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Two years ago, his cousin Muhammad VI had been exiled to Italy (where he later starved to death) and the Ottoman Sultanate had been abolished. The secular forces of the Young Turks had finally brought about the end of the Ottoman Empire, yet they didn't feel they could abolish the Caliphate straight away. They began a campaign of violence and intimidation making sure that all those who would support the Caliph were removed from the picture.

Finally, on the night of March the 4th, they made their move. A young army messenger opened the door to the Library. The Caliph continued to read the Quran. The messenger initially was taken aback by the sight, but steeled himself and read out the proclamation from the Grand National Assembly. The Caliph refused, but his staff were worried that they would all be killed by the army that had now surrounded the Palace. After weighing up his options, he reluctantly packed some of his clothes and went into exile.

Before Fajr prayer, the Caliph was taken to the main train station at gunpoint where he and his family were put on the Orient Express bound for Switzerland. An envelope containing £2000 was given to the man who left behind entire palaces full of diamonds, emeralds and gold. The station master quickly took the Caliph and his family into his small house adjoining the train station to shelter them from the cold on the platform whilst they awaited the train to start on its sad journey. As they drank tea, the Caliph thanked him for his hospitality. The station master, a Jew, began to cry. "How can you thank me? For centuries it was the Caliphs of Islam who had sheltered us Jews from persecution anywhere in the world. We can never forget that under your rule we had dignity and prosperity. For me to take care of you and your family for even the briefest period is not only my duty, but my honour."

In the morning, the Muslims awoke to the news that they had scarcely believed would ever happen - the Caliphate had been abolished. There were isolated riots and uprisings in various places, but the army put them down ruthlessly. The last Caliph spent his days walking along the promenade of a beach in Nice, France. There he lived a humble life until he died of a heart attack in 1944 during the Nazi occupation of France. Now, on the 86th anniversary of this earth shattering event, the United States of America still had their President, England still had its Queen, the Catholics still had their Pope - but the Muslims would be condemned to roam the wilderness leaderless. Caliph Abdul Majeed II was eventually buried in Jannat Al Baqi in Medina, amidst the greatest heroes of Islams past was laid to rest our most potent symbol of a fractured present. There to this day, the first Caliph and the last Caliph of Islam lie within a few yards of each other- a reminder of a once great Muslim nation that has no one to lead it.

by
Muhammad, SGUL Graduate

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