106-year-old Saudi man forgives reckless driver before passing away

A 106-year-old Saudi man who passed away after a car accident in Abha gallantly asked his companions while transferring him to hospital to forgive the reckless driver who is believed to have caused the accident and insisted they forgive him.

People in the Rijal Alma governorate, southwest of Saudi Arabia, announced the death of Sheikh Ali al-Saleh, with many circulating his obituary on social media.

“Since he was young, my father lived to honor the weak and helping the needy,” al-Saleh’s son said.

“For 80 years, his house which was in the center of the governorate was open to people who came from everywhere on foot. There restaurant was available, and my father honored the passersby and fed them at his house.”

Al-Saleh had 13 sons and five daughters.

Saleh was well-known for his generosity, selflessness and noble acts to the extent that he was known as Hatim Alma, in reference to the famous Arab poet Hatem al-Tai.

Author Ali Meghawi spoke of Saleh’s generosity saying: “Yesterday’s accident was the cause of his death, and he had nothing to give but himself. On his way to the hospital, he told those with them not to demand anything from the party which caused the accident.”

Mourning Saleh, poet Ibrahim Taleaa Al-Almi said: “The symbol of morals and values, the spirit of the land and place Ali al-Saleh has left us today.”