime the mediating party sought to have a talk with him hoping he would do something to compromise in the matter.
Taking things lightly, at first Yousef refused to see the delegation, then he consented to hear what the men had to say and agreed to return to Kuwait after three days and continued on his journey to Sobiya. Eight days later he was back in town, but took no action in favour of lessening the tension.
To be continued