Sunday, January 25, 2015

Allahu Yarhamuhu Ya Abu Meteb

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud

With the news of King Abdulla's demise, there has been many negative comments coming through about him being a bad person supporting a Zionist movement etc. Whilst Muslims from other parts of the world may say good riddance, he was undoubtedly a peoples king. The Saudi people loved their King especially the women. During his reign he did a lot for women's rights and female education in the Kingdom. He was in support of women driving in the Kingdom considering that his own daughters knew how to drive. He wanted to bring about more reform but there is a fine line between liberalism and a culture of tribal rule. My fondest memories of him was watching him being wheeled into the hospital when he got ill a few years ago. I will never forget that night. My colleague and good friend was the night manager on duty. He got a call from the Royal clinic stating that the King is on his way to the hospital. My colleague rushed down to the pharmacy basement asking me to assist him with looking for the Kings bed which was stashed away in a store room. We searched for the bed from one store room to the other eventually finding it just in time for the Kings arrival. When he arrived at the hospital, he greeted the staff with a smile on his face. He was a grandfatherly figure to everyone around him. The Saudi staff waited in line to greet him. Whilst his face never really gave away his age, he was old and I am sure that he would have loved to do more for his people but age was of course against him. To the Saudi people he was regarded as their father. He was given that respect and status by his people and whilst he may have made bad decisions with regards to supporting a zionist regime at the end of it all we are no one to judge him as a person. I recall a story that a colleague of mine related to me. He told me that many years ago the King had a maid from Eritrea and her duty was only to make him a morning cup of tea. She worked at the palace for many years until one day she informed King Abdulla that she needed to leave as her mom was very ill and required medical attention. He gave her two bags of money. When she stepped out of the palace the guards on duty were under the impression that she had stolen the money. After liaising with the King she was allowed to leave. In Eritrea, the maid put her mom in a private medical facility and also managed to buy out a small hotel whereby she could earn a decent living and provide for her family.
I got a call in the early hours of this morning from his nephew who told me that there is sadness within the Kingdom. He stated that whilst some people out there may have been unhappy with his uncles views concerning foreign policies , his uncle passed away on a Friday as a Muslim. May Allah grant him the highest stages of Jannah.

I find it shocking that there are Muslims out there who are posting ridiculous comments on other forums with regards to Abu Meteb's death,
" He does not deserve to get a Friday."
" He does not deserve to be buried in Mecca..Astaghfirullah."
" How come he got a Friday for his wrongdoings."

How can we judge another human being. He might have been a bad person to the world but in Allah's eyes he may have been a good human being. I can not handle the shallow way of thinking of some of our narrow minded South African Muslims. We enjoy division rather than unity. We enjoy judging others yet we fail to ponder over our own wrongdoings. As a Muslim and a fellow human being, I say Allahu yar7amuhu Abu Meteb... May Allah grant you the highest stages of jannah and sabr jameel to your family.......

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