𝐇𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐳 (𝐌𝐞𝐜𝐜𝐚 & 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚) 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐫𝐚 ! Arab citizens of Hejaz were given special tax reliefs and were supported by many Vakf properties (endowment funds). Ottoman governer of Hejaz was also stationed in Jeddah, not Mecca or Medina in respect for the House of Shareef which ruled Hejaz since Abassid era. The Ottomans co-opted House of Shareef and let them rule Hejaz with considerable autonomy. Yet, modernists and prejudiced people would want us to believe that somehow the Ottomans were Turkic nationalists who hated the Arabs which is gross propaganda. While is true that the "Young Turks" were racists and Arabophobic but their wrongful anti-Arab policies shouldn't be linked with the Ottoman rulers since the former were worst political opponents of the Sultans. They dethroned Sultan Abdulhamid II and exiled him to the Altini Mansion in Thessaloniki. So, overall the Ottoman rulers for around 400 years ruled the Arabs with fairness & respect by honoring the Arab culture and language. There was no attempt to Turkify the Arabs or discriminate them, rather they were always treated like first class citizens as members of the Muslim Ummah. Professor Kenneth W Harl states that there was little serious opposition to Ottoman rule in Arab provinces until 19th century when nationalism began. Still, majority Arabs rejected Arabism and chose Pan-Islamic approach by supporting the Ottoman state in World War 1. Some 30 percent or more of the wartime Ottoman military of 3 million was been made up of Arab conscripts. Arab units served with distinction on all fronts, including Gallipoli and Russia. May we achieve unity again ❤️ Sources: Wakf." Brill Encyclopedia of Islam. Faroqhi, Suraiya (1994). Pilgrims and Sultans: The Hajj under the Ottomans 1517–1683.p. 126. The Ottoman Empire lecture series by Professor Kenneth W Harl available at the Great Courses Plus. Provence, Michael: Arab Officers in the Ottoman Army , in: 1914-1918-online. #Islam #IslamicHistory #Ottoman #Osmanli #Turkey #Khilafah #Ertugrul #Arabs #Mecca