Fayez Mousilli

1. Damascus, 19681968 · 58 years ago

   An engineer from Damascus

   Fayez graduated in 1968 from the University of Damascus in mechanical and electrical engineering. He spent his first two years with the Syrian post, telephone and telegraph establishment, and in 1970 opened his own design and contracting office for air conditioning projects.

   مهندس من دمشق

   تخرّج فايز عام ١٩٦٨ من جامعة دمشق في الهندسة الميكانيكية والكهربائية. عمل أول سنتين في مؤسسة البريد والهاتف والبرق، وفي عام ١٩٧٠ افتتح مكتبه الخاص للتصميم والتعهدات في مشاريع التكييف.

2. Syria, 1970s

   Hospitals, schools and thirteen cities

   His office designed and built the heating, cooling and plumbing of two 150-bed hospitals, one in Damascus and one in Al-Hasakah, in 1972. He fitted communication schools, the engineering faculty in Damascus and a PTT building in As-Suwayda, and installed back-up air conditioning systems for the telephone network in thirteen Syrian cities.

   مستشفيات ومدارس وثلاث عشرة مدينة

   صمّم مكتبه ونفّذ أعمال التدفئة والتبريد والتمديدات الصحية لمستشفيين بسعة ١٥٠ سريرًا، أحدهما في دمشق والآخر في الحسكة، عام ١٩٧٢. جهّز مدارس الاتصالات وكلية الهندسة في دمشق ومبنى البريد في السويداء، وركّب أنظمة تكييف احتياطية لشبكة الهاتف في ثلاث عشرة مدينة سورية.

   

3. His nameFebruary 13, 2001 · 25 years ago

   Fayez means the winner

   His name means the winner, and his son wrote in 2001 that it was an embodiment of his personality: a serious, hard-working man from childhood, who never had much heart for games, and who found his match in Nada, a teacher with infinite energy.

   فايز: اسم على مسمّى

   اسمه يعني الفائز، وكتب ابنه عام ٢٠٠١ أن الاسم كان تجسيدًا لشخصيته: رجل جاد ومجتهد منذ طفولته، لم يكن للهو مكان كبير في قلبه، ووجد شريكته في ندا، المعلّمة التي لا تنفد طاقتها.

4. Houston, 19801980 · 46 years ago

   A new country, a company of his own

   In 1980 he came to Houston, Texas. He bought an air conditioning company with its trucks, inventory and customers, ran it for thirteen years, and sold it in 1993 to a large Houston engineering firm. In his own words: he built his career from senior technician to the owner of a multi-million dollar company.

   بلد جديد وشركة من يده

   في عام ١٩٨٠ جاء إلى هيوستن في تكساس. اشترى شركة تكييف بشاحناتها ومخزونها وزبائنها، وأدارها ثلاث عشرة سنة، ثم باعها عام ١٩٩٣ لشركة هندسية كبيرة في هيوستن. بكلماته هو: بنى مسيرته من فنّي أول إلى صاحب شركة بملايين الدولارات.

5. Damascus, 1990s

   Back to Syria, then back for his children

   After the sale he returned to Syria as the agent for a Saudi air conditioning manufacturer, opening the Damascus market for three years. Then, as he put it, he went back to the States for his children's future.

   عودة إلى سوريا ثم عودة من أجل أولاده

   بعد البيع عاد إلى سوريا وكيلًا لشركة تكييف سعودية، وفتح لها سوق دمشق ثلاث سنوات. ثم، كما قال هو: عاد إلى أمريكا من أجل مستقبل أولاده.

6. Houston and Damascus, while Malcolm Gillis led Rice (1993 to 2004)

   He fueled Syria

   Look how he was trying to fuel Syria. He built its hospitals and schools as a young engineer, went back in the 1990s to open its market, wrote to the President for its people in 2015, and worked to bring Rice University to Syria, inviting Malcolm Gillis, then President of Rice University in Houston, as part of that effort. It did not become a campus, but it says what he believed: that his two homes should know each other, and that education travels. His son fuels people and businesses for a living; the name Insert Fuel began here.

   كان يغذّي سوريا بالوقود

   انظر كيف كان يحاول أن يغذّي سوريا. بنى مستشفياتها ومدارسها مهندسًا شابًا، وعاد في التسعينيات ليفتح سوقها، وكتب إلى الرئيس من أجل أهلها عام ٢٠١٥، وسعى لجلب جامعة رايس إلى سوريا، فدعا مالكولم غيليس، رئيس جامعة رايس في هيوستن آنذاك، ضمن ذلك الجهد. لم يتحول إلى حرم جامعي، لكنه يقول ما كان يؤمن به: أن وطنيه يجب أن يتعارفا، وأن العلم يسافر. ابنه يغذّي الناس والأعمال بالوقود مهنةً؛ ومن هنا بدأ اسم إنسرت فيول.

7. 2015August 31, 2015 · 11 years ago

   A letter for Syria

   In August 2015, retired in Houston, he wrote to the President of the United States about the suffering of the Syrian people, and asked his son to polish the English. He signed it as an American citizen writing for his family, for the Syrian people, and for every inch of his country.

   رسالة من أجل سوريا

   في آب (أغسطس) ٢٠١٥، وهو متقاعد في هيوستن، كتب رسالة إلى رئيس الولايات المتحدة عن معاناة الشعب السوري، وطلب من ابنه أن يراجع إنكليزيتها. وقّعها مواطنًا أمريكيًا يكتب من أجل عائلته، ومن أجل الشعب السوري، ومن أجل كل شبر من بلده.

• Fajr at the masjid. He walked or drove to the masjid every day for Fajr, until his last days.

  الفجر في المسجد. كان يمشي أو يقود إلى المسجد كل يوم لصلاة الفجر، حتى أيامه الأخيرة.

• Family first. "You are my son, I will do anything for you all."

  العائلة أولًا. "أنت ابني، سأفعل أي شيء من أجلكم جميعًا."

• Education and honest work. An engineer who built hospitals in Syria and a company in Texas with his own hands.

  العلم والعمل الشريف. مهندس بنى مستشفيات في سوريا وشركة في تكساس بيديه.

• Faith. He made the pilgrimage to Makkah, and his letters open with Salam and close with Insha'Allah.

  الإيمان. حجّ إلى مكة، ورسائله تبدأ بالسلام وتُختم بإن شاء الله.

• Loyalty to home. Fifty years after leaving, he still wrote and argued for Syria.

  الوفاء للوطن. بعد خمسين عامًا من الرحيل، ظلّ يكتب ويدافع عن سوريا.

• Pride in his wife. "Nada is great," he wrote to the whole family after one dinner, and meant every word.

  الفخر بزوجته. كتب للعائلة كلها بعد عشاء واحد: "ندا رائعة"، وكان يعني كل كلمة.

He walked or drove to the masjid every day for Fajr, until his last days.

كان يمشي أو يقود إلى المسجد كل يوم لصلاة الفجر، حتى أيامه الأخيرة.

• Every step a man takes to the masjid, after making wudu well and setting out only to pray, raises him a degree and erases a sin.

  لا يخطو خطوة إلا رفعت له بها درجة وحط عنه بها خطيئة.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 647, Sahih Muslim 649 · Sahih

• Give glad tidings to those who walk to the masjids in the darkness: complete light on the Day of Resurrection.

  بشّر المشّائين في الظُّلَم إلى المساجد بالنور التام يوم القيامة.

  Sunan Abi Dawud 561, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 223 · Sahih (al-Albani)

• Whoever prays Isha in congregation, it is as if he stood half the night; and whoever prays Fajr in congregation, it is as if he prayed the whole night.

  من صلى العشاء في جماعة فكأنما قام نصف الليل، ومن صلى الصبح في جماعة فكأنما صلى الليل كله.

  Sahih Muslim 656 · Sahih

• Habibee, you are my son. I will do anything for you all.

  To Basim · June 3, 2019 · 7 years ago

• How is everything going? I am worried about you and your future, baba.

  To Basim · August 11, 2020 · 6 years ago

• Your right decision is the last hope for my family, the Syrian people and every single inch of my country.

  From his letter to the President · August 31, 2015 · 11 years ago

• Then I went back to the States for my children's future.

  From the CV he wrote · July 30, 2015 · 11 years ago

• Now I am thinking to go back to my activity, plus in a holy land.

  At 71, still planning the next chapter · July 30, 2015 · 11 years ago

Basim Mousilli, his son. His page.

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  Portraitصورة شخصية
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  In uniform, as a young manبالزي العسكري شابًا
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  The boxerالملاكم
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  At his engineering office, DamascusJanuary 1978 · 48 years agoفي مكتبه الهندسي، دمشق
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  Fayezفايز
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  The pilgrimageالحج
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  At home in Houstonفي البيت في هيوستن
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  At the tableعلى المائدة
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  With Basimمع باسم
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  With Ferasمع فراس
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  RoatanDecember 2013 · 12 years agoرواتان
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  With Nada and Basim, RoatanDecember 2013 · 12 years agoمع ندا وباسم، رواتان
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  The family, RoatanDecember 2013 · 12 years agoالعائلة، رواتان
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  Endless thoughtsأفكار لا تنتهي

The photos the family's first website carried in 2004, kept by the Internet Archive and brought home (August 2004 · 22 years ago). Share a memory or a light-hearted story of him on the wall below; the family reads everything first.

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  Switzerlandسويسرا
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  Switzerland, by the waterسويسرا، عند الماء
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  Austinأوستن
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  Portraitصورة
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  With Nada and Feras at the Oasisمع ندا وفراس في الأوايسس
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  With Feras at the Galleriaمع فراس في الغاليريا
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  With Feras in Latakiaمع فراس في اللاذقية
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  With Feras and Basim at the tableمع فراس وباسم على المائدة

His favourite instrument was the oud, which Basim took up after him. آلته المفضلة كانت العود، وقد حمله باسم من بعده.

• SAReciterSheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudaisعبد الرحمن السديسImam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Baba's favourite reciter; the Qur'an playlist here is his voice.
• WBaba's songWardaوردةBatwanes Beek, Baba's theme song.Listen at the official source
• UKSingerUmm Kulthumأم كلثومAll of her songs, and the most loved ones most of all.Listen at the official source
• FSingerFairuzفيروزHer most popular songs.Listen at the official source
• SFSingerSabah Fakhriصباح فخريThe voice of Aleppo.Listen at the official source
• FaSingerFarid al-Atrashفريد الأطرشAl Rabee' and Raqsit Sitti were his favourites.Listen at the official source
• MASingerMohammed Abdel Wahabمحمد عبد الوهابThe composer of a century.Listen at the official source
• AHSingerAbdel Halim Hafezعبد الحليم حافظThe dark-skinned nightingale.Listen at the official source

Songs play at their official homes; nothing is copied or hosted here.

• اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ

  O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him, honour his resting place and widen his entrance.

  Sahih Muslim 963

• رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

  My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.

  Qur'an 17:24

• رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

  Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established.

  Qur'an 14:41

• اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلَا تَفْتِنَّا بَعْدَهُ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ

  O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, do not try us after him, and forgive us and him.

  Muwatta Malik, funeral prayer

• وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ۝ وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

  And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be good to parents. If one or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor repel them, but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.

  Qur'an 17:23-24

• وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ

  And We have enjoined upon man care for his parents. His mother carried him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final destination.

  Qur'an 31:14

• رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

  My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to work righteousness of which You approve, and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.

  Qur'an 46:15

• When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except three: a continuing charity, knowledge that benefits, or a righteous child who prays for him.

  إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له.

  Sahih Muslim 1631 · Sahih

• A man asked: who among people is most deserving of my good company? The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: your mother. He asked: then who? He said: your mother. Then who? Your mother. Then who? Your father.

  قال رجل: من أحق الناس بحسن صحابتي؟ قال: أمك. قال: ثم من؟ قال: أمك. قال: ثم من؟ قال: أمك. قال: ثم من؟ قال: أبوك.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 5971, Sahih Muslim 2548 · Sahih

• A man's rank is raised in Paradise and he asks: how is this for me? He is told: by your child seeking forgiveness for you.

  إن الرجل لترفع درجته في الجنة فيقول: أنى هذا؟ فيقال: باستغفار ولدك لك.

  Sunan Ibn Majah 3660 · Hasan (al-Albani)

• Is there anything left of honouring my parents after they die? The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: yes, praying for them, seeking forgiveness for them, fulfilling their promises, honouring their friends, and keeping the ties of kinship that reach you only through them.

  هل بقي من بر أبويّ شيء أبرهما به بعد موتهما؟ قال: نعم، الصلاة عليهما، والاستغفار لهما، وإنفاذ عهدهما من بعدهما، وصلة الرحم التي لا توصل إلا بهما، وإكرام صديقهما.

  Sunan Abi Dawud 5142 · Graded hasan by some scholars and weak by al-Albani; the practices it names are agreed upon