Thousands pay respects to late Grandfather Emir Sheikh Khalifa

All photos courtesy of QNA

Hundreds of dignitaries, senior state officials and locals joined the royal family yesterday to perform funeral prayers for former Emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Grandfather Emir, who ruled the country for 23 years, died on Sunday at the age of 84.

Prayers were held under tight security after Asr at the Imam Mohammed bin Abdel Wahab (state) Mosque in Al Dafna.

Ministers, scores of sheikhs and some ambassadors began filing into the mosque an hour ahead of the prayer, to join Emir Sheikh Tamim and the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad.

After prayers concluded, Sheikh Khalifa’s body was moved from the mosque, and then buried at a cemetery in Al-Rayyan, where he was born.

Later in the evening, Emir Sheikh Tamim and Sheikh Hamad accepted condolences from the kings of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Local mourners and more officials were also received by both Emirs at Al Wajbah Palace, QNA reported. 

Qatar mourning

Three days of national mourning were announced in honor of Sheikh Khalifa’s death.

Flags half-mast
Flags half-mast

Though schools and workplaces remain open, events and celebrations have been canceled.

And Qatari flags are flying at half-mast across the country.

Farewell

Many Qataris attended both the prayer and burial, and shared some pictures on Twitter and Snapchat under the hashtag الأمير_الأب# (The Father Emir).

https://twitter.com/JnEcb6cdubm1MMh/status/790541977825710080

Translation: Goodbye our father. 

https://twitter.com/MeshalALQayed/status/790528122689028096

https://twitter.com/nfuod/status/790584314538946560

Translation: To eternal paradise.  

Others expressed their sadness and love to the late Emir and extended their support to Sheikh Hamad and the family.

https://twitter.com/3eeen00/status/790786985107521536

Translation: He who was bidding farewell to Khalifa bin Hamad, now leans on another Khalifa bin Hamad.

https://twitter.com/w0lf_q/status/790622826344681472

Translation: May God augment your deeds, “our nation” (Sheikh Khalifa). I bear witness that there isn’t a greater grief than the grief of our father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa. May Allah keep him around for us, and spare him all evils.

https://twitter.com/qat_a/status/790608242011435008

Translation: May God have mercy on our father, and grant his family and children patience, and may He forgive him, oh God the most merciful. 

Translation: Oh God, it is his first night tonight, may you accompany him while he’s alone, and make his grave one of the gardens of paradise.

Translation: To the gardens of eternity. (Cartoon text: Oh God may you have mercy on him, and join us with him in heaven).

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