Watan-The Syrian elder Ismail Al-Za’im, nicknamed “Abu Al-Sabaa”, known for his humanitarian initiative of distributing tea, coffee, and dates to the guests and visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah for free as an ongoing charity, passed away at the age of 95. He was a familiar face among the residents and visitors of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah due to his four-decade-long commitment to this initiative.
The death of the Syrian pilgrim Ismail Al-Za’im occurred naturally due to his old age. He was prayed for on Tuesday evening in the Prophet’s Mosque.
Throughout the past four decades, the elderly man from the well-known Al-Za’im family in the Syrian city of Hama used to sit on a plastic chair near the Prophet’s Mosque, close to his home, with a table in front of him containing sweets, dates, along with tea and coffee.
Ismail Al-Za’im, nicknamed “Abu Al-Sabaa”, had previously confirmed to Saudi media that everything he distributed for the past 40 years was free for the sake of God, without receiving any monetary compensation from anyone. His motto was the saying of Allah: “We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.”
وفاة الحاج اسماعيل الزعيم ابوالسباع
والذي اشتهر بتوزيع الشاي على الزوار وعلى اهل المدينة منذ اكثر من 40 عاماًرحمه الله رحمة واسعه pic.twitter.com/3WELEJ3yM0
— قـريـبـاً فـي الـمـديـنـة (@soonmadinah) April 16, 2024
From Hama to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah
According to the opposition “Syria TV” website, Ismail Al-Za’im, who hailed from the city of Hama, had been residing in Saudi Arabia for more than 50 years.
During his stay in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, he was known for his charitable work, distributing tea, coffee, milk, and dates to pilgrims and visitors for free every day without boredom or weariness.
Escaping the Assad Regime’s Massacres
Social media users, particularly on Twitter, reacted to the news of the passing of the elderly benefactor with kind words. One user, Mohammed Madour, commented: “May Allah have mercy on the immigrant uncle Abu Sabaa from Hama.”
He added: “He migrated from his hometown of Hama after Allah spared him from the massacre in 1984, which targeted the people of Hama and was carried out by Assad the father and his brother Rifaat, claiming the lives of seventy thousand people in less than a week. He then settled in the city of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, until his demise today.”
Another user, Adham Haj Ahmed, remarked: “Abu Sabaa Al-Hamawi was a resident of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, dedicating his life to serving its visitors in the custody of Allah Almighty.”
أبو سباع الحموي نزيل المدينة المنورة، ومن نذر حياته لخدمة زوّارها في ذمّة الله تعالى..
رحمه الله تعالى وأسكنه فسيح جناته.. pic.twitter.com/2AxH9nCJNq— Adham – Haj Ahmed (@adham_syria1) April 16, 2024
He concluded: “May Allah have mercy on him and grant him the highest ranks of Paradise.”
A user recalling his experience with the late elder stated: “When I was in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, I always stopped by Abu Al-Sabaa’s place to have the free tea and coffee. He was always laughing and joking with the customers, making it an enjoyable and comfortable experience. May Allah have mercy on Haj Ismail Al-Za’im and grant him Paradise.”