Haj Amin al-Husseini and the 1921 Grand Mufti Appointment

In 1921, British High Commissioner Herbert Samuel appointed Haj Amin al-Husseini as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a decision that would shape Palestinian politics for decades. This episode examines the political maneuvering behind the appointment: the death of the previous mufti, Kamil al-Husseini; the rival Nashashibi candidate; Samuel's calculus in choosing Amin despite his youth and his role in the 1920 Nebi Musa riots; and how the position was restructured into a lifetime appointment as President of the Supreme Muslim Council. We explore the institutional power this gave Amin over Islamic charities, courts, and the Haram al-Sharif, and how it fueled the factional split between the Husseinis and Nashashibis. The episode also touches on the British strategy of indirect rule through religious figures, and the long-term consequences for Palestinian national leadership.

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