I rushed to a remote area in my home on Saturday morning 24/11/1432 A.H. [corresponding to 22/10/2011] as soon as I heard the distressing news of the passing of the peerless Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him, to recall my old memories of the departed and write this article. My memories are filled with situations that I had the privilege of witnessing, particularly as I realized from a young age that this prince was a unique figure in history, not just locally, but internationally as well. I then recited the Quranic verse: “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently preserve, who say, when afflicted with calamity: to Allah we belong, and to Him is our return. They are those who whom (descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance” [Surat al-Baqara; verse 155 – 157]. This calamity was not a facile one, nor did the situation allow a comprehensive and accurate meditation on the biography of the departed. Some ideas passed through my mind about the departed, all of which would make any Saudi, Arab, or Muslim citizen proud.
The page that Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation – may God have mercy on him – occupies in the history books is laden with words that depict his glory. He was not a typical leader or ordinary man. The page that Prince Sultan, may God have mercy on him, occupies [in the history books] will not be easy to turn over, and we will have to wait a long time before we are able to do so. This page must be read closely and carefully. It must be reviewed in a manner that befits the accomplishments he made and which will not be repeated in the history of the world. The viewing of the accomplishments of Prince Sultan, may God have mercy on him, will be incomplete if we confine this to the official framework, rather the wider popular cultural spheres must also contribute to this by highlighting the accomplishments of the dearly departed.
Early in the life of his father – founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz – Prince Sultan was assigned to undertake official missions that revealed his unique talent in dealing with public affairs. The focus of this talent was an agile mind, a tolerant nature that upholds the teachings of Islam, and a wonderful ability to win the affection of others. How we will miss that bright smile which was always on his face during this period which is filled with grim faces! King Abdulaziz’s insight, which was rarely wrong, is well-known, and this includes his early realization of the genius of his son, Prince Sultan. This led him to appoint Prince Sultan to his first official post in his youth, appointing him commander of the Royal Guard in 1943. Only four years later he was appointed Emir of Riyadh. Following the death of the founder [King Abdulaziz] in 1953; King Saud appointed Prince Sultan as Saudi Minister of Agriculture, during which time he laid the foundation of what has today become a vital sector of the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He was appointed Minister of Transport in 1955 where he supervised the establishment of the first modern road network linking different regions of the Kingdom. Prince Sultan was appointed Minister of Defense and Aviation in 1962 and he continued to hold this sensitive position until his death, may God have mercy on him. His accumulated political expertise and his charismatic character qualified Prince Sultan to be appointed Second Deputy Prime Minister in 1982. Whilst in 2005, he was appointed as Crown Prince to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz.
Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him, assumed successive [government] posts so quickly that he did not have time to pay attention to his private life which was full of love and compassion. Anybody who had any direct contact with the departed will have sensed the great emotions that filled his heart and which he readily expressed.
As a result of the efforts exerted by the Crown Prince under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, the Kingdom has secured a prominent place for itself in the international arena. This means that Saudi Arabia not only held a distinguished position, but its opinion is often consulted, with other countries also seeking its critical support. I do not write this conveying [second-hand information about Crown Prince Sultan], but rather as a witness. The achievements made by the charitable organizations sponsored by Prince Sultan, may God have mercy on him, are something that friends and enemies alike can agree on, and something that nobody can deny. These great charitable works, and others, will be placed in the balance of his good deeds, God willing, and will consolidate his title as the “Sultan of Generosity” which was bestowed upon him by his admirers. The beloved Crown Prince has passed on, leaving behind sadness and pain that no heart can withstand.