How difficult this separation is, but it is Allah's will and the way life goes. The humane prince, “Sultan Al-Khair,” the prince of humanitarian positions standing side by side with his political positions and his fatherly smile is gone. The statesman who dedicated his life to the service of his religion, country, people and Arab and Islamic nation and the one whose smile never left his face even in the darkest circumstances to create hope in good times and bad times, has departed. “Sultan Al-Khair”, who rendered his charitable actions his chief concern on the personal level and his main task on the institutional level, is no longer among us. Prince Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz' life constituted a unique archetype of endless generosity, as well as conscious, moderate and wise command. He dedicated his life, time, effort and thoughts to promote the country's rise, and his hands, contributions and positions affected the Arab, Islamic, regional and international causes. He was always preoccupied with the unification of the ranks and the enhancement of cohesion, as well as with ensuring peace and security in the Kingdom and throughout the region. Sultan was tough on the aggressors and merciful with the needy, thus constituting a model for a nation based on mutual love, appreciation and loyalty. Sultan enjoyed a smile that generated optimism among the poor and the deprived within this nation, which is why the people shared his love and loyalty and granted him many spontaneous titles expressing their gratitude toward him and toward the efforts he deployed in all areas. He thus became the “Sultan of charity,” the “Sultan of the hearts,” the “Sultan of humanity” and the “Sultan of generosity.” During a meeting held by Prince Sultan with some of the chief editors of the Saudi papers in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly sessions in 2005, I remember he was speaking with a lot of optimism and hope. He was tackling the future of the country and all the reforms and developmental projects that were carried out to place it on the same level as the major economic powers. He was wagering on Saudi Arabia's future, but also on its regional and international role. As usual, he showed understanding and appreciation toward the role played by the Saudi press. At this level, I remember a meeting I had with him before he went to receive treatment in New York. He said he was in favor of “journalistic criticism. The press is the mirror and eye of the officials, which is why they should not be disgruntled by what is carried in it. They must rather respond to it with facts.” At the time, he assured he valued his relationship with the media and with the Saudi and non-Saudi journalists. His life was filled with accomplishments and actions that achieved immortality in the hearts of the people. He was a courageous leader during the Kuwait liberation war and was firm at the level of the protection of the country's border, security and the safety of its citizens. He was also wise at the level of his policy, as he supervised the Saudi-Yemeni coordination file with tact and professionalism, and handled the Saudi-Qatari rapprochement file, resulting in the elimination of the coldness and the return of warmth at the level of the relations between the two brotherly countries. As for the foundation established by Prince Sultan for humanitarian work inside and outside the country under the slogan “Helping People to Help Themselves,” it managed to achieve its goals and secured numerous accomplishments on the medical and humanitarian levels. Its services reached many Islamic, Arab and international states, to the point where it became among the most prominent charitable foundations. But his humanitarian work was not limited to the foundation, as he did not hesitate to help the poor and the needy from whichever door they came. He could not rest while knowing that a sick person was in pain and never doubted that what he did was his duty, because he loved his country and his people. And among his most famous habits which I knew about was his permanent and close monitoring of the page “People's Concerns” in this very paper. He used to care about what was published in it and adopt the humanitarian causes it featured. He was thus the permanent donor under the pseudonym “good-doer,” since he refused to have his name published in Al-Hayat's comments on the progress of the cases published in it, out of belief that he was conducting his national and humanitarian duty and what was dictated by his religion. One cannot recall the modern history of the third Saudi state without recalling Abu Khalid's accomplishments and successes, considering he was an important part of this history. I thus extend my condolences to the poor Saudi people before the rich, to the needy before those who are well off, seeing how they are the most saddened by Sultan al-Khair's departure. I also extend my condolences to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Nayef Bin Abdul-Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul-Aziz and the deceased's sons and daughters, asking Allah the Almighty to show him the compassion he showed to the poor, the needy, the ill, the children, the orphans and the widows and to give him eternal peace as he was good to his country and truthful to his people.
