Faisal of Saudi Arabia - Early Life

Early Life

Faisal bin Abdulaziz was born in Riyadh in April 1906. He is the third son of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdulaziz. His mother was Tarfa bint Abduallah bin Abdulateef al Sheekh, whom Abdulaziz had married in 1902 after capturing Riyadh. She was from the family of the Al ash-Sheikh, descendants of Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab. Faisal's maternal grandfather, Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Latif Al ash-Sheikh, was one of Abdulaziz's principal religious teachers and advisers.

His mother died when he was quite young, and he was raised by his maternal grandfather, Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Latif Al ash-Sheikh who taught him the Quran and the principles of Islam, an education which left an impact on him for the remainder of his life.

Faisal bin Abdulaziz had only one sister, Nurah. She was married to her cousin, Khalid bin Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman, son of Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman.

Faisal was raised in an atmosphere in which courage was extremely valued and reinforced, unlike that of most of his half brothers. He was motivated by his mother to develop the values of tribal leadership.

By the time of his father's death, Faisal was the second oldest surviving son.

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