UAE martyr’s family holds on to memories

Dubai: “The last time we saw him, the day he left for Yemen, he kissed his father and me goodbye and asked us to forgive him if he ever did anything to upset us,” recalls Seleimah Hassan Mohammad Hassan, Hassan’s mother.

Hassan Mohammad Hassan Mohammad Al Tineji, 36, became a martyr on September 4 this year as part of the Saudi-led coalition Operation Restoring Hope fighting to liberate Yemen from the Al Houthis.

The martyr left behind nine children, the eldest 15 years old and the youngest four months old.

Her son, said Seleimah, was a generous man and always committed to whatever he undertook. His loyalty to his purpose made every effort of his shine. It was difficult to refuse any of Hassan’s requests because he always gave and seldom asked for anything, she added.

She particularly mentions his love for a dish she cooked. “He would ask for a seafood dish I make, Salonet Al Samak. He just couldn’t resist it and craved for it when he returned from his service,” recalled Seleimah.

Hassan’s generosity included giving his time and effort to the people closest to him, such as his 80-year-old father, Mohammad Hassan Mohammad Al Tineji.

“He picked me up every Friday to go for prayers and we would return to the house where the rest of the family would have already gathered to have lunch together,” said Mohammad, Hassan’s father. As he recalled this, he wiped his tears and raised his hands to the sky, thanking God for having given him a courageous son.

Mohammad said he raised his children to pray, observe the fast and give unconditionally to those less fortunate, traits which Hassan possessed. Hassan, in turn, had passed them on to his children hoping to instil these values in them at a young age, said the father.

“During Ramadan, he would take his eldest son and daughter to distribute meals with drinks to the needy in different areas in Kalba. He even visited camp sites to give workers food for iftar.”

Hassan’s sister, Fatima Mohammad Hassan Al Tineji, is the youngest of his sisters and was the closest to the martyr given the small age gap.

Fatima said that much of the help he provided people was offered discreetly and he rarely spoke about his efforts.

“He loved to help people secretly and we only found out that he was helping people one way or the other after his death from the families approaching us and the organisations, such as Emirates Red Crescent (ERC),” she said.

Proud of the progress her younger brother made over the years, Fatima recalled with fondness the evenings she spent studying with him.

“I remember he came back from his first day of school and told me his teacher had asked him to not use the books so they don’t get damaged. I couldn’t help but laugh because he was trying to find an excuse not to study,” said Fatima.

Though he used the excuse to escape studying, as he got older, he turned out to be one of the most studious students in his class, said Fatima. He was scheduled to receive his high school diploma following his return from Yemen, she added.

Fatima said that apart from school, Hassan always had an interest in exploring new technology, electronics and places across the country.

“He always took the lead in planning our family gatherings on Friday afternoons. He would do his research, explore the new place by himself first and then inform us through the WhatsApp group to meet him there,” she said.

Though Hassan has left his family broken-hearted, they have vowed to hold on to his memories at all times. On Fridays after prayer time, his family gathers, like they did when he was alive, to share a delicious meal and steep themselves in his memories.