The sons of a Saudi tawaf who died as a result of “Corona” serve the pilgrims in implementation of his will

Despite his absence from the Hajj this year, the six sons of Tunisia stand to receive pilgrims in Mecca to help visitors to the House of God.

AFP

A prominent Saudi pilgrim who has worked in the service of foreign pilgrims for nearly 30 years will be absent from Hajj this year, after his death due to infection with “Covid-19”, but his six children decided to volunteer and help visitors to the Kaaba, in his place, in implementation of his will.

Talaat Jamil Tounsi was a sports journalist, before dedicating himself to serving Arab pilgrims arriving annually, as well as Umrah pilgrims throughout the year.

The tawaf is the one who guides and assists foreign pilgrims in performing their religious rituals properly, and he must be sufficiently aware of their needs during their stay in the Holy Land.

His son Majid, 32, says that his father recommended him before his death, saying, "If something happens to me, you and your brothers should complete the Hajj work, and stand together to serve the pilgrims."

The young doctor added in an emotional voice, "We all decided to work this year for the first time to serve pilgrims, in memory of the father," who died in August at the age of 52, leaving six sons and two daughters.

The entire Tunisian family was infected with the Corona virus last July, after the infection was transmitted to them through his daughter, who works as a doctor.

Majed said that his father, "was admitted to intensive care, and continued to suffer from multiple complications, but he did not wake up from the coma associated with (Corona), which eliminated most of the functions of his body."

Despite his absence from Hajj this year, his six sons, aged between 8 and 32, and his two grandsons, Talaat, 10, and Sami, 7, stand at the pilgrims’ reception center in the Al-Zaydi district of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, to help visitors to the House of God.

The young ones provide water, coffee and dates to the pilgrims, while the older ones complete their procedures, and issue their electronic permits and Hajj smart cards.

Majed, who recalled his assistance to his father in serving pilgrims during his childhood, said, "I feel now that I am completing my father's mission and role."

The Tounsi family has been working in the raft field for more than 80 years.

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