RIYADH, 8 May 2007 -- Saudi Arabia bid farewell yesterday to one of its beloved leaders, Makkah Gov. Prince Abdul Majeed ibn Abdul Aziz. He had devoted his life to serving in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and before that in the Tabuk region. Hundreds of mourners stood in the 43-degree blazing sun at midday yesterday to attend the funeral prayers and then witness the burial as he was laid to rest in Al-Oud Cemetery.

He died on Friday in the United States after a prolonged illness at the age of 64.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan arrived at the Imam Turki ibn Abdullah Mosque shortly after the Dhuhr prayer call to attend the funeral prayers. Also attending were Prince Bandar ibn Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister Prince Naif, Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman and other senior officials. The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh led the funeral prayers.

"May Allah bestow His mercy on Prince Abdul Majeed. He was a person who served his country and sought to fulfill the needs of his people," Prince Ahmad ibn Abdul Aziz, deputy interior minister, told Arab News. "This is God's will. And may the Almighty reward him for his good deeds," he added.

Hundreds of citizens thronged the mosque to attend the funeral prayers. Men of all ages were seen, young and old, healthy and handicapped. All wanted to pay their last respects to the beloved prince whose death saddened the nation.

Several international delegations also attended the funeral prayers and offered their condolences to the Saudi leadership. Among those seen at the mosque was Saad Hariri of Lebanon.

Dozens of police patrol cars had blocked entry to the alleys of Al-Batha Street opposite Al-Oud Cemetery half an hour before Dhuhr prayers. Special security forces deployed near the cemetery gates and in the street as motorcades went from the mosque to the cemetery. Many local people who came for the burial walked long distances to the cemetery because of blocked streets. Saudi Arabian television personnel were present recording live pictures of the burial.

Prince Ahmad was at the cemetery before the ambulance arrived and it was he who received the body. As soon as the ambulance stopped, people flocked to it, eager to carry the body to its final resting place. Prince Faisal ibn Abdul Majeed, son of the deceased prince, stood in the grave along with two associates in order to move the body from the stretcher into the grave. "At ease," said Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman to the men who were moving the body from the stretcher, head first into the grave. "In the name of Allah and following His religion," said the men carrying the body as they took it down into the grave.

After the brown mishlah which covered the body was removed, the body was placed in the lower level of the grave. Prince Salman addressed the dead man's son, "Faisal, make sure his body is turned toward the Qibla (the direction of the Kaaba)."

"This is every man's destiny," Interior Minister Prince Naif said, nodding in sorrow to the grand mufti as he oversaw the burial process from above. "In the name of Allah," he said as he tossed sand into the grave. "May Allah bestow forgiveness on him and may paradise be his final destination," mourners cried out. Citizens and officials then took turns tossing sand into the grave. Many of them were in tears. Prayers were then said over the body of Prince Abdul Majeed. Mourners stood beside the grave and prayed to the Almighty, asking for the prince to be rewarded and forgiven.

A number of citizens then offered their condolences to Prince Badr, deputy commander of the National Guard, and Prince Salman, as well as Prince Sattam, deputy governor of Riyadh, and other members of the royal family who were present at the burial.

Prince Abdul Majeed was laid to rest in an unmarked grave, a few meters away from the grave of his brother, the late King Fahd.

The new grave is in the second row of lane 40, near King Fahd's grave which is in the first row of lane 37. Also buried in the cemetery are the Kingdom's founder King Abdul Aziz, previous kings Saud, Faisal and Khaled, and other members of the royal family.

By Raid Qusti

© Arab News 2007