King Fahd buried without in an unmarked grave
King Fahd's burial - Jet setting billionaire Saudi buried in 'paupers' grave
In the presence of leaders from across the Muslim world, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia was buried in an austere ceremony at odds with the ostentatious wealth of his oil kingdom.
In keeping with the country's pure Islamic traditions, the proceedings were not billed as a state funeral - all men being viewed as equal, and flawed, under God.
In the presence of leaders from across the Muslim world, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia was buried in an austere ceremony at odds with the ostentatious wealth of his oil kingdom.
In keeping with the country's pure Islamic traditions, the proceedings were not billed as a state funeral - all men being viewed as equal, and flawed, under God.
King Fahd was buried without a coffin in an unmarked grave
The body of the king, draped in a brown robe, was carried into the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah mosque on a wooden stretcher on the shoulders of members of the ruling al-Saud family.
After formal prayers, it was carried in an ambulance from the mosque.
Mourners huddled under a sea of bright umbrellas shading them from the blazing summer heat at the burial in the al-Oud public cemetery.
After formal prayers, it was carried in an ambulance from the mosque.
Mourners huddled under a sea of bright umbrellas shading them from the blazing summer heat at the burial in the al-Oud public cemetery.
There he was lowered into the ground without a coffin, clad in a white shroud in a simple grave, indistinguishable from that of any other. The wealth derived from the world's largest oil reserves was evident only in the fleets of bullet-proof limousines that sped away after the ceremony.
Thus ended the career of one of the world's last absolute monarchs, from one of the world's richest families.
Thus ended the career of one of the world's last absolute monarchs, from one of the world's richest families.
He ruled for 23 years, but for the past 10 was enfeebled by a stroke, leaving the country to be run by his half-brother and successor Abdullah. As a reformer by Saudi standards, there will be hope of at least limited reforms.
Western leaders and other non-Muslims, including the Prince of Wales and Jacques Chirac of France, had an opportunity to offer their condolences later in the day.
President George W Bush sent a message of condolence.
President George W Bush sent a message of condolence.
Although a three-day period of official remembrance was declared across the kingdom, there will be no official period of mourning in Saudi Arabia. Mourning is discouraged under the Islamic creed, which holds that because death is the will of God, mourning suggests some displeasure or discontentment with God's wishes.
Labels: knig
