Black Wednesday is what many people have been calling 25th of November when Jeddah got its heaviest rains that resulted in flooding and the death of over 120 people. Videos, photos and articles on the flooding and the damage are aplenty online, but one story I believe has not got its due attention. Farman Ali Khan was a 32 year old Pakistani migrant worker at a grocery store in Jeddah. In his six years in Saudi Arabia, he had only been able to visit his family back home twice. His youngest Jarira, 4 years old, has never seen her daddy alive. This man who had every reason to save himself, as he is his family’s sole provider and yet he set out that day to save as many people as he could.
Farman Ali Khan saved 14 people from drowning. His neighbor told reporters that Farman gave him his wallet and cell phone for safekeeping. He then tied one end of a rope to a pipe and the other around his waist and stood at the edge of the heart of the flooding looking for people to pull out. Those he couldn’t reach swimming and wading, he would reach to them with a wood pole. He kept going back until the water got the better of him and he went under.
Farman left behind his wife and three daughters, Zubaida, 7, Madeeha, 6, and Jarira, 4. And now there is a huge campaign on Facebook with over 22,000 members, the majority of whom are Saudi. They are campaigning for a Jeddah street to be named after Farman, that he be rewarded with the King Abdulazziz Medal and that his family be compensated financially.
December 25th, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Alhumdullillah He earned shahadat. what he has done was not easy, if someone thinks that it was not big enough. he must be rewarded for his efforts, his family should be awarded and his kids must get a good kafalat program from saudi government as their father is a real Hero, Allah bless such family. being Pakistani i m feeling very Proud.
December 25th, 2009 at 3:36 PM
he make us proud in the arab world.MAY ALLAH BLESS HIM.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:08 PM
SALAM HAI FARMAN BHAI KI AZMAT KO HE IS ANOTHER OUR NATIONAL HERO.
December 30th, 2009 at 6:45 AM
salaaam
everyone
i live is jeddah
when i heard abt him
i was double proud to be a pakistani
December 30th, 2009 at 8:29 AM
salam pakistan……..!!!!! Salam Farman Ali Khan
December 30th, 2009 at 9:12 AM
MAY his soul REST IN PEACE IN HEAVEN….
December 31st, 2009 at 5:45 AM
Farman Ali Khan is a real hero.
Allah gives patians to his family ameen.
December 31st, 2009 at 7:01 AM
People like Farman melts our hearts and makes us proud – but it should also sensitize us towards helping his family who he has left behind. His selfless act can not be weighed in money but he and his family deserve to be rewarded…
January 3rd, 2010 at 6:05 PM
We love you, our shaheed brother. Every Pakistani & muslim is proud of you due to your courage. Only Muslim heart can do this…
January 4th, 2010 at 12:50 PM
Aslam alikum..Congratuation to all nation…He make a brave image of Pakistan In KSA and in all over the world..no matter he lost his life but he live in history just as Our Heroes….Its responsibility of our govt. to support and recognise these heroes..
January 5th, 2010 at 5:42 AM
Real brave. A Muslim should be like him. Muslim history is full of these type of heroes. I pray that Almighty Allah will keep him in Shaheed category and his family would be blessed.
I hope the generous and bountiful Muslims especially Saudis will take the responsibilities to look after the children of the barave, Farman Ali Khan.
January 11th, 2010 at 3:36 AM
Shaheed khabi nahi magrta
Farman Shaheed nae Pakistanio kae sar Fakhar sae bulan kar diyae hae……………………………………………………
Allah us ko jannatul Firdous Naseeb Farmayae…………..
January 17th, 2010 at 2:18 PM
OUR POLITICIAN SHOLD LEARN THE LESSON FROM HIM, EVERY ONE WILL DIE.DO NOT FORGET THE DEATH WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON MINISTRY CHAIR. DO SOME THING GOOD THAT EVERY ONE REMIND YOU WITH GOOD WORDS. EVRY ONE HAS GONE ALONE WITH EMPTY HANDS.
M.S.ABID.
JEDDAH.
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:29 AM
Assalam-o-Alaikum
May Allah bless him and keep him heaven and forgive him sins Ameen
May Allah success him in Akhirah Ameen
May Allah bless his family Ameen
Pakistan Zindabad
February 19th, 2010 at 11:00 PM
we proud the bravery of ferman ali khan swati ,he loss his life but he show to world that pukhtoon nation is samfatic,honest and brave nation not tererest.
mru hagha che nh ye noom nh ye neshan we
tel ter tela ph khu noom paye khaghale
intizar yousafzai khudu khel buner
March 29th, 2010 at 1:41 AM
His family needs to be supported. A fund can be opened in his name. Rich can come forward to support. Get Maliks, Makhdooms, Gilanis, Sherif’s, choudhry’s, Bhutto’s & Zardari’s to come forward support. Mr mansha can also help
July 30th, 2010 at 7:17 PM
May Allah bless him and his family and may Allah maqbool his shahadat. We as a muslim, proud on him and this is the real charactor of a muslim which should be always there. Fawad Khan Charsadda, UK