Kuwait's Sheikh Nawaf laid to rest


Nada AlTaher
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  • Arabic

A funeral was held on Sunday for Kuwait's Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who died on Saturday at the age of 86.

Only relatives were in attendance, Kuwait's state news agency said.

Funeral prayers took take place at the Bilal bin Rabah mosque on Sunday morning and were broadcast on Kuwaiti TV.

“You have built a house of God, and made sure to perform your prayers on time in it … our beloved Emir,” state broadcaster Kuwait TV said.

Shrouded in Kuwait's flag, Sheikh Nawaf's body arrived in a hearse belonging to the Amiri Diwan. He was carried into the mosque in a ceremony attended by members of the military, Amiri Diwan and relatives.

“Oh Allah has been kind to us; so be kind to him,” a newscaster on Kuwait TV said.

“You have ruled and you have been fair.”

Kuwait's new Emir and former Crown Prince Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah stood behind the imam leading prayers.

“We have loved you genuinely from our heart – you’ve ruled and have been just. We ask God to place you with his other loyal, good followers,” the newscaster said.

“Our hearts are broken – we’ve seen in you a merciful father, a generous Sheikh, a sensitive heart … and a pure soul.”

“We ask God to help us tolerate the pain.”

Sheikh Nawaf's body was laid to rest at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery, where servicemen, high-ranking officials and cemetery workers helped to bury him.

“Goodbye Nawaf Al Ahmad, may God have mercy on you,” the newscaster said.

“Goodbye my leader.”

Kuwait announced a 40-day mourning period.

Absentee prayers will be held across Kuwait's mosques at noon prayers, Kuwait's Ministry of Endowments said.

Condolences came in from around the world after word of Sheikh Nawaf's death.

He was admitted to hospital last month for an emergency and had been in poor health.

The UAE and Oman announced a three-day mourning period. Saudi Arabia was among the first to issue condolences and will also be holding absentee funeral prayers in the Grand mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's mosque in Madinah.

The UAE will hold prayers for Sheikh Nawaf across all mosques in the country at noon.

Leaders and officials from across the world travelled to Kuwait to pay their respects.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered his condolences to the new Emir in Kuwait, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Jordan's King Abdullah II, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Bahrain's King Hamad were among the other leaders to travel to Kuwait.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also visited the OPEC oil producer.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin also travelled to Kuwait.

Mr Austin praised Sheikh Nawaf's “courage and leadership”.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Kuwait and Sheikh Nawaf's family,” he wrote on social media platform X.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among the European leaders to pay tribute to Sheikh Nawaf.

“His Highness was a great friend of the UK, and we will remember fondly all he did for our bilateral relationship and his work to promote stability in the Middle East,” Mr Sunak said.

EU ambassador in Kuwait Anne Koistinen also shared her condolences.

“I’m deeply saddened by the passing of His Highness the late Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah,” she wrote on X.

Cristian Tudor, the EU ambassador to Qatar, said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Sheikh Nawaf's death.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent his condolences to Kuwait and said Ukraine would always be grateful for Sheikh Nawaf's support.

“Sending my deepest condolences to the Kuwaiti people on HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah’s passing,” he wrote on X.

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Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

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A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

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Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

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Updated: December 18, 2023, 6:11 AM`