- King Abdullah will be remembered for his moderation and his commitment to peace
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, who passed away on Friday morning, was a towering leader who dedicated his life to serving his people and the kingdom and led the Arab nation at one of the most crucial junctures of history.As the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, observed, King Abdullah was one of the most notable leaders of the Arab and Muslim nations, who generously gave a lot to his people and sincerely defended their cause. Praising the late King for dedicating himself to the service of his people and the nation and bolstering cohesion of the Arab nation, Shaikh Khalifa expressed confidence that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud would continue “his blessed march serving the causes of the nation and advance the Arab joint action.”
The nearly decade-long rule of King Abdullah, 90, coincided with a phase when the Arab nation faced several challenges, especially in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the US. America and many other developed nations were involved in deadly combats with militants in Afghanistan and Iraq and the Middle East has been on the boil for much of the 21st century.
The Iranian nuclear crisis, the aggressiveness and violence of Israel, which continued with its expansionism in Palestine, the so-called Arab Spring movements in several countries which dislodged long-established regimes and near civil war conditions in Egypt, Libya, Syria and Iraq had made the region one of the most volatile places on earth.
King Abdullah, known for his moderation and wisdom, led the Arab nation through these difficult times, interacting closely with other Gulf rulers, cajoling America and European nations to rein in Israel and also initiating a tough line against terrorists in the region. Last year, for instance, at the height of the Israeli attack in Gaza — which he described as war crimes against humanity — King Abdullah was critical of western inaction. “This (international) community which has observed silently what is happening in the whole region, was indifferent to what is happening (in Gaza), as if what is happening is not its concern,” he observed. “Silence that has no justification.”
But as the Daesh began unleashing a reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, King Abdullah was quick to condemn its actions. In a message to the leaders of delegations from Islamic nations, who were in the kingdom to perform Haj, King Abdullah said: “Extremism, which has generated terrorism, behoves us to combine our efforts to fight it and defeat it because it has nothing to do with Islam.”
Extremism, according to him, was perverse, which could only be remedied by eradicating it. “And we are engaged in eradicating it unwaveringly and with determination,” declared King Abdullah. He also urged the leaders and religious scholars from the Islamic world to ensure that young people were protected from extremist ideas, and to prevent Islam from being hijacked by militants.
He also joined in the American-led coalition, which conducted air strike against the Daesh held positions in Syria. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques described Islam as “a religion of unity, fraternity and mutual support.” Unfortunately, some elements, lured by false calls, were confusing reform with terrorism. “Their goal is to sow discord among Muslims,” he noted. “We will not allow a handful of terrorists, using Islam for personal aims, to terrify Muslims or undermine our country and its inhabitants. We are continuing, with God’s help, to face and tackle this scourge.”
At a time when the Middle East was experiencing an upsurge in militancy and governments in many countries were being toppled, King Abdullah was a force of moderation, who believed in initiating gradual changes. He strived to bring about unity in the Arab world and extended his hand of friendship to the western world.
Just a few months ago, for instance, he hosted an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh, where Arab Gulf rulers were invited for an initiative to strengthen the Gulf Cooperation Council. The meeting was a success and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, sent cables of congratulations to King Abdullah and other Rulers on the success of the meeting.
Indeed, many world leaders constantly interacted with King Abdullah, seeking his advice in resolving apparently intractable disputes in the region and other parts of the world. And he always came up with pragmatic solutions that did justice to all sides.
As American President Barack Obama said in a statement after the passing of the King: “As our countries worked together to confront many challenges, I always valued King Abdullah’s perspective and appreciated our genuine and warm friendship. As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions.”
The cautious reformer and leader among Arab and Islamic nations was much loved by all. A force of moderation, King Abdullah will be remembered for reshaping the Kingdom and for his steadfast commitment to peace.
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