Simple burial in unmarked grave for Saudi king who lived in palaces

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, one of the richest men in the history of the world, was carried in a simple white shroud to an unmarked grave on Friday in a Riyadh cemetery where many of his commoner subjects rest, in keeping with ascetic traditions.

The Saudi state school of Wahhabi Sunni Islam holds ostentatious displays of grief or mourning to be sinful, akin to idolatry.

There was no official mourning period in Saudi Arabia and flags around the kingdom all flew at full staff. Despite his apparent popularity among his subjects, there were no spontaneous gatherings on city streets to mark his passing.  Government offices, closed for the Middle East's normal Friday-Saturday weekend, will open as usual on Sunday.

While the afternoon prayer that preceded Abdullah's burial took place before ranks of Muslim leaders, Saudi princes, powerful clerics and billionaire Arab businessmen, his body was transported to the mosque in a city ambulance.

It was borne through the crowds on a carpet on a simple stretcher, laid in front of the faithful at prayer and then carried by Abdullah's male relatives to the graveyard, where it was laid in the ground with no ceremony.

Compared to the opulent style of many of his brothers and nephews, Abdullah lived frugally, choosing to holiday in a desert camp instead of brash Mediterranean palaces. He was also known for curbing some of his family's excesses once in power, ordering princes to pay their phone bills and book seats on the national airline in advance.  Read More at one of the richest men in the history of the world
Simple burial in unmarked grave for Saudi king who lived in palaces