Al-Watan newspaper

THE US media is continuing its coverage of the noble work done by two Saudi scholarship students – Theeb Man’aa Al-Rakah Al-Yami and his cousin Jasser Daham Al-Rakah Al-Yami — who died after saving two American children from drowning in a Massachusetts river.

The two young men have projected the true image of Saudis who are known for their courage and readiness to help people in distress whatever may be the cost.

Theeb and Jasser have symbolized the most beautiful human values and have done a great service to the nation by spreading its name and fame worldwide. Their noble work aroused the feelings of the American people and the entire world. It also contributed to creating a positive public opinion about Muslims in general and Saudis in particular.

This incident gave the message that our scholarship students in the US and other countries should always uphold a positive spirit and high moral values. It once again proved that Arabs do not harbor any hatred or anger toward others.

Is there any expression of love greater than sacrificing one's life to save the life of another?

Over the past few years, a number of Saudi students in the US and Europe were the victims of hate speech by Islamophobes who attacked them verbally and physically while some newspapers and websites exaggerated isolated acts of misdemeanor committed by some individuals.

Unfortunately, some official agencies as well as university teachers supported such hate campaigns without trying to verify the truth. Some professors have refused to give Saudis grades they deserved in exams and other academic activities. So the latest incident might change the attitude of American officials and teachers toward Saudi students.

As I mentioned earlier, the mission of our scholarship students is not limited to enhancing their academic pursuits. On the other hand, they can present a good picture of their nation, creating firewalls against those who try to discredit our Islamic faith and Arab and Saudi culture.

Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam and the land of the two holy mosques. The noble act of Theeb and Jasser has increased the Kingdom’s global reputation and changed the public opinion for the better. Many Americans have positively reacted to this incident, forcing the US administration to praise the act of the two Saudi students and express its condolences to their bereaved families.

Countries spend hundreds of millions of dollars to enhance their image abroad and correct wrong perceptions and they wait for a long time to get the desired result of their PR campaigns. But the noble act of the two young martyrs has produced prompt results.

The two young men were inspired by the teachings of Islam and their Arab culture and traditions in which they grew up. Their upbringing gave them the courage to help people in danger. This incident would have other positive results in the coming days. The president of the university, where the two Saudis were studying, said the biggest lecture hall in the university would be named after them to keep their memory alive and project them as a glittering example of humanity for the coming generations.

I believe that this is a big honor for Saudi Arabia. We should be proud of our citizens like Theeb and Jasser. They are among the martyrs who won't die and will find their place in the Paradise, enjoying its bounties.

God says in the Holy Book: “... if anyone saved a life, it is as if he saved the entire mankind." (Qur'an 5:32). This Qur’anic verse did not specify the religion or race or color of the person to be saved.

Thanks to the sacrifice of these two young men, we Saudis can now raise our heads. The country that gave birth to them deserves honor and appreciation.

Of course, we too are human beings and we make mistakes. Like other communities we are also a mix of good and bad people. But I would like to emphasize that our great values, noble customs and lofty traditions are enough to impress others. We have to promote these values and inject them in the minds of our students, especially those pursuing higher studies in reputable foreign universities.

Our students abroad should understand they are the ambassadors of their nation and act accordingly in their universities and places of work. Other people should be able to feel and enjoy the goodness of the Saudi people. We have many good qualities and we should use them for the benefit of our country and enhance its global reputation.