Sharif Muḥammad Ibn 'Awn's Report to Muūammd' Ali Pasha on his Expedition against Najd (1245 AH/1830AD): A Study and Comment

Abstract

This research aims to study, analyze and give comment on a historical document of special importance related to the events of the expedition directed by Sharif Muḥammad Ibn ʻAwn to Najd in 1245 AH/1830 AD in order to punish the tribes that refrained from paying Zakat -according to what was stated in the document. This document is represented in the detailed report sent by Muḥammad Ibn ʻAwn to Muḥammad ʻAlī Pasha on 25 Shaaban in 1245 AH/18 February 1830 AD, in which he reveals valuable details about the expedition, describing the raids and the attacks they carried out on the ʻUtayba and Baqūm and some other tribes, the arrival of the delegations of these tribes to Sharif, and the pledges he made on them to pay zakat (alms-giving). The report is concluded by talking about the details of how he punished those tribes for their refusal to pay zakat and their entry into the dependency of Imam Turkī Ibn ʻAbdullah in Riyadh.