King Abdullah of Saudi: Few Memorable Moments Like doctors, even writers dont have a confirmed leave or holidays even if they are sick. Last night I submitted an absent leave from notes due to heavy fever and gladly the readers accepted it and prayed for me. At 4 am my phone buzzed and I got the message of King Abdullahs death. I must write a little about him but first a prayer for him, May Allah pardon his sins and grant him Jannah. Few years back I spotted an invitation from the King Abdullah for participating in a conference in Makkah on A discussion on Interfaith Dialogue . The invitation was for Dr Zakir Naik but since he was not in India I was told to attend. The venue was the Palace right opposite the Haram in Makkah. The King had invited all the prominent scholars of the Muslim world to take their view on holding a Government backed Interfaith Dialogue. I was over joyed to see the Religious dignitaries all assembled at one place. There was Shaikh Salman Oudha, among the most influential scholar of Saudi, sitting right ahead of me, very popular for his website Islamtoday. Every scholar gave his view in form of comments. There was a thunderous comment from an elderly man sitting a few rows ahead of me. We should have dialogues but also cross out a few people with whom there should be no dialogues He was referring to Zionist Israel. My neighbour whispered,He is Yusuf Qardhawi from Egypt. During the break I took up a chance to meet as many scholars as I could, ( Yes I have a fascination to meet the scholars). I shook hands with all my favourite scholars including Shaikh Salman Oudha. I met Jamal Badawi for the first time, Jamal Badawi is settled in Canada, and is considered to be the best in routing Christian missionaries in academic debates. I had seen his videos in IRF and wanted to meet him. There were most of the stars from religious galaxy. The King arrived at exact time. He was of a strong built and a tall man with broad shoulders and walked very fast. At that time he was 86. He delivered a speech and it was a soft tone unlike the Indian and the Pakistani politicians who roar at every opportunity. The next month I spotted the invitation again, this time in Madrid, Spain. Again as Allah wished, Dr Zakir Naik was not in India so I was asked to represent IRF. There were representatives from most of the major Religions. It was hosted in the palace of the King of Spain. There was a Shankarachrya from India and it was carefully seen that he got vegetarian food as per his request. Swami Agniwesh too gave a good speech. Some of the Jewish religious leaders gave amazing insights of Palestinian problems and I got the first account of how the Jewish masses differed from Zionist Israel regime. During the break I got a chance to interact with prominent Jewish scholars of Europe. It was then, that I got the biggest forecast of my entire writing career when a Jewish scholar said to me, The biggest threat of a nuclear war is not between US and Russia or India-Pakistan but between Europe and Israel. The others sitting on the dining table nodded their heads with an agreement. I also met his brother Prince Sultan who died a few months later. He hold my hand strongly and smiled as if he knew me for years. My palms were softer as compared to the rocky hands of the king. I could not believe that he was almost the double the age of mine and yet stronger than me. After the session was over each one of us got a chance to meet the King Abdullah. There was no aura of status like our democratic rulers who are always surrounded by black cats and extra political protocols. This man was simple with no Kingly traits but the well wisher of his subjects. That Jumuah I visited a huge Masjid cum Islamic center in Madrid. It was more of a Dawah center too and it was built by the Saudi Government. In a day King Abdullah wil be buried in a simple grave like every Muslim should be. Nobody to mark out a special structures on his grave. They dont build Tajmahals on their graves but schools and medical centers to be remembered in the Duas of the beneficiaries. “There is no Muslim who dies on the day of Friday or the night of Friday, but Allah will protect him from the trial of the grave.” (The Prophet ﷺ, Narrated by Ahmad, 6546; al-Tirmidhi, 1074. al-Albani, hasan, saheeh). May Allah forgive him.. ameen and grant him Jannah Ameeen
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 07:29:03 +0000
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