Fahd of Saudi Arabia

Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud ({{lang-ar|فهد بن عبد العزيز آل سعود}}, b.1923 – August 1, 2005) was the king and prime minister of Saudi Arabia and leader of the House of Saud. One of thirty-seven sons of Saudi founder Ibn Saud, and the fourth of his five sons who have ruled the Kingdom (Saud, Faisal, Khalid, Fahd, and Abdullah), Fahd ascended to the throne on the death of his half-brother, King Khalid, on June 13, 1982.

Funeral

He was buried in the last thobe (traditional Arab robe) he wore. Fahd?s body was carried to Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, also called Grand Mosque, and funeral prayers were held at around 3:30 local time (12:30 GMT). The prayers for the late monarch were led by the Kingdom?s grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh.

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The "prayer for the dead", during which mourners remain standing, was recited after afternoon prayers. The ceremony was replicated in other mosques across the vast kingdom, where the "prayer for the absentee" was read.

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Ordinary citizens also took part in the funeral service, albeit without chanting slogans or raising flags, in line with local tradition.

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The body was carried by the Fahd's son, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd, to the mosque and to the Al Od Cemetery some two kilometers away, a public cemetery where Fahd?s four predecessors and other members of the Al Saud ruling family are buried.

Related Topics:
Abdul Aziz bin Fahd - Al Od Cemetery

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Arab and Muslim dignitaries who attended the funeral were not present at the burial. Only ruling family members and Saudi citizens were on hand as the body was lowered into a hole that was be covered by earth, in keeping with the tradition of the strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam which is predominant in Saudi Arabia.

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Muslim leaders offered condolences at the mosque, while other foreign dignitaries and leaders who came after the funeral paid their respects at the royal court.

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In line with the family and official state religion, Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia did not declare a national mourning period. Also, all government offices and public buildings were open as usual and the state flag was not lowered (since the flag of Saudi Arabia bears the shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith, lowering the flag to half mast would be considered blasphemous).

Related Topics:
Wahhabism - Flag of Saudi Arabia - Shahadah - Declaration of faith - Half mast - Blasphemous

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After his death, many countries declared mourning periods. India and Spain have declared Tuesday a national day of mourning. Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Yemen, the Arab League in Cairo, and the Palestinian Authority all declared three-day mourning periods. Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates declared a seven-day mourning period and ordered all flags flown at half-staff. In Jordan, a national three-day mourning period has been declared and a 40-day mourning period has been decreed at the Royal Court.

Related Topics:
Mourning - India - Spain - National day of mourning - Algeria - Egypt - Iraq - Kuwait - Lebanon - Morocco - Oman - Qatar - Syria - Yemen - Arab League - Cairo - Palestinian Authority - Pakistan - United Arab Emirates

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The United States announced that Vice President Dick Cheney would attend the funeral. French President Jacques Chirac announced that he would also attend, as did the United Kingdom's Prince Charles, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Singapore Senior Minister, SM Goh Chok Tong.

Related Topics:
United States - Vice President - Dick Cheney - French - President - Jacques Chirac - Prince Charles - Pervez Musharraf - King - Abdullah II - President - Mahmoud Abbas - Singapore - Senior Minister - Goh Chok Tong

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Also, Lebanon announced that all public buildings would close on the day of the funeral, as did Jordan. The United States Embassy and its consulates in Saudi Arabia would close through Wednesday. All government offices are closed until Tuesday, August 9 in the United Arab Emirates, and, in Oman, all public buildings are closed through Thursday.

Related Topics:
Lebanon - Jordan - United States - Embassy - Saudi Arabia - August 9 - United Arab Emirates - Oman

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