Abdulaziz was compelled by the force of circumstances to devoting most of his time at this stage towards achieving his mission, Saud was to be brought up during the early years in the care of his doting Grandparents, the Imam ‘Abdul-Rahman bin Faisal and Sarah Bint Ahmad al-Sudairi in both Kuwait and Riyadh, after its seizure and the firm establishment of Saudi authority there.
At the age of five, he was turned over to Sheikh Abdul-Rahman IBn AlMufaireej, for receiving instruction. The latter then ran Riyadh’s major school for imparting instruction in Quranic learning, and was known for his knowledge of its text and recitation. Saud remained under the Sheikh’s tutorship for six years until he had completed the Quran, and had received rudimentary instruction at a level in keeping with his age in the religious sciences of ‘Fiqh’ (Jurisprudence), “Hadeeth” (the Prophet’s Orations), “Tafseer” (Quranic Exegesis) and “Deen” (General knowledge in religion and practice).
At the age of five, he was turned over to Sheikh Abdul-Rahman IBn AlMufaireej, for receiving instruction. The latter then ran Riyadh’s major school for imparting instruction in Quranic learning, and was known for his knowledge of its text and recitation. Saud remained under the Sheikh’s tutorship for six years until he had completed the Quran, and had received rudimentary instruction at a level in keeping with his age in the religious sciences of ‘Fiqh’ (Jurisprudence), “Hadeeth” (the Prophet’s Orations), “Tafseer” (Quranic Exegesis) and “Deen” (General knowledge in religion and practice).
Meanwhile, his Father and Grandfather also ensured that he received lessons in such military skills, as were then deemed essential in this environment for someone of his birth — horsemanship and weaponry training, in particular the rifle. The instructions in these skills were in addition to an introduction to tribal history, genealogy, traditions and lore, particularly through attendance of the councils of his Grandfather and Father, where he would rub shoulders with grown–ups, listen to them and pick up a vast assortment of diverse of knowledge and behavioural practices, such as etiquette.
A little later, when his father felt him old and mature enough to accompany him on his various expeditions, hunting or military, Saud soon acquired a passion for the desert and its way of life that was never to leave him. None of his brothers were like him, to resemble their father in height, build, general appearance and characteristics. This was taken as a good omen by all, Arabs (and Westerners, later on), who came into contact with him.
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