Funeral prayers for the late Father Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, were held in the capital city of Doha on Sunday following his passing at the age of 74, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. The religious ceremony took place immediately after the daily Maghrib evening prayer at the prominent Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque. Rows of thousands of mourners dressed in traditional white Qatari attire gathered inside the state mosque to stand in silent prayer before the shrouded body of the former ruler.
Sheikh Hamad guided the Gulf nation through a monumental period of economic expansion and sovereign autonomy from 1995 until his formal abdication in 2013. Following the conclusion of the formal congregation, close members of the royal family carried the casket from the main prayer hall. His son and current successor, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, personally assisted in transporting the remains of the late leader out of the mosque complex toward the designated burial site.
The former head of state will be laid to rest at the historic Lusail Cemetery located on the northern outskirts of the capital city. Reporting live from the scene, Al Jazeera correspondent Zein Basravi described the entire proceeding as a profoundly humble and traditional Islamic event. The network confirmed that in accordance with orthodox Islamic values, the influential regional architect would be interred within a simple, unadorned grave rather than an elaborate royal mausoleum.
The administrative authorities have declared an official period of national mourning across the state, which is scheduled to last until Wednesday. During this time, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will formally receive visiting heads of state, foreign dignitaries, and members of neighboring royal families at the Lusail Palace. What remains unclear is whether the current diplomatic engagements of the state regarding international security crises will experience brief scheduling alterations during the high-profile mourning period.
