The Stallion Muhalhil and Mr. Charles Crane
How Al-Oqilat Chivalry Helped Pave the Way for the Discovery of the Arabian Peninsula’s Resources
Biographies and Stories of Notable FiguresMohammed Al-Fawzan, son of the Al-Oqilat sheikh Fawzan Al-Sabiq, relates: “The story took place in 1927, when the American millionaire Mr. Charles Crane came to visit my father in Egypt on the recommendation of the American Legation in Cairo. He asked to see the purebred Arabian horses my father owned.”
The horses were paraded before him in the stable. When he stopped in front of one stallion, he cried out in astonishment: “My God, what magnificence!”The stallion was named “Muhalhil.”Brilliant white and a marvel of beauty and strength, he had won every race he entered.
The Blank Check and the Unexpected Reply:
Unable to contain his excitement, Mr. Crane took his checkbook from his pocket and signed a check in blank, He left Sheikh Fawzan to determine the price. Sheikh Fawzan simply turned to the interpreter and said: “Tell Mr. Crane to put his checkbook back in his pocket. The horse is my gift to him—he is yours!”Mr. Crane was astonished by such generosity. Within days, Muhalhil was aboard a ship sailing from Alexandria to the United States.
A Letter of Thanks from America
On 10 July 1928, Sheikh Fawzan received a letter from Mr. Crane enclosing a photograph of the horse. It read:
“Dear Sheikh Fawzan: I have sent you a photograph of your beautiful horse. Although Virginia is famous for its excellent horses, equestrian enthusiasts who have heard about yours travel great distances simply to see and admire him. Please convey my greetings to your great leader, Abdulaziz Al Saud, and my wishes for prosperity to you and your country. Sincerely, Charles R. Crane.”
The Far-Reaching Historical Consequences
Historian Robert Lacey writes that the gesture astonished Crane, who was unaccustomed to such pure Arab generosity. It left a deep impression on him and inspired him to repay the Kingdom, saying: “Your country is poor, but mineral wealth must lie beneath its soil. Please allow me to provide the services of an engineer to survey the Arabian Peninsula and discover what it contains.”.
King Abdulaziz—may Allah have mercy on him—therefore approved Charles Crane’s visit and personally received him in Jeddah in 1931. This began the historic process that, within a few years, led to the discovery of oil wells and remarkable mineral wealth in the Kingdom. It was all an indirect result of the chivalry of a true Al-Oqilat man.