A King Worthy of Respect

I was born in London, lived there for about a year and half, came back to Egypt, lived here till I was about three and a half, then moved with my parents to Saudi Arabia for almost 14 years.

I turned the television on, searching for mbc3 for Omar to watch Cartoons. All I could see was Al Arabeya and something like news of some sort. I was not concentrating much. But no cartoons, I tried mbc2, same as mbc3, tried One TV, same, then I realized a cliche saying that King Fahd had passed away. I found my heart aching and tears came instantly to my eyes. I was in a strange state of feelings. I almost cried like a baby, but held my tears and stood in front of the television as if it were one of my family members that had died.

I never realized I had this in me for the man. I felt a great loss. I felt the Islamic Umma truly lost. I felt I personally lost a dear someone. I was still in shock, it was not the issue of his death, but more about how I reacted to his death.. I kept saying Enna lillah wa ina ilayhi raje3oun, but I felt a bit weak, physically that is, I could not stay standing from the news I had received first thing in the morning. I sat down and watched, when his picture was shown, my tears came down again, and my body shivered in a strange way.

I wanted to write this the day I saw the news, which was the second day after he died (Allahoma Ighfir Laho war7amh), but I just couldn't. No words I can say will suffice for what I believe this king deserves of credit.

I have been having flash backs on and since that day. I went to Riyadh when it was still not such a big town. This city and others in the kingdom grew with me.

As my parents cared and nourished me, King Fahd was also caring for his country and nourishing it, only he was (masha'Allah) going at a much faster rate than my parents were. The kingdom truly grew so fast into one of the most beautiful and organized countries in the world. From desert to green, from void to sky scrapers, and extremely clean, and best of all, on basis of the Islamic Sharee3a.

This man has offered so much to his people, ex-patriots, and in turn to his country. Only he didn't stop at that, his generosity spread to so many different places and peoples.

I can never say enough about this man. I still am surprised at how I felt and still feel about him, I never knew I had all of this in me. I guess it is the good he planted in his country, I received it too. It got embedded within me without me really realizing it.

He was a respectable Moslem King. He was truly Khadem Al 7aramein, thereby khadem to all Moslems for the sake of Allah. That alone is worth so much more than any words may express in terms of credit or acknowledgment.

To me, King Fahd is a unique leader amongst the Arabs and Moslems, and also amongst all other leaders of this whole world. I myself feel grateful to him, since I lived in His country almost half of my life. That initial half built so much in me, taught me so much, although when we are young we do not appreciate things the way we do when we grow up and mature.

I wish I had the chance to write this while he was living, not that he was going to read it, but it is just a feeling I got. But Allah is watching, hearing and He is all knowing. I am sure this will reach to him somehow.

Allahoma Ighfir Le mawta Al Moslemeen, waghfir lel nas ajma3een, wahdy bano Adam Al Sirat Al Mustakeem... Ameen, Ameen, Ameen. (May God Forgive the dead of the Moslems, and forgive all people, and guide all Adam's descendants the straight path, Amen, Amen, Amen)