Ghalib ibn Musa'id


Ghālib ibn Musā‘id ibn Sa‘īd was a sharif who served as Sharif and Emir of Mecca from 1788 to 1813.

Succession to the Emirate

Ghalib was the son of the Emir of Mecca Musa'id ibn Sa'id. After Musa'id's death the Emirate was held by Ghalib's uncle Ahmad ibn Sa'id, then his brother Surur ibn Musa'id. After Surur's death on 18 Rabi al-Thani 1202 AH, his brother Abd al-Mu'in assumed the Emirate. However, he reigned for only a day or part of a day before abdicating in favor of Ghalib. News of Surur's death reached Istanbul in mid-Sha'ban, and Sultan Abdul Hamid I confirmed Ghalib's appointment. The imperial firman and khil'ah arrived in Mecca on 29 Dhi al-Qi'dah 1202 AH.

Conflict with his brothers

On 11 Dhu al-Hijjah 1202 AH some of Ghalib's brothers came out in opposition against his rule. They left Mecca and recruited fighters from the Hudhayl tribe to their cause. On 19 Dhu al-Hijjah the two sides met in battle near Mecca and Ghalib was victorious. The rebels next attempted to capture Ta'if but were defeated by Ghalib's deputy. On 8 Rabi al-Awwal 1203 AH Ghalib's army defeated them again when they advanced on Mecca. In mid-Jumada al-Awwal they allied with the Thaqif tribe and captured Ta'if from Ghalib's deputy. When Ghalib received word that his brothers were preparing to attack Mecca he sent word to the Bedouin tribes for support. On 19 Jumada al-Awwal he amassed his troops at al-Ma'abidah and paid 7 riyals to every Bedouin who joined him. When the rebels learned of the force that Ghalib had assembled they halted their advance and returned to Ta'if. On 24 Jumada al-Awwal, Ghalib and his brothers negotiated a peace agreement with the mediation of Sayyid Nasir ibn Mastur and several leading ulama.

Deposition

He was deposed by Muhammad Ali Pasha in Dhi al-Qi'dah 1228 AH. Muhammad Ali exiled Ghalib to Egypt, but in 1814 the central government arranged for him to be moved along with his family to Selanik.