JEDDAH — Sanaa Binladin, among the three Binladins who lost their lives in the small plane crash in the United Kingdom on Friday afternoon, was mourned by multitudes for her charity work. Revered as ‘Mother of Orphans', the news of Sanaa death literally triggered a firestorm of reaction on Twitter calling her death as void that would never be filled. Many people prayed for her departed soul calling her a role model for all to emulate. Sanaa Binladin and her husband along with Raja Hashim — a wife of the late Muhammad Binladin — died after a business jet they were flying in crashed at a private airport in Hampshire and plowed into a car auction center. After her death and the death of the other family members was confirmed in newspapers and social media, hundreds of tweets were posted immediately about Sanaa's charity work. Many tweets dubbed her the ‘Mother of the Orphans' and while many other remembered her as one of the most down to earth person here. Other tweets enhanced on her charity work, stating that she not only helped people in the Kingdom but people outside the Kingdom too. But it was her role in nurturing the orphans that got repeated mention. She helped many orphans in Jeddah and Makkah and spent not only money but also most of her time with them. For the orphans Sanaa's death was a major loss. Mohammed Al-Abdu, a Saudi dentist in his 20s, said that he had heard a lot about Sanaa. “People called her a virtuous, finest, and a generous woman. It is hard and painful feeling when such a lady, virtually like a family member, dies in a plane accident. However, it's a work of fate.” Anas Khalil, a Saudi in his 30s working in the university, explained that he had the good fortune of meeting her two years back, when she wanted him to work for her in a project whose proceeds was to go to welfare work. “The money would be utilized to help orphans get married and also their needs post-marriage.” He also said that she was a woman who spent most of her money on charity. “I came to know more about her from her nieces and nephews. You always hear good things about her. May Allah have mercy on her,” Anas added. Many Saudis, however, heard about the extent of Sanaa's charity work after her death. Saudi Rakan Ali, 30, said, “I had not heard about her except after her death. People on Twitter kept talking about her welfare work in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah for a whole day. May her soul rest in peace.” Many people posted prayer tweets for her, while others argued that the rich Saudi businessmen should make Sanaa a role model when it comes to charity work and act like her so they can receive the same amount of prayers that she received after her death. According to Al-Sharq newspaper, this is the third plane accident involving the Binladin family. The first incident took place in Sept. 3. 1967, when Sheikh Muhammad Binladin the founder of the “Binladin” group died in an airplane crash. The second airplane crash incident occurred on the end of May in 1988, in Texas and the result was the death of Salem Binladin at the age of 42 years. Whereas, the third accident happened two days ago. The British authorities have begun investigating about the circumstances of the accident.
