It was suppose to be my last day in Jordan. However, due to the Great Arab Revolt centennial celebration, I almost ended up getting stuck again in Amman.
Many people were celebrating and making their way to a party. Consequently, the roads were choc-o-bloc with vehicles and my already booked taxi arrived late (to pick me up). Fortunately, the driver said he knew a short-cut to the airport.
At the airport, (at least one minute before check-in officially closes), the Qatar airline counter staff member informed me that check-in was closed. Internally, I had already resigned to the eventuality that I might remain in Jordan indefinitely. However, I explained what had happened and, to my relief, she checked me in.
Had I missed my flight, what would I have done that day? Celebrate with the locals? Probably not. I would have booked the next flight back to the UK or made my way to Cairo to complete my learning.
Some admirers of the Ottoman empire believe that it was primarily defeated by the Saudis (in collaboration by the Wahabis) in collusion with the British empire. However, this is far from the truth. Unfortunately, certain Middle Eastern political movements/parties further compound the myth through their publications.
For instance, as will be explained below, the book How the Khilafah was Destroyed, by Abdul Qadeem Zallum (endorsed by Hizb ut-Tahrir) contains a number of misunderstandings.
Let us begin with ibn Abd al-Wahhab, his supporters would say that in the 18th century (backed by the Saudis) he established law and order in the Najd area (not part of the Ottoman state) and secured the pilgrim routes to Mecca and Medina, and in his letters made it clear that it is wrong to rebel against the rulers (unless they call to sin).
According to M. S. al-Munajjid, ibn Abd al-Wahhaab said to the people of al-Qaseem: “I believe that it is obligatory to hear and obey the leaders of the Muslims, whether they are righteous or immoral, so long as they do not enjoin disobedience towards Allaah. Whoever has become Caliph and the people have given him their support and accepted him, even if he has gained the position of caliph by force, is to be obeyed and it is haraam to rebel against him.” (Majmoo’at Mu’allafaat al-Shaykh, 5/11).
Actually, Kuwait was not under Ottoman rule in 1788. In the 20th century, the Saudis (with their Bedouin army – Ikhwan) established their current kingdom, but they played a minor role in World War One (possibly a single skirmish with an Ottoman garrison, then war with Kuwait).
They were more concerned with local conflicts (e.g. Rashid dynasty). As far as I know, the Saudis never reached Amman, let alone Damascus. At the southern border of Jordan, they were bombed by the British Royal Air Force.
As for Abdul-Aziz ibn Muhammad, while it is clear that ibn Saud was not an ally of the Ottomans and might of had negotiations with the British, it has never been proven that he was an agent of the British empire.
The Sharifian Army of Mecca, who were the leaders of the Arab Revolt (1916), were bribed with gold and supplied with explosives (by the British empire). Their aim was a United Arab Kingdom, perhaps with Damascus as its capitol. Faisal (or his army) made it to Damascus.
Later, Faisal was made king of Iraq (by the British). His brother Abdullah was made king of Transjordan. Apparently, their father, in the Hijaz, al-Sharif Hussein bin Ali proclaimed himself caliph in 1924. Soon after, the Hejazi Army (after defeating the Ottomans in Mecca and Medina) lost the Hijaz to the Saudis.
Today, the remaining Sharifian royal family rule the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. One need only visit the Martyrs museum in Amman or the World War One memorial in Salt, to understand that the Arab Revolt was led by Sharifian forces (initially near the Suez Canal, supported by British forces) and not by Saudi Bedouins in Najd.
Sources:
A History of the Modern Middle East, William L. Cleveland
Saudi Arabia: a case study in development, Fouad al-Fars
The Road to Mecca, Muhammad Asad
A History of Jordan, Philip Robins
A history of Iraq, Charles R. H. Tripp
https://islamqa.info/en/answers/9243/did-shaykh-muhammad-ibn-abd-al-wahhaab-rebel-against-the-ottoman-caliphate-and-what-was-the-reason-for-its-fall
https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait/History
https://cdn.britannica.com/89/4789-050-B6176F52/Expansion-Ottoman-Empire.jpg
https://cdn.britannica.com/40/131540-050-EFC5F6A7/Map-Arabia-insets-edition-Palestine-Jerusalem-Encyclopaedia-1902.jpg
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_arabrevolt.html
https://cdn.britannica.com/49/183749-050-8A2CE93D/World-Data-Locator-Map-Saudi-Arabia.jpg
https://cdn.britannica.com/95/5795-050-F7E34466/Saudi-Arabia-map-features-locator.jpg
Arabian Misadventures 
