Battle of Sarif

The Battle of Sarif was a military attempt led by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud to recover the city of Riyadh in 1318 AH / 1901 CE; it was his first attempt on this path, and men of Al Saud and the people of Riyadh took part in it.[1]

This attempt was preceded by the departure of the Al Saud family from Riyadh with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal in 1308 AH / 1890 CE and the taking of Kuwait as a base of departure, and it was followed by the successful attempt in 1319 AH / 1901–1902 CE that led to the recovery of Riyadh.[2]

In 1308 AH / 1890 CE the Al Saud family left Riyadh with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal, and their departure was among those of the people of Riyadh who left with the Imam and his family.[1][2]

The Al Saud family and a number of the people of Riyadh settled in Kuwait, and Kuwait became the base of departure for the efforts to recover Riyadh. Abdullah bin Hamad bin Ibrahim Al-Nafisi was the agent of King Abdulaziz in Kuwait, and he remained there with his family until he became one of its well-known notables.[3]

In 1318 AH / 1901 CE the first attempt of King Abdulaziz to recover Riyadh set out, and it became known as the Battle of Sarif; a number of men of Al Saud and the people of Riyadh took part in it, among them Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdullah, nicknamed “Sunaytan”, who attended a number of the campaigns and battles of the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until he was killed at the Battle of Al-Bukayriyah in 1322 AH / 1904 CE.[1]

Among those who took part in Waq'at al-Sarif was a man who continued the march with King Abdulaziz afterwards; he took part in the annexation of Al-Ahsa and Hail and worked in Masmak Palace when it was used for hospitality for a time, and he died in 1344 AH / 1925 CE.[2]

Waq'at al-Sarif was followed by a new attempt led by King Abdulaziz; he set out with a force from Kuwait in 1319 AH / 1901–1902 CE heading for Riyadh to recover it.[1]

Among the men who set out with him in this attempt was Saud bin Nasser bin Saud bin Farhan Al Saud, who was born in Riyadh and had left with his family in 1308 AH / 1890 CE; he then accompanied King Abdulaziz and his father in the recovery of Riyadh in 1319 AH / 1901–1902 CE, and he died in 1382 AH / 1962 CE.[2]

During the storming of Masmak Fortress, King Abdulaziz kept thirty-three men of Al Saud under the leadership of his brother Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman in a garden near Al-Zahira Gate outside the wall of Riyadh, and then called them in to support the storming of the fortress. Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Al-Nafisi was among these men, and he was wounded during the battle by a severe injury to his ear.[1][3]

The attempt led to the recovery of Riyadh on the fifth of Shawwal 1319 AH / 1902 CE, the first building block in the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[5]

The King Abdulaziz Foundation produced a documentary work on the injury to King Abdulaziz's left eye, containing information on his suffering from it, the causes that led to the injury during the battles to recover the state, and his long course of treatment, which continued until his death.[4]

Q: What is the Battle of Sarif? A: It was the first attempt by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud to recover Riyadh in 1318 AH / 1901 CE, and men of Al Saud and the people of Riyadh took part in it.[1]

Q: When did the Al Saud family leave Riyadh? A: In 1308 AH / 1890 CE with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal, after which Kuwait was taken as a base of departure.[2]

Q: When did the successful attempt to recover Riyadh come? A: In 1319 AH / 1901–1902 CE, and it led to the recovery of Riyadh on the fifth of Shawwal 1319 AH / 1902 CE.[5]

Q: Who led the detachment that King Abdulaziz kept outside the wall of Riyadh? A: It was led by his brother Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and comprised thirty-three men of Al Saud, and it was then called in to support the storming of Masmak Fortress.[1][3]

The Battle of Sarif belongs to the course of the recovery of Riyadh and the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and among the related topics on the platform are the Capture of Riyadh, the Unification of Saudi Arabia and the Third Saudi State.