Karak is sad today, due to the departure of the formidable educational leader, Professor / Khalil Abdulaziz Suleiman Al-Karki (Abu Iyad) at the age of (91) years.
Every loss is painful and leaves sorrow, sadness, and pain for the deceased's family. Some figures, however, have a loss that feels public and national, especially if the deceased was an educational, moral, and ethical symbol, like our departed today, Professor / Khalil Al-Karki.
I was honored when I met my esteemed professor, Professor / Khalil Al-Karki (Abu Iyad), in 1968 when I started my high school at Karak Secondary School.
The antiquity, authenticity, reputation, and history of Karak School met with the authenticity, nobility, kindness, composure, and wisdom of its genuine educational director, the sagacious and visionary administrator, Professor / Khalil Al-Karki (Abu Iyad).
Professor / Khalil Al-Karki treated his students with respect and loved to develop strength of character, seriousness, kindness, and precision in commitment among his students. He would not allow student dignity to be crushed and condemned violence and dominance, prohibiting teachers from adopting a domineering and forcible approach.
My late brother / Musleh, my cousin / Khalaf Abdulrahman Al-Malahmeh, and my second cousin / Ghalib Saeed Al-Malahmeh and I — although rarely, would sometimes arrive late after the morning assembly at school when coming from our beloved village (Zahum), and Professor / Abu Iyad would be standing at the main school gate to see who was late to the assembly. He would say sharply: 'Awad: Go to your class, Musleh, Khalaf, and Ghalib, why are you late? (Were you hanging around) at the girls' school? Wait for me at the office door, and you, Awad, hurry up to your class.'
In the Tawjihi year, the academic year (1970/1971), Professor / Abu Iyad was not the principal of my school. I rented an apartment with my cousin and lifelong friend, the late / Muhammad Abdulmajid Hassan Al-Dmour (Abu Jassim), and the late lawyer, Professor / Awni Bader, and our apartment was on the ground floor of a building belonging to the late Haj / Abdulhamid Al-Karki (Abu Ali), who is the father of Professor / Khalil Al-Karki’s wife, and Professor / Khalil lived in the same building. When the blessed month of Ramadan arrived, Professor Abu Iyad insisted on inviting us to break our fast at his home.
Professor / Khalil Al-Karki, the courteous, well-spoken, cultured man who combined contrasts in some of his traits: he balanced flexibility with firmness, and tact with severity. He was strict when necessary, and flexible, understanding, respecting committed, serious students.
May God have mercy on my esteemed professor, Professor / Khalil Abdulaziz Suleiman Al-Karki, an educational, moral, and ethical stature, and may He grant him paradise. I am honored to present my deepest condolences to His Excellency my unique professor in knowledge and values, Dr. / Khaled Al-Karki, and to the family of the imposing deceased, and to my lifelong friend, Professor / Ali Abdulhamid Al-Karki (Abu Rami), and to my friend Dr. / Adel Al-Karki, and to the Al-Karki family, and to the people of Karak in general, and to God we belong and to Him we shall return.
A grieving student mourns his teacher / Awad Dhifallah Al-Malahmeh
