"Ghaibana Namaze Janaza" (funeral prayer in the absence of dead body) for Saudi King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, who was laid to rest in Riyadh on Tuesday, was offered at the grand Faisal Mosque Islamabad on Friday.
Immediately after the Juma prayers, the Ghaibana Namaze Janaza was offered. Thousands of congregants attended it.
The Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan, Saudi Charge 'd Affaires Abul Nasir Harthy and a number of Saudi diplomats participated the Ghaibana Namaze Janaza.
Addressing the congregation, Rector of the International Islamic University (IIU) Islamabad Justice Khalilur Rehman Khan paid glowing tribute to King Fahd for his services to the Muslim Ummah and Pakistan.
Rehman announced that a mosque to be named "Shah Fahd Masjid" in recognition of King Fahd's services to Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah would be built in the sprawling IIU premises at a cost of $6 million. The mosque will have a capacity of more than 30,000 congregants.
The IIU rector said like Islamabad's Faisal Mosque, built by Saudi funding and named after King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the Shah Fahd Masjid would be a landmark and will be identified with the solidarity of the Muslim Ummah.
Rehman said donations amounting to Rs2.5 million (including his own one hundred thousand rupees) had already been received. He appealed to Pakistanis in and out of the country and foreign institutions to give generous donations to build the mosque. He said two accounts - one of the local Pakistani currency and the other of foreign currency - had been opened with the Habib Bank Limited, IIU branch, Islamabad. “Pakistanis equally share the grief and sorrow of their Saudi brothers over King Fahd’s death,” the IIU rector said.
The Muslim Ummah, he said, has been deprived of its great leader. He added that King Fahd rendered valuable services to facilitate Hujjaj (pilgrims), visiting holy places in Saudi Arabia.
“The entire Pakistani nation and Muslim Ummah recognised King Fahd’s services and special attention that he paid for the welfare of Hujjaj,” Rehman said.
King Fahd, the IIU rector said, led the Muslim Ummah during a difficult time. That is why there had been a strong relationship between him and the Muslim Ummah, which viewed him with immense respect, he said.
