Sayyids as members of the elite
Description
Sayyids, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, were not only ruling the country as imams. They were also present in most administrative ranks and were viewed as privileged members of the local elite. In this photo, you see sayyid Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Qādir, who held the position of governor of Sanaa, and his son Muḥammad, both in white turbans that marked their belonging to the scholarly and sayyid community.
Gellius Flieringa, Links de Amil van Sanʿāʾ, Sajid Hoesein Abdoelkadir - rechts zijn zoon Sajid Mohamad Abdoelkadir / [On the left Sayyid Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Qādir, who held the position of governor of Sana’a, and on the right his son Muḥammad], in: [photo album] Zuid-Arabië. Reis van den Heer Flieringa (1934-1935) / [South Arabia. Journey of Mr. Flieringa (1934-1935)], photo 74 (Or. 26.375: 74)
Gellius Flieringa, Links de Amil van Sanʿāʾ, Sajid Hoesein Abdoelkadir - rechts zijn zoon Sajid Mohamad Abdoelkadir / [On the left Sayyid Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Qādir, who held the position of governor of Sana’a, and on the right his son Muḥammad], in: [photo album] Zuid-Arabië. Reis van den Heer Flieringa (1934-1935) / [South Arabia. Journey of Mr. Flieringa (1934-1935)], photo 74 (Or. 26.375: 74)