King ʿAbdulaziz—may God have mercy upon him—appointed him as successor to his father, serving as Amir of the settlement of Mubayyid and of the al‑Marīkhāt tribe. He later fought under the command of the Crown Prince, Prince Saud (King Saud), in the Najran campaign of 1352 AH, and in 1961 he was appointed commander of the Eleventh Regiment of the National Guard.
Among the accounts that reflect the King’s courage during the Najran war is that he would stand at the front lines, urging the soldiers forward with the words:
“He who does not lead his horse against his foe will find it led for him.”
His generosity and compassion for those in need were equally well known.
The narrator’s father recounted that a group from one of the tribes once arrived in Mubayyid during his tenure as amir, suffering from severe hardship. He travelled to al‑Majmaʿah and filled a “Haf” truck with provisions of various kinds. At the same time, he telegraphed King Saud informing him of their condition. The very next day, two large trucks arrived in Mubayyid loaded with all manner of supplies. He distributed them among the needy until their homes overflowed with provisions—so much so that they bartered the surplus with the people of Mubayyid and acquired numerous livestock, becoming, almost overnight, prosperous by God’s grace and through the King’s generosity and swift response.
Another anecdote illustrating the King’s simplicity and sense of humor occurred during a hunting trip near Mubayyid. The narrator’s father went to greet the King, bringing with him one of his young sons. After the greeting, the King joked:
“When Khamīkh brings this little boy with him, it is not out of affection for the child, but affection for his mother.”
Prince Talal bin Saud happened to be sitting in the King’s lap at that moment. The father replied:
“Your Majesty, people follow the ways of their kings.”
The King laughed and said:
“Khamīkh’s wit is always ready.”
Another example of the King’s closeness to his people and his participation in their occasions took place in 1377 AH, when the narrator’s father held a grand reception for him in Mubayyid, reported at the time in al‑Bilad newspaper. When the Najdi ʿarḍah began, the King ordered that a sword be brought so he could join the dancers, smiling as he shared with his people expressions of affection and loyalty