The royal ceremonies body in countries with a monarchy is a governmental body concerned with matters of receiving, staying and seeing off guests of the country in accordance with the protocols and rules in force in international norms, arranging the internal and external visits of the king and his crown prince, including supervising all official ceremonies they attend, and enforcing the system of royal decorations and medals, Organizing ceremonies for presenting the credentials of foreign ambassadors. It also deals with aspects related to precedence in progress and leadership among states, their leaders, and heads of diplomatic and consular missions during official parties and banquets, in accordance with the rules and customs of diplomatic law.
The history of this device in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates back to the era of the late King Abdulaziz, but it was known at that time as the “Royal Hospitality”, and it was affiliated with the Ministry of Finance and its Minister Abdullah Al-Suleiman Al-Hamdan (1884-1965), as its first president was “Ibrahim bin Jum’ah.” From the people of Hail and from the loyal men of King Abdulaziz. At the end of the founding king’s reign, his presidency was entrusted to the late Fouad Ismail Shaker (1905-1973), who was working at the time as editor-in-chief of the official “Umm Al-Qura” newspaper, according to what was stated by the translator of the king, Muhammad Al-Manea, in his book “Unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Thus, Fouad Shaker was assigned to receive state guests coming from abroad and to take care of their affairs, while the late Abdul Salam Ghali was assigned to take care of their affairs exclusively in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and for this purpose he was permanently present at the “Ajyad Misr” hotel in front of the Ministry of Finance building in the Holy Capital.
Royal ceremonies
In 1955, during the reign of King Saud, the name “royal ceremonies” was given to the device for the first time, before the name changed during the reign of King Faisal to “royal ceremonies.” Relevant Saudi literature says that those who assumed the presidency of the apparatus from the time of King Saud to today are (according to their chronological order): Saleh Islam, Major General Ali Jamil, Abdel Moneim Aqeel, Fouad Nazer, Muhammad Al-Suleiman Al-Anbar, Abdel Moneim Aqeel (for the second time), Mr. Ahmed Abdel Wahhab Mansour Al-Khereiji, Muhammad Al-Sheikh, Muhammad Al-Tubaishi, Khaled Saleh Al-Abad.
This was an introduction to talking about the biography of “Sayyid Ahmed Abdel-Wahhab”, who yesterday marked the anniversary of his first death, and who recorded his name as the first person to assume leadership of the apparatus during the era of Al-Faisal after changing his name to “Royal Protocols” in 1969, and then he continued his work during the reign of King Khalid and the years The first is from the era of King Fahd, not to mention that he contributed to the development of the device and established an accurate system for it in accordance with the rules and principles of protocols in force in the countries of the world on the one hand, and in line with Saudi values and traditions on the other hand.
Ahmed bin Muhammad Al-Sayegh, who worked under his command with the royal ceremonies for sixteen years, wrote about him in the Saudi newspaper Al-Jazeera (3/27/2013), describing him as “among a group of men who contributed to the renaissance of the nation.” In the same article, Al-Sayegh quoted Dr. Zuhair Kutbi as saying about the man that he “had the advantages and qualities of a diplomatic statesman, and it is not surprising that he was like that, because he is from the school of Faisal bin Abdulaziz, from which distinguished men emerged who carried out the responsibilities entrusted to them with all their merit and competence.” And they were at the level of leadership confidence ».
Dr. Kutbi had published an article in Al-Jazeera newspaper on March 21, 2013 about Mr. Ahmed, in which he described him as a rare and distinguished political encyclopedia and as a “philosopher of ceremonial diplomacy in the Arab world.” He said about him that he managed in his work and responsibilities to mix between philosophy, politics and history. And the geography and political thought of the Kingdom’s guests from the visiting leaders of the countries, their character and habits according to a sequential and organized informational approach that is characterized by extreme accuracy and is ready for use in time of need.
And Ahmed Badeeb wrote about him in July 2010 in Issue 33 of the “Jeddah” magazine issued by the Jeddah Municipality, saying: “I knew him more than forty years ago, so if I talked to him about politics, I found an old politician who knew the insides of things, and if I talked to him in literature, I found a classy writer who memorizes From literature, what enchants you. And if you talk to him as a journalist, you will find with him what you do not find with the people of the press, because he is familiar with all its aspects and knows most of its people.
As for our friend Hussein Shobokshi, he wrote about him in the newspaper “Okaz” (4/4/2022), saying: “The man was known for his tact, good dress and the elegance of his behavior. He enjoyed tremendous confidence from the leadership through its various stages, and his loyalty was legendary and his loyalty was extraordinary. In addition, he was a storehouse of memories and secrets about his work periods, which he refused to write down in a book or record in television episodes, out of concern for him on the principle that all of these matters fall within the secrets he holds. I swear to keep it in the country.”
Vice Sanctuary
“Ahmed Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab, the deputy of the sanctuary,” and this is his full name, was born in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in the year 1931, and his name was associated with his Meccan citizens with the title “Al-Sayyid” in relation to the gentlemen from the family of the House of people of lineage, knowledge, virtue, and ancient history inherited from generation to generation.
His birth was to a father, “Sayyid Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab,” whose family came to Mecca at the beginning of the eleventh century to take over the construction of what was destroyed from the Kaaba in the year 1040 AH. He grew up in the holy capital and studied under the scholars of the Grand Mosque before he went to Istanbul to study law. He also represented the Hijaz later in the Ottoman envoys' council. During the reign of King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – he was elected president of the first municipal council in Makkah in the Saudi era, then he took over the endowment administration, obtained membership in the Shura Council, and participated in the membership of a number of councils and committees entrusted with many service tasks, while maintaining at the same time the title of “deputy.” sanctuary.”
Regarding the title of “Deputy of the Sanctuary”, which stuck to his family name, Abdullah Fadaq explained to the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan (4/9/2022) that the first person to carry this title, which places on the bearer the task of supervising the imams, muezzins and all workers in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, is Qadi The city, Mr. Muhammad Al-Anfouri, then his family continued to inherit the position. And when King Abdulaziz took charge of the Hejaz in 1924, he gave the Grand Mosque a special administration and supported the family’s continued service of the sanctuary and the continuation of its title of “deputy of the sanctuary.”
During that period, Sayyid Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab had a close relationship with the Viceroy of the Hijaz, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz (the king later), as he was among the constellation of citizens of the Kingdom of Hijaz and the Kingdom of Najd who demanded the founding King Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God have mercy on him – to join them to become the Kingdom. Saudi Arab. He mentions that the Egyptian writer Ibrahim Abdel-Qader Al-Mazni referred to him in a book he published half a century ago, and said that he had learned Turkish and mastered it, as well as French, and added that: “The most creative speaker and the most elegant man, in whom there is kindness, mercy, gentleness, and virility, and there is no one in the Hijaz who does not feel comfortable with his council and desires his speech, and he is On his circumstance and humor, he is a dignified sack with an opinion, matured by age, experiences and intellect, and enriched by knowledge and knowledge.
Mr. Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab, the deputy of the Haram, died in 1918, leaving behind his wife, Mrs. Nafisa bint Muhammad bin Othman, the deputy of the Haram, and his only son, Sayyid Ahmed, who was at the time no more than twelve years old, and because of his strong relationship with al-Faisal, the latter, and in the initiative of Wafaa Ghair Surprised by him, he embraced the widowed mother and the orphan child, and surrounded them with his care in the middle of his palace, and made the mother responsible for his palace, and ensured the care and education of her son in the Amiri Model School in Taif with his princely children, while treating him as one of them, but also sent him to Egypt to study at the famous Victoria College, Where he accompanied the late Jordanian monarch King Hussein, Kamal Adham, the artist Omar Sharif and others.
After graduating and returning to the Hijaz, Mr. Ahmed remained close to Al-Faisal and his family for decades. In 1962, Al-Faisal, in his capacity as Crown Prince and Prime Minister, issued an order appointing “Mr. Al-Faisal in most of his extensive official visits to the countries of the world, east and west, and he also accompanied Kings Khalid and Fahd on their foreign visits until the year 1985 came in which the man asked the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz to excuse him, so His Majesty responded to his request, and issued a royal order on 20/ 12/1405 AH dismissed him from his position, then His Majesty honored him in a gesture of loyalty typical of the Kingdom's leaders to the loyal and loyal statesmen.
Near To Al Faisal
There is no doubt that his presence for many years near Al-Faisal, as a prince and then a king, gave him many qualities and provided him with many experiences and skills that helped him in his practical life and official duties. Hence, it was said that he is a graduate of Al-Faisal School in wisdom, cunning, good management, thinking, quick wit, and the art of listening and addressing.
In an article written by His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper (4/2/2022) mourning Mr. Ahmed, who was raised in his father’s house and knew him closely, he said: “I knew him from my childhood, a brother and a friend. Nice coven, generous manners, loyal to say, the owner of a blink. Opening the door of his house for each Tariq, and providing his lunch for each visitor. His Highness added that Mr. Ahmed «in his youth, he used to accompany my mother on her travels, then he supervised the follow-up of my younger sister's studies in Switzerland. When he was appointed chief of royal ceremonies, he brought all the information about this profession from the most prestigious countries and developed its system, taking what suits the traditions and customs of the country as a guide. The late kings, under whose banners he worked, assigned him secret tasks in some matters in addition to his work, and he was a secret-keeper who did not reveal what he had in his work except what he was allowed to reveal, so he was the best person to gain their trust.
Notable social presence
After leaving his official job, he turned to his private life, staying away from the limelight and refusing to conduct media interviews, but he maintained his relations with the men of his country, including officials, notables, notables, thinkers and media professionals, through a meeting that he organized in his home every Thursday, in which he tells the audience pages of his country's glorious history through Tales and anecdotes that he experienced and witnessed during his work in the royal ceremonies. He remained in this state until God took him. Mr. Hussein Shobokshi wrote in the newspaper “Okaz” (a previous source) about Sayyid Ahmed’s council, inspired by his frequent visits. He said: “Sayyid Ahmed Abd al-Wahhab had a remarkable and distinguished social presence. It has become a characteristic of his elegance and his mark, which his loved ones and acquaintances are accustomed to.”
Mr. Ahmed Abdel-Wahhab moved to the side of his Lord in one of the private hospitals in Jeddah at dawn on Friday the twenty-ninth of the month of Sha’ban 1443 AH corresponding to the first day of the month of April 2022 AD, leaving behind his wife, Mrs. Al-Tamimi), and a fragrant biography replete with noble morals and great deeds. He was prayed the next day in the Grand Mosque, and his burial body was buried in the tombs of Al-Mualla in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, among a crowd of mourners from senior officials and various segments of society.
Written by: Dr. Abdullah Al-Madani
