- Full Name: Abdulmejid bin Abdulaziz
- Title: Last Caliph of Islam (Ottoman Caliphate)
- Reign as Caliph: November 19, 1922 โ March 3, 1924
- Born: May 29, 1868, Istanbul
- Died: August 23, 1944, Paris, France (aged 76)
- Dynasty: Ottoman
- Predecessor: Mehmed VI (as Sultan-Caliph)
- Successor: None (Caliphate abolished)
๐ง Early Life
Abdulmejid II was the son of Sultan Abdulaziz and was educated in the imperial palace. Known for his refined personality, he was deeply interested in art, music, and Western culture. Before becoming Caliph, he had no significant political role and lived a quiet life under palace surveillance.
๐ Role as Caliph
- After the abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate in November 1922, the newly formed Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara elected Abdulmejid II as Caliph, separating spiritual authority from political rule.
- His position was purely ceremonial โ he held no political power and was regarded as a symbolic leader of Muslims.
- Resided in Dolmabahรงe Palace, Istanbul, with a small allowance.
โ๏ธ Abolition of the Caliphate
- Mustafa Kemal Atatรผrk, leader of the Turkish Republic, was uncomfortable with any remaining symbol of Ottoman rule.
- On March 3, 1924, the Turkish Parliament formally abolished the Caliphate.
- Abdulmejid II and his family were expelled from Turkey and stripped of citizenship.
๐ณ๏ธ Life in Exile
- Lived in Switzerland, then France, mainly in Nice and Paris.
- Lived modestly, facing financial hardship.
- Continued painting, writing, and participating in intellectual circles.
- Died in Paris in 1944 and was buried in Medina, next to the Prophet Muhammadโs Mosque โ one of the few remaining honors given to him.
๐จ Personal Traits & Interests
- A talented painter, musician, and writer.
- Spoke multiple languages and was deeply interested in philosophy and modern thought.
- Considered one of the most cultured members of the Ottoman royal family.
๐ Legacy
- The last Ottoman Caliph, Abdulmejid II marked the definitive end of Islamic Caliphate rule that had spanned over 1,300 years since the Rashidun era.
- Revered by some Muslims as a dignified and spiritual figure betrayed by modern politics.
- His peaceful and intellectual nature stood in stark contrast to the turbulent political times in which he lived.
๐ Summary
Abdulmejid II (1922โ1924) was the final Caliph of Islam under the Ottomans, serving in a purely religious role after the empire’s collapse. He was deposed and exiled by the secular Turkish Republic. Though powerless, he is remembered as a refined and cultured leader, closing a monumental chapter in Islamic and world history.
