Enduring Deeds of Al-Oqilat Men
Stories of Courage and Rescue
Category: Biographies and Stories of Notable FiguresAbdulrahman Al-Hadiyah Protects a Family in Need
Al-Hadiyah and his men sought hospitality at a home belonging to the Shammar tribe. Only the lady of the house was present, and she wept because her absent husband had left no food with which to honor guests. Al-Hadiyah unloaded a sack of rice and a container of ghee and said, “Do not cry. Take these and host us.” She cooked for them and returned what remained. A year later, her husband came to Buraidah and repaid Al-Hadiyah’s kindness with a white she-camel, saying, “You protected my household while I was away.”
Saleh Al-Hulaisi: “Tear It and I Will Stitch It”
Al-Hulaisi was a source of support to his community in Egypt and Syria. When disputes over debts arose in the markets, he reassured them by saying: “Tear it and I will stitch it,”meaning that he would resolve any problem and pay debts from his own money so the men could catch up with their caravans. In Egypt, he and his companion Al-Sahhar rescued a bride from thieves attempting to steal her gold, and his chivalry became proverbial there.
Barrak Al-Dubaikhi and the First Proof of Nationality
When the Iraqi authorities attempted to conscript his son Sulaiman in 1370 AH, Barrak travelled with Sheikh Fawzan Al-Sabiq to Baghdad and obtained an official document proving that his son was Saudi. When he returned and showed it to King Abdulaziz, the King laughed and admired it. At the time, it was considered the first Saudi proof-of-nationality document.
Saleh Al-Fayez, Hero of the Tank
He studied medicine and joined the Saudi army during the 1948 Palestine War. In a fierce battle, Muslim forces captured an enemy tank. With exceptional courage, Saleh Al-Fayez approached it under fire and got it running, opening the way for his comrades. He was wounded by a bullet during the battle and received the Medal of Sincere Service.