A section of Nigerian Muslims today, Friday, observed Salat al-ghaib (Prayer in Absentia) for both the late emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and top Islamic preacher, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Khaleq who died respectively during the week.
Muslim News findings revealed that the ruler of Kuwait died on Tuesday, aged 91, while the popular scholar answered the call of his Lord on Wednesday, at the age of 80.
At Dawah Center, Ijesha, Lagos Nigeria, hundreds of Muslim faithful observed Salatul Gaib for these two Islamic personalities immediately after the Jumat prayer.
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Muslim News’correspondent witnessed the prayer led by the Grand Mufti of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO), Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii.
After fervent supplications to Allah for the repose of the souls of the deceased persons, Sheikh Shafii took turns to shower encomiums on both the Muslim leader and the scholar for their selfless and seamless contributions to the development of Islam and comfort of Muslims.
Speaking with the congregation during his second khutbah (sermon) which focused on the happenings around the Muslim world, Sheikh Shafi’i said Emir (Sheikh) Al Sabah made huge sacrifices and contributions to the progress and development of Kuwait.
According to him, “The old leader who died at 91 was also always at the forefront of protecting Islam and serving the interest of Muslims at the global scene. He will be deeply missed and remembered for his impact in unifying the ranks of Muslims, especially the Arabian gulf nations.
Sheikh Shafi’i
“I recall that he played a prominent role in mediating between Qatar and Saudi Arabia when they were mired in a messy face-off. His old age didn’t hamper him from prosecuting developmental agendas,” he noted.
Commenting on the personality of the deceased, Sheikh Abdul-Khaleq, Sheikh Shafi’i said although he was born in Egypt, he later got the citizenship of Kuwait.
He added that Sheikh Abdul-Khaleq was a great scholar of Aqeedah and was a foremost Dawah personality, who had students across the world, even in Nigeria.
The spiritual father of The Muslim Congress (TMC) prayed to Allah to forgive their shortcomings and admit them into Al-Jannah Al-Firdaos.
Sheikh Sabah
Sheikh Sabah’s life spanned two very different Kuwaits. He was born June 16, 1929, just as the country’s pearl-diving industry would collapse. Within the decade, Kuwait would strike oil. Engineers would eventually confirm that the tiny country, slightly smaller than the U.S. state of New Jersey, had the world’s sixth-largest known oil reserves.
Sheikh Sabah
Sheikh Sabah became Kuwait’s foreign minister in 1963 after holding a number of other governmental posts. He would remain in that position for four decades, making him one of the world’s longest-serving foreign ministers.
His country’s greatest crisis came in 1990, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and occupied the nation for seven months. Fleeing with other Kuwaiti officials to neighboring Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Sabah collapsed and lost consciousness at one particularly stormy meeting of Arab leaders.
On Feb. 24, 1991, U.S. troops and their allies stormed into Kuwait. It ended 100 hours later. America suffered only 148 combat deaths during the whole campaign, while over 20,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed.
Even before the U.S. entered Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah and others began suggesting a permanent American presence in the region might provide them protection from Iraq and others.
“One learns from the past and learns about it for the future,” Sheikh Sabah reportedly said. “One has to consider arrangements that would make not only my country stable but make the whole area stable.”
Today, Kuwait hosts some 13,500 American troops, many at Camp Arifjan south of Kuwait City, which is also home to the forward command of U.S. Army Central. Read more HERE
Sheikh Abdul-Khaliq
According to the Kuwaiti newspapers, it is mentioned that Sheikh Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Khaliq Al-Youssef was born in Menoufia Governorate in Egypt in 1939, and obtained his degree from the Faculty of Sharia at the Islamic University of Madinah, and worked as a teacher in Kuwait schools from 1965 to 1990, and worked in the field of scientific research at the Society for the Revival of Islamic Heritage in Kuwait. An Amiri decree was issued on October 31, 2011 granting him Kuwaiti citizenship.
Sheikh Abdul Khaliq
For his part, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Khaleq, said in a tweet on his Twitter account: With great sadness and sorrow, we have received the news of the death of the glorified Sheikh Abdul Rahman Abdul Khaleq, and we ask God to have mercy on him with his broad mercy and to dwell in the gardens of Paradise. Read more HERE
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