Farewell to Kuwaiti Educator Suleiman Al-Roumi.. Volunteer Leader

 The educator and social action activist Sulaiman Al-Roumi has passed away following a rich journey in voluntary work, youth care, and community service. During his career, he held a number of dawah, educational, and media responsibilities, including Director of the Media Office of the Islamic Youth Committee at the Social Reform Society.

The Chairman, members of the Board of Directors, and employees of the Social Reform Society expressed their deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the honorable Al-Roumi family on the passing of the deceased, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow His vast mercy upon him, dwell him in His spacious gardens, and grant his family and loved ones beautiful patience and solace.

Researcher Saleh Al-Misbah mourned the deceased, saying: "The dear friend Sulaiman Khalid Saleh Al-Roumi, an activist in social work and managing editor of Al-Wa'i Al-Islami magazine, has passed away to the mercy of Allah Almighty."

Omar Salem Al-Mutawa stated that Sulaiman Al-Roumi devoted his youth to calling adolescents and young people to the path of guidance and righteousness, describing him as an educator who supervised and managed programs and activities to nurture youth in obedience to Allah.

In turn, Anwar Al-Sho'aib mourned the deceased, saying: "May Allah have mercy on the virtuous educator Sulaiman Al-Roumi (Abu Saleh), who dedicated his effort, time, and money to caring for adolescents and guiding youth to the path of righteousness."

Sulaiman Khalid Al-Roumi: An Educational and Media Journey

In addition to his work in the educational and social fields, the deceased Sulaiman Al-Roumi contributed to the media and dawah sectors, being one of the founders of the youth committees at the Social Reform Society.

Al-Roumi also worked in the Religious Media Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. Furthermore, he held the position of managing editor of Al-Wa'i Al-Islami magazine and left a written presence in Al-Mugtama Magazine through several articles addressing educational, faith-based, and social topics. Among these were: "Calling to Allah Through Good Character," "Our Children in Ramadan," "The Garment of the Righteous and the Jewish Coin," and "From the Morals of the Righteous."

These contributions align with his extended experience in youth care, his dedication to Islamic education, and instilling values and morals, alongside his presence in media, social, and voluntary work.

A Journey That Began with Serving Worshippers

In an article written by the deceased and published by Al-Anba newspaper on June 9, 2017, Al-Roumi reflected on his upbringing and early beginnings in voluntary work, explaining that he was born and raised in a household that loved goodness and sought to serve people.

He pointed to his father, Khalid Saleh Al-Hamad Al-Roumi, who was known in the area for helping people and standing by them before the invasion, during it, and after liberation, until Allah Almighty called him back.

Al-Roumi spoke about his beginnings in voluntary work, stating that his first experience was serving worshippers during the month of Ramadan by offering hot and cold beverages and whatever assisted them in performing the Tarawih and Qiyam Al-Layl prayers. He added that on the last day of Ramadan, young people would wash the mosque and clean the carpets in celebration of the arrival of Eid and the completion of fasting, emphasizing that this work left a profound mark on his soul, making him eager to participate in it throughout his youth.

Sulaiman Al-Roumi and Youth Care

The deceased explained that his continuation in voluntary work regarding the care and guidance of young people spanned many years. Its beginning was through his frequent visits to the mosque, where he noticed several young boys in the nearby garden who were not performing the prayer.

He noted that a conversation took place between him and one of the worshippers on how to encourage these boys to pray in congregation at the mosque. Consequently, he took the initiative to get to know them, play with them, and then invite them to perform prayers with him in the mosque. He stated that this step was the beginning of forming a group of children of worshippers and neighboring homes, aimed at entertainment, education, and instilling values, confirming that the work was purely for the sake of Allah without any monetary reward.

Voluntary Work in the Experience of Sulaiman Al-Roumi

Regarding the impact of voluntary work on his life, Al-Roumi said that it achieved much for him on a personal level, asking Allah to accept it purely for His noble sake. He explained that among the most prominent achievements voluntary work brought him was the confidence that what is with Allah in terms of reward and success is better and more lasting, regardless of the difficulties or stumbling blocks one might face.

He added that voluntary work instilled in his soul confidence in his positive abilities, opening an avenue to perform his duty toward religion, society, and nation. It also granted him a foundation of good relationships with people, wrapped in love and affection.

Instances from Sulaiman Al-Roumi's Journey with Youth

Al-Roumi spoke about the nature of working with youth, explaining that it represents a challenge in dealing with an age group undergoing psychological and physical changes that parents might not notice or realize their importance. He said he was keen to fill the void that a father might leave due to busyness or lack of awareness regarding some details in his son's life, such as attending his excellence ceremony or helping solve his problems with friends or family, without condescension or causing annoyance to parents.

He gave an example of a young boy who felt anxious because his father did not pray in the mosque. He explained that the resolution at that time was to distribute letters to the children addressing the virtue of congregational prayer in the mosque. He added that the father responded and began praying in the mosque until Allah Almighty passed him away.

Extended Giving in Service to Society

Al-Roumi pointed to the implementation of various activities aimed at introducing youth to fields of voluntary work, including giving charity, even if simple, to those in need inside and outside Kuwait. Activities also included visiting patients in hospitals, presenting them with gifts, praying for their recovery, as well as visiting the elderly and bringing joy to their hearts.

The experience of Al-Roumi reveals a journey where voluntary work was intertwined with education, youth care, and instilling values, extending into the media sector and journalistic writing, making him actively present in educational, social, and media work over many years.