Saud Al-Mansour

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — Arab and Islamic countries have declared a state of mourning over the death of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and performed funeral prayers for him.



The kingdoms of Bahrain and Jordan have announced a state of general mourning for 40 days during which they will fly their flags half-mast.



The two countries' official mourning will be for three days, during which all the ministries and government departments will be closed down.



Egypt has announced general mourning for seven days.



A three-day state of official mourning was announced in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Palestine, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Lebanon.



All these countries have started flying their flags half-mast and canceled all artistic activities including theater shows and gala nights.



The Arab League has hoisted at half-mast the flags of all Arab countries erected outside its main building in Cairo.



Al-Azhar of Egypt also mourned the late king and said in an obituary that no Arab or Muslim person would ever forget his staunch support for Arab and Islamic causes.



“King Abdullah has exerted strenuous efforts to achieve solidarity among the Arab and Islamic societies within an ambiance of love, cooperation and tolerance,” the institute said.



Secretary-general of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Amin Madani has conveyed the organization's condolences to the Muslim world and said Muslims all over the world will always remember his historic expansions of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah and his development projects in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah that has helped make the Haj pilgrimage a more efficient experience.