The Amiri Diwan announced absentee funeral prayers (Salat al-Gha’ib) would be performed for the former Kuwaiti ruler at mosques across the country.

Worshippers across the country participated in absentee funeral prayers for Kuwait’s former Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah on Wednesday, as per Amiri Diwan orders.

The prayer, which took place in the evening, was performed under strict coronavirus guidelines, with people wearing their face masks and socially distancing.

Read also: Amir Tamim lands in Kuwait for Sheikh Sabah’s funeral as Qatar announces mourning period

It comes as Qatar undergoes three days of national mourning following Al-Sabah’s death.

Just hours earlier, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was one of the only world leaders to attend the funeral of the late ruler in Kuwait, whose death has been described as a regional loss.

Al-Sabah, who died on Tuesday in the US, has ruled Kuwait for 2006.

The renowned diplomatic giant and the father of the Gulf region has turned the country into the balancing power after years of experience in politics and serving as the minister of foreign affairs.

In September, US President Donald Trump awarded the Kuwaiti Emir the Legion of Merit – an honour last awarded in 1991- in recognition of his efforts in the Gulf rift.

Al-Sabah exhibited strong leadership amid the 2017 Gulf Crisis, while focusing on resolving wars in Syria and Iraq in addition to defending the Palestinian case.

He also visited Iraq twice in the years 2012 and 2019, marking a new era between Kuwait City and Baghdad, despite then leader Saddam Hussein’s previous invasion of the Gulf nation.

Al-Sabah’s half brother, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al-Sabah has assumed the position of Kuwait’s leader.

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