Rich people who have confidence and faith in this present life are also aware of looming death. Not many of them, however, expect death to come in the next minute. They are often surrounded by doctors who strive to save them from death, which will come suddenly and put an end to their lives and efforts.
I do not wish to lecture on the subject of death since I am not qualified to do so. I will, however, try my best — as you all do — to delay my own death as long as possible. Along these lines, I will tell you about a pamphlet brought to me by a colleague.
The pamphlet reminds me of a scene in the local serial, Tash Ma Tash, which is broadcast in Ramadan. The pamphlet recalls a story widely known in Najd and the Kingdom’s northern regions. According to the story, a man was told that a friend of his had climbed a palm tree and then accidentally fell to his death. The man said, “Then we should neither climb nor approach any palm tree.”
A few days later, he was told that someone had died when he fell from a camel. He pronounced, “Then we should keep away from camels and never ride them.”
Still later, he was told of someone who drowned after falling into a well. His reply was, “We should then stay away from wells.”
The next day, he was told of someone who had died in bed while he was asleep. He said with sad resignation, “There is no escape.”
There is no need for thousands of rich Saudis to learn or understand this story. What is important here is to ask them what they have offered the country before they die and leave millions in the hands of their heirs.
