King says he does not deserve award

Riyadh: Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz said there were more deserving people to win this year's King Faisal International Prize than him.

"I am reluctant to accept it [the prize] as I know that there are many other Muslims who deserve the prize more than me...", he said while accepting the award at a glittering ceremony held at the Prince Sultan Hall of the Al Faisaliah Hotel here on Sunday night.

"I offered special prayers [Istikhara] to Allah, the Almighty, seeking His guidance in taking the right decision. Finally, I decided to accept it on behalf of all Muslims who serve Islam silently away from the limelight without waiting for any reward or thanks," said an emotional King Abdullah who collected the prize for Service to Islam.

The king received the prestigious prize from Makkah Governor Prince Khalid Al Faisal, director-general of the King Faisal Foundation.

Crown Prince Sultan, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence and Aviation, and several princes, cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats also attended the event. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the awards.

King Abdullah presented prizes to winners in other categories. They include Professor Ahmad Matloob Al Nasiri from Iraq and Professor Mohammad Rachad Hamzaoui from Tunisia, both shared prizes for Arabic language and literature.

Other winners

He handed the prize for medicine to co-winners Professor Donald Dean Trunkey and Professor Basil Arthur Pruitt from the United States. Professor Rudiger Wehner from Germany received the award for science.

Each of the prizes consisted of a memento, a commemorative 24-carat gold medal and a cash award of SR750,000 (About Dh750,000).

King Abdullah was selected for the prize in recognition of his outstanding services to Islam and Muslims, both within the Kingdom and abroad.

The King said: "I would like to tell you frankly that when I heard that I have been selected for this prestigious prize in the name of my brother, my first thought was to ask for excuse from accepting it. Fortunately, my confidence in the impartiality of members of the prize committee made me hesitate and think..."

King Abdullah said that he was honoured to accept the prize on behalf of the Muslim Ummah.

"The Muslim scientist in his laboratory, the soldier who defends his homeland, the preacher who calls for moderation, the impartial employee who refuses inducements, the judge who is fair and equitable, the worker who works with his hands and masters his work, and the student who perseveres in his study... all of them are serving Islam. In their names everywhere in the Muslim world, I am pleased to accept this honour and present it to all of them," he added.