JEDDAH – In a somber mood, thousands of people, including leaders and members of the Indian community, as well as students and staff of the International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) thronged Rowais Najd cemetery in Jeddah on Monday to bid farewell to Fawaz Ismail, who died in an accident on Sunday night. [caption id="attachment_30615" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fawaz receives trophy at JSC function[/caption] The unexpected demise of the 17-year-old Fawaz leaves a huge void among the teens in the community as he was a ‘shining star' who was exemplary for them in many respects — piety, obedience, friendship, and sporting. Though football was his passion, Fawaz was also popular as a good singer and reciter of the Holy Qur'an with his melodious voice and intonation. The death came when he was preparing to sit for his class 12 final examination of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), scheduled to begin after a couple of weeks. Funeral prayer for Fawaz was held at the Rowais mosque after Dhuhr prayer. A large number of community members, including women and children, offered prayer and attended the last rites of Fawaz. They were led by Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak, Haj Consul Shahid Alam, IISJ Principal Syed Masood Ahmed, and leaders of a cross section of the community. Earlier, students, teachers and other staff members of IISJ paid tribute to their beloved Fawaz at the Palestine Mosque on Al-Arabeen Street. [caption id="attachment_30616" align="alignright" width="300"] Part of the crowd that attended the funeral of Fawaz[/caption] There was also an unprecedented presence of the community members with their earnest supplications at the premises of Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital for two days when Fawaz battled for his life. He was in coma after sustaining fatal head injuries after being hit by a car. Fawaz is the son of Ismail Kannambath, an IT official at a Jeddah establishment, and Shahnaz from the northern Kerala city of Thalassery. Shabaz is his elder brother while Faiz and Ijaz, both IISJ students, are his younger brothers. Abdulkareem Kannambath, employee services manager of the Riyadh branch of Diaverum AB, one of the world's largest independent renal care providers, is the paternal uncle of Fawaz. Hundreds of families and members of the community flocked to the house of Fawaz in Faisaliyah district to offer condolences. L. Ramnarayan Iyer, executive editor of Saudi Gazette, visited the house and consoled the bereaved family members. "The entire school is deeply saddened at the unexpected demise of Fawaz and it was a very tough time for me and colleagues to console his classmates," IISJ Principal Syed Masood Ahmed told Saudi Gazette. "He was a well behaved and obedient student. All teachers, other staffers and students praise his character and obedient demeanor." Ahmed recalled that Fawaz was a very good player who brought laurels to the school in several football matches. The principal advised students and their parents to give utmost care and vigil with regard to their road safety. He recalled that within one year, the school has lost three of its pupils in accidents while some others sustained injuries. Mohammed Raziq, chairman of IISJ managing committee, and members expressed their deep grief over the demise of Fawaz. Raziq, who was present at hospital to console the family, left Jeddah for India on Sunday evening following the death of his mother back in the southern state of Kerala. Noufal Palakkoth, headmaster of grades 9-12 of the boys' section, said that Fawaz was a versatile student. "He was a very promising football player, good singer, and reciter of the Qu'ran who kept a very good rapport with his peers and teachers." Many of his classmates burst into tears when they recalled their sweet memories of living with Fawaz, whose humor, presented them with moments of cheerfulness and relaxation in the midst of tense exam days. They also recalled that he was an exemplary model on how to lead a true Islamic life by going to mosque to pray without failure. Football was more than a passion for Fawaz, for which he dedicated fully and made it his last feat before dying. Fawaz had been well-trained as a fast footballer with crisp, precise passing and sharp-shooting, at the Soccer Training Academy of Jeddah Sports Club (JSC). His parents had repeatedly advised him to put off taking part in matches until the senior secondary exam is over. While going out for the SIFF match, which proved to be his last, he told his mother: "O Umma, this would be my last match, and I will then fully concentrate on studies." JSC President Jaaffer Ahmed told Saudi Gazette: Fawaz was with us on the first day of the JSC Academy in 2010. "We found him jovial, sharp, simple, quick learner, outspoken boy among our trainees. With little childish behavior, he was our fastest runner with the ball along with Basil Naser though he was physically not as strong as required for a fast footballer," he said. In a touching comment, JSC coach Saleem P.R said Fawaz surprised him very much not because of his quick movements in the playground but because of his speed to reach Jannatul Firdous. "I can't still cope with the reality of his death and only think that he is taking rest for the next football match." Saleem prayed Almighty Allah to give strength, courage and patience to his parents and family members to bear with this unexpected tragedy.
