Kamil al-Husayni
Encyclopedia
Kamil al-Husayni (23 February 1867 - 31 March 1921) was a Sunni Muslim
religious leader of the Palestinian people
and was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
from 1908 until his death.
Al-Husayni was the son of Mohammed Tahir al-Husayni
, the first Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
. When his father died in 1908, Kamil succeeded him as Grand Mufti. Politically, his approach was much different than his father's, and he sought out compromise positions both with Jewish settlers and British
authorities. The British appointed him as chairman of the Appeal Court during the British Mandate of Palestine and later as director of the Higher Waqf Committee.
During World War I
, the Ottoman Empire
claimed that al-Husayni should be removed as Grand Mufti because of his cooperation with the British and with Zionists
. From 1914 to 1918, the Ottomans claimed that As'ad Shuqeiri was the rightful Grand Mufti. Nevertheless, because the British were victorious over the Ottomans in the war, al-Husayni continued to act as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem until his death. He was succeeded by his brother Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
.
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
religious leader of the Palestinian people
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
and was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem is the Sunni Muslim cleric in charge of Jerusalem's Islamic holy places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.-Ottoman era:...
from 1908 until his death.
Al-Husayni was the son of Mohammed Tahir al-Husayni
Mohammed Tahir al-Husayni
Mohammed Tahir Mustafa Tahir al-Husayni was the Qadi of the Sharia courts of Jerusalem and was the father of Kamil al-Husayni and Mohammad Amin al-Husayni, both of whom held the equivalent position in the British mandated period of Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.Born in Jerusalem to the al-Husayni...
, the first Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem is the Sunni Muslim cleric in charge of Jerusalem's Islamic holy places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.-Ottoman era:...
. When his father died in 1908, Kamil succeeded him as Grand Mufti. Politically, his approach was much different than his father's, and he sought out compromise positions both with Jewish settlers and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
authorities. The British appointed him as chairman of the Appeal Court during the British Mandate of Palestine and later as director of the Higher Waqf Committee.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
claimed that al-Husayni should be removed as Grand Mufti because of his cooperation with the British and with Zionists
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
. From 1914 to 1918, the Ottomans claimed that As'ad Shuqeiri was the rightful Grand Mufti. Nevertheless, because the British were victorious over the Ottomans in the war, al-Husayni continued to act as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem until his death. He was succeeded by his brother Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Mohammad Amin al-Husayni
Haj Mohammed Effendi Amin el-Husseini was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and Muslim leader in the British Mandate of Palestine. From as early as 1920, in order to secure the independence of Palestine as an Arab state he actively opposed Zionism, and was implicated as a leader of a violent riot...
.