By Zainab Al‑Ghazali Al‑JubailiKing Saud is a tall man, wheat‑complexioned, with a resonant voice. In his gaze and in the lines of his face there is dignity and majesty. He greets you with a gentle smile and extends toward you his calm, steady look, and you find yourself drawn to him even before he speaks. When he begins to talk or respond, you listen with reverence and full confidence in his words, for he is wise in judgment, eloquent in expression. You do not fear him out of intimidation; rather, you love him and thus obey him. He listens to you with kindness and appreciation, even if you differ with him, and this deepens your faith in him and your devotion to serving him, so that you become, of your own accord, a soldier dedicated to him and to all who are connected with him.
He appears genuinely interested in meeting you, whatever your status may be. He makes you feel like a brother if you are close to his age, like a son if you are the age of his children, and like a father if you are older than he is.
This is how he meets an ordinary person. But if the one standing before him is a leader, a king, a prince, or a ruler, he finds in Saud a powerful yet humble personality—strong, noble, and unpretentious. He is calm and commanding, whether in the sweetness of brotherhood, the tenderness of fatherhood, or the generosity of companionship.
Within minutes, you discover in him a unique character—one in which ability, Arab nobility, generosity, humility, wisdom, determination, and sound judgment are all embodied. You will not find another personality capable of overshadowing the greatness of Saud, for he is great without effort, shaped by the natural disposition in which he was raised and nurtured.
This remarkable quality is among the noble traits Saud inherited from his great father and his illustrious forefathers.
Abdulaziz the Great would meet the kings and rulers of the world, and none could stand in his presence except as one who believed in him, followed his counsel, and walked in the path of his glory. King Saud is the worthy heir to all the greatness of his father.
In sum, Saud’s personality is an Islamic personality in the fullest sense of the word—embodying mercy and humanity as well as strength, resolve, and grandeur.
Among his most prominent qualities is his love for scholars, his reverence for them, and his constant consultation with them in the finest details of governance. He visits them, honors them on public and private occasions, and no gathering of his is ever without the presence of distinguished scholars and jurists. They are always the foundation of his counsel, the source of his trust, and the reference for his judgments. A ruler who grants such a place to scholars is blessed, and so is his nation, for scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and no nation—rulers or ruled—will go astray so long as it follows the guidance of its scholars.
What stands out most in Saud’s character is his faith—faith grounded in study, inquiry, and understanding. He practices Islam not merely to please his people or gather them around him, but because he knows Islam with true knowledge. Islam flows through him like life itself, beating in his heart, shining in his soul, and radiating across his features. He upholds the pillars of Islam with both spirit and body, believing in its justice, and he sees Islam always as governance, policy, and worship. He does not believe Islam can be realized in the hearts of Muslims while its laws are suspended. He is fully prepared to give his life, wealth, influence, and all he possesses for the happiness of his people, so long as they remain faithful to Islam and obedient to its commands.
At the same time, he never hesitates to confront or discipline anyone who violates the religion or neglects its limits. Just as he is a great king, he is also a practicing Muslim, a compassionate father, a kind husband, and a generous brother. I saw His Majesty sitting among his wife, his children, and his family, like mercy flowing from its springs, affection pure from the sources of love, friendship, and noble kinship. I saw him treat his servants with brotherhood, kindness, and compassion, as though he were living the Prophet’s saying: “Your servants are your brothers.”
For this reason, he is obeyed out of love more than fear. When a people’s loyalty to their ruler springs from mutual affection, governance becomes stable, security prevails, and the ruler is free to serve his people, while the people devote themselves to work, confidence, and continuous productivity. In every sense, Saud’s personality is exceptional—shaped by pure, authentic Arab lineage: his mother from the heart of Najd, and his father from the noble roots of the Sarawat. He is the true heir of Arab nobility.
Saud’s military character emerged early in his life—he is a distinguished fighter, an experienced commander, a genius in planning campaigns, and a strategist who understands his enemies, studies their ambitions, and uncovers the secrets of their methods. He is also a political strategist, skilled in persuading his adversaries to abandon their intentions and submit to his leadership.
Anyone who studies the battles and campaigns of his father—those in which Saud led the armies and returned victorious every time—will know, through careful study, the virtues of courage, heroism, chivalry, and brilliance that shine in Saud’s powerful and captivating character.
A King and the Hopes of a Nation
By Zainab Al‑Ghazali Al‑Jubaili