Fayez Mousilli

Ten things from his life, in the order he lived them.

1. His name

   His name means the winner

   Fayez means the winner. His son wrote in 2001 that it fit him: a serious, hard-working man from childhood, who found his match in Nada, a teacher for fifty years.

   فايز يعني الفائز، وكان الاسم على مسمّى.

   Source: Basim's family essay, 2001; His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez

2. 

   As a young man

   He was a boxer

   Before he was an engineer or a father, Fayez boxed. The family album still keeps the photo of the young boxer.

   قبل أن يصبح مهندسًا أو أبًا، كان فايز ملاكمًا.

   Source: Basim, his son; The family photo library

3. Damascus, 1968

   An engineer by 25

   He graduated from the University of Damascus in 1968 in mechanical and electrical engineering, then spent two years with Syria's post, telephone and telegraph service.

   تخرّج من جامعة دمشق عام ١٩٦٨ في الهندسة الميكانيكية والكهربائية.

   Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

4. Damascus, 1970

   His own office by 27

   In 1970 he opened his own design and contracting office for air conditioning projects in Damascus, and prepared full bid packages for five telephone network projects across Syria.

   في عام ١٩٧٠ افتتح مكتبه الخاص للتصميم والتعهدات في دمشق.

   Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015; The family photo library

5. Syria, 1972

   Two hospitals before 30

   In 1972 his office built the heating, cooling and plumbing of two 150-bed hospitals, in Damascus and Al-Hasakah: water chillers, steam boilers, and controls for every patient room and operating theatre.

   عام ١٩٧٢ نفّذ مكتبه التدفئة والتبريد لمستشفيين بسعة ١٥٠ سريرًا في دمشق والحسكة.

   Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

6. Across Syria

   Thirteen cities kept connected

   He installed back-up air conditioning for the telephone network in thirteen Syrian cities, and built turnkey heating and cooling for the engineering faculty and a school in Damascus and the telephone building in As-Suwayda.

   ركّب أنظمة تكييف احتياطية لشبكة الهاتف في ثلاث عشرة مدينة سورية.

   Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

7. Houston, 1980 to 1993

   A company of his own in Houston

   He came to Houston in 1980 and bought an air conditioning company, with its trucks and customers, that had served homes and light commercial buildings for fifteen years. He ran it for thirteen years and sold it in 1993.

   جاء إلى هيوستن عام ١٩٨٠، واشترى شركة تكييف وأدارها ثلاث عشرة سنة.

   Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015; His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez

8. Two homes

   He worked to bring Rice University to Syria

   He invited Malcolm Gillis, then President of Rice University, as part of an effort to bring Rice to Syria. It never became a campus, but it shows what he believed: education travels.

   سعى لجلب جامعة رايس إلى سوريا ودعا رئيسها مالكولم غيليس.

   Source: His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez

9. 

   What he loved to hear

   The oud and Batwanes Beek

   His instrument was the oud, which Basim took up after him. Warda's Batwanes Beek was his song, and he loved Farid al-Atrash, Umm Kulthum, Fairuz and Sabah Fakhri.

   آلته العود، وأغنيته بتونّس بيك لوردة، وأحبّ فريد الأطرش وأم كلثوم وفيروز وصباح فخري.

   Batwanes BeekAl RabeeEnta OmriNassam Alayna El HawaQadduka al-Mayyas

   Source: Basim, his son; His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez

10. Every day, until his last days

    Fajr at the masjid, every day

    He walked or drove to the masjid for Fajr every day, until his last days, and he made the pilgrimage to Makkah.

    كان يذهب إلى المسجد لصلاة الفجر كل يوم حتى أيامه الأخيرة، وحجّ إلى مكة.

    Surat Ya-Sin

    Source: Basim, his son; His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez; The family photo library

Quick facts

• He shared his birthday, October 19, with Farid al-Atrash, the Syrian-born master of the oud whose songs he loved.

  Al Rabee

  Source: Published biographies

• For one telephone network school he fabricated 18 air handling units and installed 18 metric tons of ductwork.

  Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

• In the 1990s he opened the Damascus market for Al Zamil, a Saudi air conditioning maker, and in three years proved its quality in Syria.

  Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

• His Houston company carried the Goodman and York lines, and in 1993 he sold it to Way Engineering, a large Houston air conditioning firm.

  Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

• At 71, retired, he wrote that he was thinking of going back to work, "plus in a holy land".

  Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

• His favourite reciter, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, is the Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah; the memorial plays his recitation.

  Surat Ya-Sin

  Source: His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez

• His letters opened with Salam and closed with Insha'Allah.

  Source: His memorial, mousilli.com/fayez

• He also built turnkey chilled water, chillers and air handling for a middle and high school in Damascus.

  Source: The CV he wrote himself, July and August 2015

Every photo of him the family holds, each one once on this page, in the order he lived them. Some came home from the family's first website, kept by the Internet Archive since 2004. Tap a photo to see it whole.

Share a memory or a light-hearted story of him on the wall below; the family reads everything first.

• 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

What he texted his son, in his own words. His spelling is kept as he typed it.

326

messages from him, June 2018 to September 2020

3

years of texts, in English with Arabic

"baba"

his most used word, in English and Arabic

"Habibee"

how he answered most often

The words he used most

• Habibeemy darling, my dearحبيبي
• babadad; what Syrian fathers call their own children tooبابا
• Alhamdu'Lillahpraise be to Allahالحمد لله
• Salampeace; how his letters openedسلام
• in sha'Allahif Allah willsإن شاء الله
• Jazaka Allahu kheirmay Allah reward you with goodجزاك الله خير

In his words

His last messages

Ordinary words, the way he always wrote: a hello, a time to meet.

His emails to the family, 2007 to 2015, in his own words and spelling. From 2012 nearly every one ended the same way: “I hope you all praying on time, Fayez Mousilli.”

• “I always make duaa every day morning in Salat Al Subeh and daynite I n Salat Al Esha for all of you.”

• “I had a great plan in my mind to create the greatest family in the whole word, which has a lot of special things, love, passionate, respect, fun, art, wonderful mind in each one of us”

• “I miss you a lot, I wish you the best, just remember me every time you have a good time”

• “Wallah this Hasanat will be your witness in the day of judgment. What can I say this life will be a file arrange in it all of your behavior.”

• “May Allah keep me healthy to give the people every thing especially the people who I love?”

• “In my principal I don't want to bother any body at all or stay on his/her shoulder more than a certain days, even though some times I understand that the other people don't mind, but deep inside me I do not feel comfortable.”

• “Do not forget the Donor Allah, he doesn't need except to remember that we are under his mercy.”

• “Salm Habeebtee, I wish you and your parent the best for years to come. I love you Habeebtee. Your grand father.”

• “DO NOT THANK ME, I enjoy helping people so what do you think when it came to help my children”

• “Wallah this is a gift from God, to show you that Allah is giving you all of these to see how you will thank HIM and follow his orders.”

• “On the last minute of stepping out to Omera, I urge everyone of you all to give me his/her forgiveness for any actions or steps or (Hafwah) I did for any one of you. Jazakum Allah kheran.”

• “Now I am typing with Nadine between my hands and she is helping me.”

• “No Habeebee take your time, I am sitting in the mosque.”

• “I will make dua'a for you, but you have to make the Dua'a and for sure don't have any, I mean any doubt that Allah won't accept it (Yestajeeb) for you. I would like you to be strong and don't worry about anything except to satisfy your God.”

• “I hope you all praying on time.”

• سلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته، اشتقت لكم كثيرا

  “Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. I have missed you all so much.”

• أرجو لكم عيدآ سعيدآ بغض النظر عن الأحداث التي تجري في بلادنا كل لحظة، أرجو لكم السعادة والخير.

  “I wish you a happy Eid despite what is happening in our country every moment; I wish you happiness and every good.”

• “You know me I don't believe in a birthday except the celebration of Saedouna Mouhamad peace be on Him, but I can't refuse your invitation, especially YOU”

• “Alf mabrook, from the Deep of my heart, which is still till now now pumping good.”

• “Baba, I can't stand between you and God, I can't be stand in front of Hasanat you are going to get.”

• وإنشاء الله بتفرحوا بأولادكم وعقبال ما بيفرحوا أولادكم فيكم كمان.

  “God willing you will rejoice in your children, and may your children one day rejoice in you too.”

• ما زلنا في إستانبول كم نتمنى لو كنتم معنا، والله سوريا تبكي بكاء الدم الذي أغرق العيون والجباه

  “We are still in Istanbul, how we wish you were with us. By God, Syria weeps tears of blood that have drowned the eyes and the brows.”

• “Very good response to your lecture, I am very proud of you Habibi”

• “When you make a decision or not making one, you have to calculate for at least the next fifty years.”

Words he passed on

• God will have you either run to Him by worship, praying and fasting, asking Him for the best in this life and the hereafter, or He will have you running to Him for recovery from sickness, problems or disasters. So it is your choice.

  Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Rateb al-Nabulsi, whose lectures he followed every day, in Baba's own retelling to the family · shared February 2010

• He loved Nizar Qabbani's poems on Damascus, and sent the family the poet's lines in his own handwriting: "Do you all love Damascus, just read the attachments."

  Nizar Qabbani, the poet of Damascus · shared March 2010

Words we remember him by

Not ones he wrote down: ones his life kept.

• لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ

  If you are grateful, I will surely give you more.

  Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:7 · His rule for every success: thank the Giver.

• أحب الأعمال إلى الله أدومها وإن قل

  The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if small.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 6464 · Fajr at the masjid, every day, until his last days.

What his letters tell us

• May 2008. Awake one night, he asked Basim to set his photo between two lines, "The Syrian Arab Republic" and "The United States of America", to keep in his car.

• December 2008. He travelled with Basim through Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Indonesia, and asked before flying whether to bring an overcoat and a formal suit.

• April 2011. He made Umrah by bus, from Damascus to Makkah and Madinah and back, about fourteen days on the road.

• July 2011. He spent two months with Basim's family in Brunei, part of Ramadan among them, waiting at the Panaga mosque and doting on baby Nadine, with thirty minutes of computer lessons a day.

• January 2012. He set up an email address that sent family photos straight to his digital picture frame, his "new technique".

• March 2012. On a spring evening he wrote that he had just made a barbecue and was eating dinner in the Houston backyard with Umm Kulthum playing.

• “

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

• “

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

Basim Mousilli, his son. His page.

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

• ReciterSheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudaisعبد الرحمن السديسImam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Baba's favourite reciter; the Qur'an playlist here is his voice.Play
• Baba's songWardaوردةBatwanes Beek, Baba's theme song.Batwanes BeekPlay
• SingerUmm Kulthumأم كلثومAll of her songs, and the most loved ones most of all.Enta OmriSeret El HobPlay
• SingerFairuzفيروزHer most popular songs.Kifak IntaNassam Alayna El HawaPlay
• SingerSabah Fakhriصباح فخريThe voice of Aleppo.Qadduka al-MayyasYa Mal al-ShamPlay
• SingerFarid al-Atrashفريد الأطرشAl Rabee' and Raqsit Sitti were his favourites.Al Rabee'Play
• SingerMohammed Abdel Wahabمحمد عبد الوهابThe composer of a century.Ya Msafer WahdakPlay
• SingerAbdel Halim Hafezعبد الحليم حافظThe dark-skinned nightingale.AhwakPlay

Songs play in the player at the foot of the screen from their official uploads; nothing is copied or hosted here. Portraits from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo.

• 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, Al-Isra 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, Luqman 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, Al-Ahqaf 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