I am working on an encyclopedia of companions on the journey and compiling their names

I was surprised

And I see men baking food in ovens

Al-Ittihad players Abdulmajid, Ghazi Kayyal, and Madani Rahimi... my teammates

The educator Ibrahim Ali Al-Faqih was distinguished by his generosity and sincere loyalty. Successive generations still acknowledge his contributions, emulate his life, and recall his career as Director of Education in Al-Qunfudhah Governorate, as well as his roles as supervisor, teacher, and scholarship recipient. His efforts did not stop at 35 years of government work; he continues to be active in social and cultural activities. Here is the text of our conversation with him:

• When was the hour of his arrival into the world?

•• I was born in the year 1367 AH, and birth dates were dated according to specific names and events such as wars, floods, rains and storms, and my birth coincided with the “Thuluthan flood”, and I was born in the town of Al-Habil in Al-Qunfudhah Governorate.

Which season were you born in?

•• She was born in the spring season.

• What does belonging to Al Qunfudhah Governorate mean?

•• A source of pride and honor, how could it not be, as it is the birthplace and the memories of youth, childhood, and playing with peers.

• Did you grow up in a rural environment? What events, situations, and people awakened your early consciousness?

•• I grew up in a village and agricultural environment, as my father - may God have mercy on him - was a landowner. He used to assign me grazing and working with farmers, so that I would deliver water and food to the farmers. I continued with those tasks until after the primary stage, and after that I moved to the city of Al-Qunfudhah to study the intermediate stage.

Headache and thirst • How was your first day of fasting?

•• We grew up in a very difficult environment, and the heat was very high. I was responsible for my father’s work, which extended from dawn until evening, starting with taking the sheep to graze, passing through going to school, and ending with returning to the pasture at sunset. Therefore, I did not fast early in elementary school, but rather I started fasting in middle school when I had time to study middle school in Al-Qunfudhah.

• What is your mother's and father's stance on your early fasting? And did they, or either of them, give you permission to break the fast due to exhaustion?

•• My first attempt was when I was in the fifth grade of elementary school. I fasted until half an hour before sunset, but I could not resist the headache and the intense thirst. However, I became regular in fasting when I was in the first grade of middle school. My parents encouraged me to fast, but they felt sorry for us because of the difficult weather and the many tasks we were assigned.

What did the family eat for suhoor at that time?

People were keen to have sheep and milking cows in order to provide them with “Eidam” (a type of stew). During Ramadan, there was no large spread, but rather very brief meals consisting of sourdough bread with yogurt, to which some crumbled dough was added, and fenugreek with oil was added in the middle. Some of the wealthy would add some wild ghee.

What household chores were you assigned?

•• Grazing begins after the Fajr prayer, and I stop to go to school. Then I return to grazing from after the Asr prayer until just before the Maghrib prayer.

Encyclopedia of Companions on the Path • What difference or advantage did you feel you had over your peers?

•• I was fortunate that all my peers joined the primary institute and I joined the intermediate stage, and I was among the first students to study for that stage and obtain it, and from there I completed secondary school in Jeddah due to the lack of a secondary school in Al-Qunfudhah at that time.

• Who do you remember from your childhood friends?

I remember them and I am currently working on an encyclopedia of companions on the journey by listing all the names at all stages and creating a biography for them, and this will be published in a book soon, God willing.

Why do we feel nostalgia for our early days in life?

•• There is no doubt that past memories are happy for everyone as they remind them of their childhood haunts and past friends.

• Where did you feel the sense of separation from the village and the change in your lifestyle?

I felt a sense of separation from the village after graduating from elementary school, and I moved to the city of Al-Qunfudhah, which was present for us. It was the first moment in my life when I saw the daily market and a group of shops. It was also a moment of wonder when I saw men baking food in ovens. I also became acquainted with many meals that I was not familiar with in the village, especially during the month of Ramadan, including soup, samosas, beans, fried foods, and pastries that Al-Qunfudhah was famous for. Likewise, when I moved to Jeddah, things changed, and also to Riyadh, as my life witnessed several moves, and I benefited from all those long journeys.

My pre-dawn meal is "Thrif"

• When did your relationship with education begin?

•• My relationship with education began in 1373 AH, and I was fortunate to be among the first students in the formal education system that the Ministry of Education began to establish. I studied primary school in my village of Al-Habil, intermediate school in Al-Qunfudhah, and secondary school in Jeddah at Al-Shati Secondary School. I then moved to Riyadh University and joined the College of Arts, Department of Geography. Then I had the opportunity to travel to the United States of America and obtained a master’s degree in educational administration.

• What are the memorable moments from that period?

•• There are so many memorable situations that it is difficult to count them all, as each stage of education has its own beautiful situations and memories.

What is your Ramadan schedule from dawn until suhoor?

•• I read what I can of the Qur’an after the Fajr prayer, then I go back to sleep until before the Dhuhr prayer, then I go to the mosque and pray and wait for an hour to read what I can of the Qur’an, then I go back home and watch some programs until the Asr prayer, then I go back to the mosque before the Asr call to prayer and complete my reading of the Qur’an and go back home, and after Maghrib I watch some televised programs until before the Isha prayer, and when I finish the Taraweeh prayer I meet some friends and colleagues.

• Which dishes, meals, or foods do you make sure are on your Ramadan table, especially local ones?

•• The most important dishes for me in Ramadan are soup and samosas for Iftar, as well as vegetables. For Suhoor, I prefer “Thareef,” which I have been accustomed to since childhood, as well as “Kabsa.” Thareef is made of discs of millet or corn that are crumbled with milk, heated, and then a little sugar and a little ghee are added to it. I still maintain this meal to this day.

Do you follow radio or television programs? If so, what are they?

•• I have been a listener of Saudi radio for a very long time, especially during Ramadan. There were several distinctive programs at that time, including “Guest of the Night,” which was presented by the creative broadcaster Dr. Badr Karim, may God have mercy on him. There were also television programs, including the program of Sheikh Ali Al-Tantawi, which is one of the programs I love most.

Why do we have fewer friends as we get older?

•• That is normal. In youth, a person is very active and moves around and has many friends and companions, but life separates people and only a few remain. Therefore, you find some people who are hurt and regretful because of the separation, but they were not prepared for this and know that the reason is the interest of work, and this is normal. And the few who remain are the ones we call friends.

These are my colleagues. Do you have any sporting interests? And what is your favorite team?

•• As for sports inclinations, unfortunately I did not participate in many sports activities in elementary school, and I was not given the opportunity at all stages, but I used to follow and encourage. In high school, I used to follow the matches that were held at Al-Sabban Stadium in Jeddah, and I had colleagues who were players of Al-Ittihad Club, including Abdulmajid Kayyal, Ghazi Kayyal, who was a referee, and Dr. Madani Rahimi. These were my colleagues in high school, and they used to invite me to attend the matches and victory celebrations that were held at the headquarters of Al-Ittihad Club in Al-Baghdadiyah, and since that time I became attached to supporting Al-Ittihad Club, the Dean.

Which poem do you think is worth its weight in gold?

•• The truth is, I love to listen to poets and read many of them, especially those we read during our studies, such as Al-Mutanabbi and Abu Al-Ala Al-Ma’arri, as well as modern poets. But I really don’t remember that there is a particular poem that is the most beautiful poem for me, because beauty is renewed with regard to poetry and meanings.

• What time or era would you like to have lived in?

•• I thank God Almighty that I have enjoyed my life over the past years, and I ask God Almighty to make me one of those whose life is long and whose deeds are good. I was fortunate to have different travels in which I enjoyed them and got to know friends and men from my village, or the people of Al-Qunfudhah, or Jeddah, or Riyadh, or my colleagues whom I got to know in the field of work. All stages of my life are important to me and dear, and we ask God to make our end good in all matters.