The Rashid I Knew

In one’s life come scenes that not only break their hearts but also leave a profound impression one will never forget. One of those heart-wrenching moments is when I watched Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid and his brother Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid resting the body of their brother Shaikh Rashid in his burial place at Umm Hurair cemetery on Saturday evening.

In one’s life come scenes that not only break their hearts but also leave a profound impression one will never forget

That scene broke the hearts of thousands of people gathered at the cemetery who prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the brothers and their parents the strength to overcome this devastating loss and accept Shaikh Rashid in his heavens.

For me personally, the moment was one of the toughest in my life. Because of closeness to the three brothers and knowing how close they are to each other. They embody the true sense of friendship which Shaikh Mohammad has been very keen to plant in them since they were children.

As I stood there, at the Umm Hurair cemetery, I remembered my trip with them years ago when Shaikh Mohammad assigned me to accompany them to a number of leadership courses at a British university. I remembered their dealings with each other then and their discussions. That trip actually changed a lot of things in me more than it did in them. I realized that Shaikh Mohammad’s purpose of that trip was not only their training but more to plant in them the real spirit of brotherhood and the eternal friendship that will not be affected by whatever happens in life.

 I also remembered as I stood at the Umm Hurair cemetery among the masses who prayed to Allah Almighty to rest Shaikh Rashid’s soul in peace the launch of the Dubai Cares initiative and the enthusiasm shown by the sons of Shaikh Mohammad in supporting this initiative.

I particularly recall the enthusiasm of Shaikh Rashid and his efforts to make this initiative as big as the ambitions of his father. I remembered how he was insisting that his brothers participate in Dubai Cares and travel abroad in support of the project.

As I remembered Shaikh Rashid’s personal contribution to launching this project, I prayed to Allah Almighty that all the work he did for the millions of children who benefited from the project will be added to his good deeds as well as to his brothers’ and father who gave the UAE those great but also humble men - men who are loved by the people and whose goal is to serve those people.

As we were bidding farewell to Shaikh Rashid for the last time, I remembered when we travelled to Switzerland to follow on some business and take part in meetings at the Fifa headquarters. I saw there a strong personality, blessed with intelligence and ambition just like his grandfather the late Shaikh Rashid; a man who loved sport and adored equestrianism, just like his father.

During the trip, I got to know him better and it revealed to me a strong personality usually veiled by his modesty, a characteristic the Al Maktoum family is blessed with. The trip revealed to me a man dedicated to the good of humanity, who loved life and was set to achieve his ambitions. I remembered all that as I stood at the cemetery bidding him farewell and prayed that Allah will grant solace to his lifelong friend and brother, Sultan Al Sabosi.

Prayers to bear this huge loss

During the last moments of Shaikh Rashid’s final farewell, I prayed from the bottom of my heart that may Allah comfort Shaikh Mohammed at this time of tremendous grief and grant him solace to bear this huge loss; I prayed for Shaikh Mohammed, the compassionate and generous father who lost his child, the father whom we always see showering his love and compassion not only towards his own children but towards the people of the UAE and even people beyond our borders.

May Allah grant strength and solace to Shaikh Mohammed, the man with the big heart, the great poet and the noble knight.

Today, Shaikh Mohammed, we are all Rashid

During the final moments of bidding Shaikh Rashid the last goodbye, as I stood among crowds of people, I imagined how his mother, Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum - the mother of noble Shaikhs and generous giver with the most compassionate heart who always gives more than what she is asked to - could endure the pain of the loss of her son.

There are no words to comfort a mother who lost her beloved child except our prayers to Allah to accept him in paradise, and our prayers that may God grant his mother the patience and solace to heal the wounds of her heart and reward
her for all her good deeds in this world and hereafter.

Mohammad Al Gergawi , Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Executive Office of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum