Positive Emirati citizenship: Hundreds attend funeral of American woman
A mosque in the UAE capital recently witnessed a touching scene of humanity and solidarity when a crowd of Emirati worshippers turned up for the funeral of an elderly American woman — whom they didn't even know.
The incredible gesture so moved the UAE Minister of Interior, Lt-gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan that he shared a video on Sunday featuring a man named ‘Majed' who spoke of how Islam unites everyone and uplifts women.
In the clip, Majed said the woman was a newly-converted Muslim who passed away at the age of 93. She lived in Abu Dhabi with her son.
News of her death circulated via Whatsapp, prompting hundreds of Emiratis to show up at her funeral to pray for her. In the video, Majed shared photos of a crowd of men that filled the mosque, stretching all the way to the parking lot.
"Around 1,000 men attended her funeral, and they don't even know her. This is Islam,” he said.
"Hundreds of men carried her on their shoulders. This religion came to uplift women,” he added.
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked Majed for sharing the story and lauded the show of “positive Emirati citizenship”.