He later became King Saud of Saudi Arabia, ruling
from 1953 to 1964.
We quote below from the report of his visit as published in the
above issue of the Islamic Review:
“Sunday, June 30, 1935, was a distinctive and memorable
day in the history of the Shah Jehan [Woking] Mosque.
As some of our readers will remember, three years ago our Mosque
was honoured by a visit by the younger son of His Majesty King
Ibn Saud. [Note: This would be the future King
Faisal.] This year, last Sunday, that handsome young
prince has been followed by his eldest brother H.R.H. Prince Amir
Saud, heir-apparent to Saudi Arabia.
The reception was timed 4.30 p.m. His Royal Highness, together
with the Saudi Arabian Minister [Note: Ambassador]
in London, the Private Secretary to the Legation of Saudi Arabia
and two 'Sword Bearers' arrived at the Shah Jehan Mosque shortly
before that time. They were received before our little Mosque
by the Imam sahib, the Secretary at this Mosque, Sir Omar and
Lady Rankin, Mr. Paracha, the President of the Muslim Society
of Great Britain and Sir Abdul Qadir.
The guests were then taken to a marquee on the lawn in front
of the Memorial House attached to the Mosque. Here, standing on
a green carpet with his attendants, the Royal Guest shook hands
with the guests as each of these were introduced to him by the
Imam sahib. Then an address of welcome, printed on Parchment paper,
was read and presented to His Royal Highness by Sir Omar Hubert
Rankin, the well-known baronet who joined the fold of our Faith
about six years ago. The Address stressed the point that, just
as the Kaaba, of which his august father was the guardian, was
the first House of God on Earth, so the little Mosque which he
had that day honoured by his visit was the first House of God
in this far-off Northern Region. In the course of the Address
a very appropriate tribute was paid to the late Al-Haj Khwaja
Kamal-ud-Din, the pioneer of the Faith of Islam in England, through
whose enormous sacrifice and tireless efforts it was that the
Woking Muslim Mission had come into existence about twenty years
ago, and heartfelt thankfulness was expressed for the escape of
His Majesty from the hands of a dastardly assassin in the very
precincts of the Holy Kaaba while he was performing the most sacred
duty that is incumbent on Muslims. The Address closed by wishing
His Royal Highness a long life of devoted and highly esteemed
service to his religion and to the Islamic peoples. Dr. Zada,
the Secretary to the Saudi Arabian Legation in London, translated
the Address into the Arabic language for His Royal Highness…”
