Manama: When Ali Mabkhout, the UAE player, stunned Japan with an early goal and helped his national team produce one of the greatest Asian Cup upsets that sent the reigning champions tumbling out of the tournament, he simply raised his arm and moved on.
The star player refused to celebrate one of the most precious goals in his career and preferred to remain humble as a way to pay homage to Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud who died hours earlier.
Ali’s gesture was immediately picked up by social media users in the Gulf and beyond who declared him a “hero, a true son of Shaikh Zayed, the late UAE leader.”
In his own way, Ali joined a swarm of Gulf nationals who took to mosques, but mainly to the Internet to praise and pay homage to Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz who was the king of Saudi Arabia for almost a decade and died in the first hour of Friday.
Thousands of people tweeted their grief and sorrow as they recalled the qualities of King Abdullah that made him stand out in international politics and in addressing local and regional issues.
“These are not mawkish sentiments, but rather genuine emotions felt strongly by people who truly loved him,” Saud, a government clerk, said. “Bu Mutaab was greatly admired and deeply loved and he will be sourly missed,” he said.
Mashail, his colleague, said that she had loved the way he championed the causes of women in an ultraconservative society.
“He was the one who empowered women politically by securing their presence in the Shura Council,” she said. “When you look at it today, you think it was easy, but we do know that it was a very formidable challenge that he was able to confront. He was also the force that helped thousands of women land jobs to help earn money and feed their families. He was the one who pushed for allowing women to vote and run in municipal elections,” she said.
Mouadh Al Khalifa posted a picture of King Abdullah with a black background and a series of prayers for the late monarch.
“I offer my condolences to the Arab and Muslim nations on this terrible loss,” he posted. “He loved the people, and they loved him back. He was a true King of Hearts.”
Duaij Darweesh shared his prayers, adding that while as a true believer he accepted God’s will regarding the demise of King Abdullah, he wished he heard news of the death of presidents who were not liked by their people for the devastation they have caused.
Mohammad Khalifa, a municipal councilor, used the social media to urge followers and other people to join in prayers for the soul of the late monarch.
Bahrain-based star Amal Lanbary posted part of a speech delivered by King Abdullah on her Instagram account and prayed for his soul’s eternal peace. Within fleeting minutes, more than 1,300 followers appreciated her attitude.
“This is natural outpour of compassion with a great leader who won the hearts and minds of people,” she said. “It is all a natural avalanche of strong emotions, not the usual peacock display of feelings that are not authentic,” she said.
Hassan Mohammad said that the traditional Friday blessing wishes on smartphones had turned into condolences and prayers for King Abdullah.
“Most of my friends posted pictures of King Abdullah, condolences and prayers. It was their way to express their love and admiration for a man and a leader who will certainly live long in their hearts,” he said.
Friday prayers in most mosques in Bahrain included the absentee funeral prayer for the late monarch.
