JEDDAH: There was joy and happiness at the news that King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, had left hospital in America after two successful surgeries. Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh Region, expressed thanks and praise to Allah Almighty Who bestowed good health, recovery and wellness upon King Abdullah “We are appealing to Allah Almighty for the King's safe return home to complete the march whose work is devoted entirely to serve his country and people as well as the Islamic and Arab nations,” he said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency. Speaker of Shoura Council Sheikh Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh also expressed, jubilation and happiness, in his own name and on behalf of the Council's members and staff, after King Abdullah left the hospital after Allah Almighty bestowed upon him good health, recovery and wellness. In a statement, he congratulated the leadership, Royal family, government and people on this occasion, praying to Allah Almighty for the King's safe return home to continue his blessed march of progress, development and reform to strengthen the Kingdom's prestigious position in regional and international arenas. Abdul Rahman Al-Sadhan, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, said there “is great joy and great glad tidings not only for the people of the Kingdom and the Arab nation, but for the whole Muslim Ummah”. “The King leaving hospital and walking on his own is a source of great happiness throughout the Kingdom. Everyone was praying for the quick recovery and protection of the King of Humanity.” Al-Sadhan prayed to Allah for the King's full recovery and said he was looking forward to his return with “eagerness and love”. He thanked Allah and said he will pray for the King to be granted a long life, good health and happiness. An atmosphere of great joy prevailed in the Kingdom with the King's release from the Presbyterian Hospital in New York, with cars decorated with flags and the King's picture. Little girls wore green clothes carrying King Abdullah's picture. There was spontaneous expressions of joy in the major cities and villages in all the Kingdom's regions at the announcement the King was released after a period of physiotherapy. In Al-Qassim region, citizens expressed their happiness by pouring out into the streets. These manifestations of joy were seen in Buraidah, Unaiza, Al-Rass and the villages and rural complexes. Saudi national, Sulaiman Al-Himaili, said citizens all over the Kingdom were overjoyed and prayed to Allah for his long life and good health. In Al-Jouf region, women and men expressed their happiness, and dressed their young sons and daughters in clothes bearing the King's picture. “The citizens in Al-Jouf region were overjoyed and prayed to Allah to grant our King good health,” said Saudi national Muneefa Hassan Al-Haizan. In Tabuk region, loudspeakers in the region's schools announced the good news and students and teachers expressed their joy. Students Mutair Al-Inizi, Yahya Al-Shihri, Majed Al-Sahli and Marwan Al-Jihani said they were overjoyed at the success of the King's operation and his release from hospital. Over 600 students and teachers in Tabuk expressed their feelings of joy through a work of art on which they wrote: “Thanks to Allah for your recovery Aba Mit'eb.” They also launched a page on Facebook designed by the students. In the Eastern Province, the beaches in Dammam and Al-Khobar were crowded with male and female citizens in a procession dominated by green. In Al-Ahsa, citizens congratulated the King on the occasion and distributed sweets on the streets. Riyadh, the Kingdom's capital, was transformed into a city of lights and colors. Male and female citizens poured onto the streets to express their joy. The big shopping centers and malls were decorated with the green color of the Kingdom's flag. People were also seen wearing caps bearing the King's picture. Family restaurants were colored in green and free meals were distributed. In Jizan, youngsters went out into the streets carrying beautifully smelling flowers including Ful and Kady, which they distributed to passersby. In the villages, citizens expressed their joy by hanging the King's photos and the Saudi flag on their doors.
