I wish to record several incidents that I personally witnessed, in order to discharge my responsibility by conveying what I heard. These recollections came to mind yesterday when I listened to the address delivered by our father and guardian—after God—who affirmed that the finest share of the national budget is devoted to the sons of this cherished homeland.
I was present with King ʿAbd al‑ʿAziz—may God have mercy upon him—during a journey along the Mecca road toward the Hijaz. I attended his majlis at the al‑Muwayh station one year. As was his custom, he entrusted a sum of money to Majid ibn Khuthayla to distribute among the people along the route. When Majid returned, King ʿAbd al‑ʿAziz asked him: “I trust you did not overlook anyone or fail to give him his due.” Majid replied: “No, Your Highness; they are all praying for you.” The King responded: “My brother, this is their right, and we are merely trustees over it.”
I also heard King Saud—may God have mercy upon him—declare in his majlis upon the founding of King Saud University:
“God has granted me life so that I may establish a university in every region, and I shall make Riyadh a crystal city, a model to be cited in every sphere of life.”
Today, this vision is being realized at the hands of our father, King Abdullah—may God prolong his life.
I was likewise present when King Faisal—may God have mercy upon him—spoke in his office. I was seated with him, and no one else was present except his secretary, the Chief of the Royal Court, Ṣāliḥ al‑ʿAbbad. A document was submitted to King Faisal, and when he read it, he said:
“O Ṣāliḥ, so long as God grants me life, I shall not allow any citizen of this country to be in need of anyone else.”
This occurred during the final year of his life, in the summer at Ṭāʾif.
I also heard King Faisal mention that Churchill, the British Prime Minister, used to refer to King ʿAbd al‑ʿAziz as “the Lion of the Dark Nights.”
And I heard my uncle, Muṭʿib ibn ʿAbd al‑ʿAziz, say that King ʿAbd al‑ʿAziz possessed a rare quality: if he gave something to a person, he rejoiced; and if he heard that someone else had given something to that person, he rejoiced as well. “I have seen this trait,” he added, “only in Prince Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al‑ʿAziz.”
Praise be to God that these virtues have been realized at the hands of our father and guardian—after God. I recount these memories after hearing his words—may God preserve him and prolong his life—regarding his service to the Two Holy Mosques, his country, and its citizens, and his desire that all may benefit from it. Indeed, these young lions are the offspring of that great lion. I ask God to unite this family in service of the Two Holy Mosques, the citizens, Islam, and the Muslims, and to preserve for us the blessings of security and stability.