Between Abha and Abha: Subhi Al-Mulla
First: Abha. Second: Subhi Yousef Al-Mulla. As for Abha, it is one of the most important and beautiful cities in southern Arabia, renowned for its beauty, the purity of its air, and the purity of its people’s character. Situated at an altitude of nearly three kilometers above sea level, it is so high that you can find yourself below the clouds at times and above them at others, within just a few minutes. The city possesses Islamic heritage worthy of being compiled into a cultural, historical, and tourism publication that highlights its historical landmarks. Despite its distance from the Holy Mecca and the Radiant Medina, it contains ancient mosques, such as the mosque of Sa’id ibn Abdullah al-Azdi, may Allah be pleased with him, built by this noble Companion whom the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, sent there to teach the locals Islam. Another notable site is the historic Al-Saqqa Mosque, built by the fourth-generation descendant, Prince Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Abdulrahman ibn Muhammad ibn Yazid ibn Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with them, in the month of Rabi’ al-Thani, 126 AH. An inscription on its minbar reads: “O Allah, reward those who renovated it and assist them in its renovation, and grant goodness to those who pray for them.”
As for Abha’s geographical and geological nature, it deserves its own beautiful tourist geographical guide and a comprehensive geological guide, which would suffice by documenting the strange and wondrous diversity of mountain rocks scattered across its peaks. It also merits a splendid architectural guide showcasing the exquisite variety of walls and structures, uniquely constructed from the very rocks of Abha’s mountains. For instance, the esteemed brother Subhi Yousef Al-Mulla, when building a beautiful retreat, laid its foundations and erected its walls using the same diverse shapes and sizes of rocks extracted from the very mountain on which his new retreat stands.
Secondly, regarding Subhi Yousef Al-Mulla, I have dubbed him the “Ambassador of Kuwaitis in Abha” because he spontaneously and informally represents Kuwaiti tourists who own homes in Abha. He has spent four decades in Abha, being among the first Kuwaitis to own property there and among the earliest to recognize its potential for tourism. He was a contemporary of pioneers like the esteemed late Abdul Latif Ali Al-Humoud Al-Shaie and the esteemed late Abdullah Ali Al-Abdulwahab Al-Mutawa, as well as Saleh Al-Roumi, Abdul Razzaq Baqarais, and others too numerous to mention here.
What distinguishes “Abu Yousef” is that he is beloved by all, serving and advising both acquaintances and strangers. He loves to serve others whenever possible; even some Saudi brothers sometimes benefit from his close ties with the people of Abha, according to their respective needs. During the occupation, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the Emir of Asir, relied on him to help organize the affairs of Kuwaitis residing in Abha. The prince placed great trust in him, reflected in his integrity, seriousness, love for serving others, and excellent relationships with everyone.
When asked why Abha is special to him, he answers without hesitation: “My brother, the people of the Kingdom love Kuwait and Kuwaitis in general, and the people of Abha are no different. They are all distinguished by remarkable generosity, whether they know you or not, in addition to their noble character and kind morals. On the other hand, life there is easy, with services readily available around you, beautiful weather, pure and lovely air, gentle breezes, and beautiful rains with a unique charm. Its soil is fertile without needing fertilizer. Even in the small garden of his home, he has managed to cultivate some of the most beautiful fruits and flowers. In summary, Abha and its people are welcoming and make others feel at home.”
What is striking is his consistent habit of gathering his acquaintances, both Saudi and Kuwaiti, in a beautifully organized majlis that flows naturally and effortlessly. He has chosen a café as his venue, without imposing any administrative costs on anyone, thereby bringing together a wide and diverse spectrum of individuals from all regions of the Kingdom in a harmonious social setting. He is accustomed to praying the Isha prayer and then inviting them to join him, using a popular theatrical catchphrase that begins with: “Where are you, O people?” Within minutes or hours, they gather joyfully.
One of the key reasons for his successful stability in Abha, despite his previous travels across most European countries and around the world—including, for example, visiting 42 of the 50 U.S. states—is his beautiful harmony with his noble wife, Umm Yousef (the esteemed sister Badriyah Nasser Al-Murshid). She has always shared his beautiful social spirit, love of travel, and desire to introduce their guests, both practically and on the ground, to all the beautiful tourist sites in Abha and its surrounding mountains, villages, and valleys, such as Al-Soudah, As-Saqaa, Jabal Nahran, Al-Wadain, Al-Ziyadi, Tabab, the villages of Qaradh and Al-Mahfouz, and Tandah. His noble sons have also internalized this same spirit, making their family a beautiful system dedicated to serving others, particularly Kuwaitis.
I clearly remember this positive energy benefiting his fellow citizens, who benefited from his diligence and excellent performance over a quarter of a century at the General Organization for Housing, culminating in his appointment as its Director General. His tenure was marked by beautiful achievements, making one feel regret when he publicly resigned at a major press conference after his masterful and rigorous management of the organization, adhering to a straight administrative and governance path. In his resignation, he protested against blatant interference in his competencies, which contradicted regulations and systems, and against supposed governmental intervention that should have prevented the patronage that accompanied parliamentary life at that time. Unfortunately, many view this as having tarnished the Kuwaiti parliamentary experience, despite its strong foundation and sound origins.
There is more to reflect upon, but the limited space available for this article compels me to stop here. In my mind, Abha bears two names: Abha, and Abha Subhi Al-Mulla. May God increase the likes of him.
Dr. Abdulmohsen Al-Jarallah Al-Kharafi
