# Sherif Abdulla — Seven Pillars of Wisdom character guide > Sherif Abdulla in Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Abdulla, Sherif Abdulla ibn Thawab, Abdulla el Deleimi **First appearance:** 0014-x ## Snapshot A Sherif commander whose cautious, book-bound hesitation in the field forces Lawrence to ride ahead and make the decision himself. ## Who they are Abdulla is one of Feisal's lieutenants, a leader whose instinct is to wait for exact word from his advance-guard before committing his men. Lawrence finds this caution exasperating — 'they knew I was a sham soldier, and took licence to hesitate over my advice' — and simply rides off to prejudge the matter himself. His presence in the early campaigns shows the friction between Arab command culture and Lawrence's improvised, forward-leaning style, and his reports from the front shape how the revolt's battles are understood. ## In the story ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/v) Tasked with sounding the British by letter about a possible Arab revolt. ### [Book I: The Discovery of Feisal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/book-i-the-discovery-of-feisal) Found to be too clever. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/viii) Second son of Sherif Hussein; presents the Arab perspective on the campaign and negotiates with Lawrence and Storrs. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/ix) Hosts Storrs and Lawrence; reveals his scheme for the Arab revolt, which Lawrence dislikes. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xi) Companion; plays at eating the food and goes to buy tobacco. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xiv) Mentioned in Lawrence's story about Abdulla el Raashid's fear of British presence. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xvii) Left Mecca on November 12, now blockading Medina from Henakiyeh with about four thousand men. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xviii) Helps Zeid escape the Turkish attack at Bir Said. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxii) Abdulla is in Henakiyeh with irregulars; Feisal and Lawrence plan to redirect him to Wadi Ais to threaten the railway. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxv) Captures Eshref Bey near Kheibar, writes an exultant letter to Fakhri Pasha. ### [Book III: A Railway Diversion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/book-iii-a-railway-diversion) Lawrence goes to seek his cooperation for the campaign. ### [Life in Wejh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxix) Abdulla's machine gunners are camped near Rasim's artillery in regular lines. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxi) Lawrence travels to Wadi Ais to persuade him to act against the Turks. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxii) Met at Abu Markha; Lawrence delivers Feisal's documents and receives permission to rest. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxiii) Visits Lawrence in his tent; speaks of Arab independence and the issue of Turkish presence in Arab lands. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxiv) Apathetic and more interested in European politics than the war; allows the raid. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxvi) Lawrence finds Abdullah kind but dislikes his camp; portrays him as lazy, self-indulgent, insincere, and politically naive about British promises. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xxxvii) Shows jealousy of Feisal, neglects military operations, but eventually permits Lawrence's activities. ### [LXXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxii) Mentioned as conducting operations near Medina. ### [LXXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxiii) Recruited as Abdulla el Nahabi, the Robber; a colorful and lawless man who joins Lawrence's bodyguard after a series of adventures and misfortunes. ### [LXXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxv) Sent forward with two Hotchkiss guns to test the enemy; his charge drives Turkish cavalry back before being checked by the main body. ### [LXXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxvi) Arrives with the main body of reinforcements. ### [LXXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/lxxxvii) Animal lover who cared for the camels in the yard at Tafileh. ### [XCIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xciii) Member of Lawrence's party; brings supper after Farraj's death. ### [CIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/civ) A member of Lawrence's bodyguard who questions the British practice of shooting wounded camels, offering a cultural perspective on death. ### [CX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cx) Leads the charge at Mezerib; finds grain, flour, and booty. ### [CXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/cxii) Rallies the hesitant bodyguard with the Zaagi, driving them forward. ### [Portraits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/portraits) Portrait by Kennington. ### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations) Depicted in a portrait titled 'Emir Abdulla' by Kennington. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/characters/abdulla - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/characters