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Mohammad Rafie
Hussain Marafie
1909 – 1976
Mohammad Rafie Marafie was born in Marafie neighbourhood in
1909. His father owned seven dhows which were seafaring in
between Kuwait, Basra and India with the trading and
transportation of goods & passengers. Despite his father
being a known ‘money lender’ of huge amounts, Mohammad Rafie
and his brothers, by abiding the principles, did not dare to
claim any of the outstanding dues owed to their father by
the people at large. Being an innate businessman, Mohammad
Rafie at the age of fourteen sailed to India, a country
known for its trade and culture. He initiated the business
with just Rs.200/- He traded on Bicycles which were boxed in parts and shipped to Kuwait. A group of trained
Kuwaiti youths would assemble the bicycles. Half a rupee was
charged for each bicycle given on rent for the whole day.
With the expansion of business, he started exporting
bicycles from India to Basra.
In due course, he switched his business interest over to the
trading of kerosene burners, then widely used in Kuwait. He
imported these burners in parts from Abadan in order to
reduce the shipping cost. This business introduction created
more jobs for the Kuwaitis too. He associated with Indian
Watch Agents who in turn redirected him to Swiss companies.
Further, he was advised to import medicines from USA,
especially the medicinal eye drops which was known for its
effectiveness and instant cure in the treatment of eye
diseases, very common those days.
Mohammad Rafie had his education from the domestic schools
known then as “Alktateeb.” Part of his studies was done at
Almubarakia School too. The prevailing political scenario
coupled with his frequent visits & travels in between Basra,
Baghdad, India and Oman, created in him strong interest in
politics and public relations. Al-Naqeeb diwan in Basra then
known as the Centre of politics played a vital role in
imparting education to men of fine standards and staunch
faith. This shaped him as a man of calibre and personality
which invariably helped him to establish high level contacts
& relationships. Shaikh Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was a
close friend of Mohammad Rafie. While in India he
maintained very good relationship with Al-Ibrahim family,
Al-Bahar family, Al-Marsouq family, Al-Ghanim family, Salem,
and Fahad Al-Sdairawy.
Mohammad Rafie is remembered as a man of high eloquence,
strong calibre and mighty courage. In 1938 while the
assembly session “Almajless” was going on he braved to meet
the British Consul who requested for his interference in
solving the politically sensitive issue since Kuwait, a
Protectorate country was constantly under the attack of the
greedy regional powers. The Council applauded and well
received the electrifying speech rendered by the young man
of 29. The British Consul could find none other more
affluent, powerful and capable to address such an issue.
Mohammad Rafie was one of the founder members of Kuwait
sports associations. While in India he played football with
his colleagues; Hamad Saleh Al-Homaidhy, Ahmed Zaid Al-Sarhan,
Mohammad Abdulmohsen Al-Kharafie, Ahmed Al-Rizougie and
Salem Fahad Al-Sdairawy and others, who too had prospective
trade businesses with India. Mohammad Rafie established the
first Kuwaiti football team in the year 1931, and the first
public match was played in the year 1932 before a massive
Kuwaiti crowd.
Constituent Assembly:
The late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah issued an Amiri
Decree dated 30/12/1961 declaring The Call for Election of a
Constitutional Assembly with the intention of establishing
the constitution of the State of Kuwait. Sheikh Abdullah
Al-Salem’s main objective was to establish strong regime thereby
providing protection to Kuwait, establishing social justice
and preserving the unity and stability of the country.
This Assembly was the first of its kind after the
independence of Kuwait that had enabled the Kuwaiti people
to carry out parliamentary order by direct ballot, deciding
their representatives.
He was nominated for the Constitutional Assembly. His
objective was to establish democracy in the State of Kuwait;
promoting it as a first class country, among other states,
with status, recognition and fame.
He was elected from the constituency of Alsharq area
together with Mansour Moussa Al-Mazeedi. There were 10
Constituencies: Alsharq, Aljeblah, Alshuwaikh, Alshamiyah,
Kaifan, Alqadissiyah, Aldassmah, Alsalmiyah, Alahmadi and
Aljahra. Two representatives from each constituency were
nominated in addition to the ministers designated.
On January 20th, 1962, Amiri Decree No. 1/1962
was issued declaring The Call for the Constitutional
Assembly to hold its First Session.
Among the attendees of the first session were: Ahmad Khalid
Al-Fouzan, Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Al-Khatib, Abdullatif
Thunaiyan Al-Ghanim, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad, Mohammad Rafie
Hussain Marafie, and Abdullaziz Hamad Al-Sager.
Contributions made
towards the Constitutional Assembly:
Mohammad Rafie Hussain Marafie’s concerns were primarily
related to the welfare of the country and the people of
Kuwait that were well reflected in his contributions and
proposals made in the assembly. Being friendly, honest he
maintained a very close allegiance with all. He strove for
the unity of the country and emphasised that every Kuwaiti’s
mission is: to endeavour towards the strength, status,
dignity, equality, fraternity and liberty of the country.
Constitution, ‘the
Fourth Wall (Alsoor) of Kuwait.
When the constitutional assembly voted for the constitution
of the State of Kuwait in November, 1962, one of his sons
had been quoted as having said, “Our father came home with
the smile all over his face. He surprised us by saying,
‘Today we finalized with the building of Kuwait’s Forth
Wall.’ “We being kids did not know Kuwait had four walls,”
‘the first wall was built in the year 1762 during the reign
of Sheikh Abdullah the first, and the second was built in
the year 1814 during the reign of Sheikh Jaber Ben Abdullah,
and the third one was built after the battle of Hamdh in the
year 1921 during the reign of Sheikh Salem Al-Mubarak
Al-Sabah.’ He paused then said, "but what we have achieved
today was the constitution, which will hold Kuwait’s
legitimacy and defend the people of Kuwait just like a
fourth wall that will deter the enemies of Kuwait.”
The above description reflects on Mohammad Rafie Marafie’s
spirit of patriotism. He would readily sacrifice anything
for the nation’s stability and progress under the rich
legacy of His Highness the Amir and the Crown Prince who
represented the legitimate ruling family. A ruling family of
Kuwait stands synonymous to mind’s insurmountable passion &
fervour held towards the stability, security and progress of
one’s country.
Illustrious
Personality and Act of Charity
Mohammad Rafie Marafie was a distinguished personality full
of compassion, generosity and humanitarian considerations
towards all. He would extend valuable help to the poor and
the needy without letting it known to others. He believed in
‘what the right hand does should not be known by the left.’
However, due to the enormity of the fund, the amount donated
or given as charity to neighbouring countries without any
publicity,was revealed to general public through media or by
word of mouth.
In his effort to promote the general health of the Iraqi
people in Basra, he built a Paediatric Speciality Hospital
during 1952 which was known as “Marafie Hospital.” Today it
is known by the name “Aljimhouri Hospital.”
In the year 1968, when the coup d’etat was held against
Abdulkareem Qassim, the president of Iraq; Mohammad Rafie
who was supervising the hospital expansion project in Basra
fell sick and had to return to Kuwait. Owing to the coupe
since Safwan border station between Iraq & Kuwait was
ordered to be closed he got stranded at the border. Later,
though the order was temporarily reversed by the Governor of
Basra with a view of granting him permission to cross,
having found more than 300 stranded Kuwaitis at the border,
Mohammad Rafie refused to proceed any further saying “these
people are my fellow countrymen hence I will not leave
without them.” Immediately, the border captain in charge
sought the Governor’s permission for the entire group. This
proves his chivalry.
Mohammad Rafie considered every human being as one and
therefore his sense of equality too grew with him. This was
well defined by an incident that took place. Once, the
dispute he had had with a Kuwaiti merchant led him to resort
to the court’s interference in settling the matter. Those
days the Court and the Judges were highly feared out of
one’s deep reverence towards it. At the commencement of the
court session, to Mohammad Rafie’s dismay, his opponent was
found sitting while he had to stand for want of seats.
Without thinking the aftermath, his immediate instinct urged
him to question this issue before the court. His query was
well endorsed by the court and ruled in his favour. This
vividly states how strongly he despised oppression and
injustice.
On another occurrence, when a slight skirmish surfaced
between Kuwaitis and the Ja’fariyah National School,
Mohammad Rafie brought the matter before Sheikh Abdullah
Al-Salem. Since incidents of this kind were stray, strange
and seldom heard of during the reign of Sabah the First,
Sheikh Abudulla Al-Salem discreetly handled the matter with
stringent warning to all, signifying his firmness and
discerning prudence along with that of Mohammad Rafie’s
vivacity.
Upright and
Respectable Personality…
Once, during 1940s, a Jewish businessman from Basra wanted
to send his two daughters to India for their education.
Having heard much of Mohammad Rafie’s promising
personalities and his planned recent trip to India, through
his friends as tradesmen, he met & implored Mohammad Rafie
if he could take the responsibility of reaching his
daughters safely to their family in India. With no
hesitation Mohammad Rafie agreed to a father’s genuine
concern and saw to it through.
Advice and Guidance
Mohammad Rafie was always benevolent to his friends. He was
known for his good advice and right guidance. Once Mohammad
Rafie’s good friend was negotiating a property deal in which
the same piece of land was simultaneously desired by the
proprietor’s close friend too. In order to settle the deal
by selling to the best quote with an immediate 50% advance
by cheque, both were asked to meet at the proprietor’s
office.
Mohammad Rafie, on hearing this episode through his friend
who approached him for counsel immediately hit upon the
tricky plot meted out by the owner. By involving his ‘poor
friend’, the Proprietor’s intention was to put up a false
impression of high demand for the property. Nevertheless,
friend’s justifiable land price assessment, as per Mohammad
Rafie’s advice, instigated the ‘poor friend’ of the
proprietor to continue escalating the price as was
pre-planned until he got trapped down by the immediate
withdrawal of Mohammad Rafie’s friend from the entire deal.
Further to this, ‘poor friend’s’ apparent failure in
producing a cash cheque, as was agreed, instantly revealed
proprietor’s wicked plot as admitted by this ‘poor friend.’
This news spread like a wild fire and became the ‘talk of
the town.’
The Call for Liquor
Ban in Kuwait:
Liquor business, then managed by Grey Mackenzie, was
permitted only to non Muslim sects. Realizing the
implications & repercussion of such a fast pacing business
while standing within the boundaries of religious
principles, a team of Kuwaiti personnel: Mohammad Rafie
Marafie, Abdullah Ali Al Abdulwahab and Ahmad Bazee Al-Yasseen,
Abdulaziz Abdulmohssen Al-Rashid and others produced a
petition before the Government appealing the ban of liquor
business in Kuwait.
Proposal for the
formation of a Senate in the Year 1963
The first proposal for the formation of a Senate was placed
by Mohammad Rafie Marafie. Abdulaziz Al-Ali Al-Wazan,
Mohamed Yousif Al-Nisif, Abdulaziz Su'oud Al-Rashid,
Abdulaziz Yousif Al-Muzaini and various others participated
in the drafting of the proposal. It was Mohammad Rafie who
presented the proposal before the Amir Sheikh Abdullah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
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