The Arab revolt was dynastic and religious, not nationalist.

Evidence

Basically, however, this program was dynastic and separatist rather than na­ tionalist. Dealings between the Sherif of Mecca and Arab nationalist societies did not go smoothly. It is significant that when he rose in revolt against the Otto­ mans his manifesto was expressed in traditional religious terms rather than in Arab national terms. In it he denounces the Young Turks as impious innovators who were endangering Islam and depicts his own action as being taken in defense of the faith. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 861

Categorization

Category: Contrarian or Surprising Claims

• XREF: Contradicts the standard nationalist framing of the Arab Revolt in popular histories and films like Lawrence of Arabia.

Related

• Husayn’s revolt was dynastic-religious, not Arab nationalist (similarity 0.92)
• The Arab Revolt functioned as a foundation myth for both sides. (similarity 0.84)
• Husayn’s authentic manifestos stressed Islam, not Arabism (similarity 0.81)
• Britain initiated the Arab revolt negotiations to weaken the Ottomans. (similarity 0.81)
• Arab leaders grew candid about national goals while ideology lagged behind. (similarity 0.80)
• British wartime policy, not Arab nationalism, launched the Arab revolt (similarity 0.79)