In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. To the righteous soul, will be said: O thou soul, in complete rest and satisfaction come back thou to the lord, well-pleased thyself, and well-pleasing unto Him.
[From the Koran]

The dear deceased of Bahrain and of the Arab and Muslim nations, His Excellency Sheikh Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifa, the Emir of Bahrain, may God have mercy on his soul, died of a sudden heart attack this morning.

A prayer service for the great deceased will be performed following the afternoon prayer today at Sheikh Isa Mosque in al-Rafa al-Gharbi. He will be buried in al-Rafa cemetery.

The Emiri Court announces official mourning for three months, during which flags will fly at half-mast and the ministries and state institutions and the public and private sector will be closed for five days, beginning today, Saturday, 18 Dhi al-Qi'dah, 1419 Hegira, corresponding to 6 March 1999.

Bahrain, which now loses one of its righteous sons and a unique leader who has devoted himself to serving his homeland, people, and nation, asks God Almighty to have mercy on the deceased and to grant the Bahraini people and the Arab and Islamic nation patience and solace.

We are from God and to Him we return. Every soul shall have a taste of death and only on the day of judgement shall you be paid your full recompense.
[From the Koran]