WORDS OF A LEADER Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان

Description

“Words of a Leader: Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan” was issued in Arabic and translated into various languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Hindi and Italian. The book, which was issued in conjunction with the celebration of the birth centenary of the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and “The Year of Zayed”, contains selected quotes by Sheikh Zayed that reflect the foundations upon which he established his rule, as well as the principles and values on which his vision to build and develop the United Arab Emirates was founded. Among his most notable principles is his belief that investing in the people is far more important than investing in buildings and material life, and that society’s development must include all aspects of life, such as urbanization, economy, social life, culture and all kinds of development. He also called for proper use of resources and wealth and advocated openness to modern science. Through many of Sheikh Zayed’s quotes and sayings, the book reveals how deep he was intellectually, and how diverse and rich his vision was, and shows how he was interested in all groups of society and keen to address and provide advice to everyone, particularly the youth, whom he always considered an important contributor to the future and success of this nation. Sheikh Zayed focused on encouraging the youth on every occasion and motivating them to work harder and more creatively. Moreover, he always advocated for respecting women and providing them with equal opportunities in all aspects of life.

Informations

• Publié par: DCT Abu Dhabi
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9789948399780
• Langue: English

Extrait

WORDS OF A LEADER Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Translated by Mohammad Asfour
















WORDS OF A LEADER Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Translated by Mohammad Asfour




© Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi
Dar al-Kutub

DS247.T88 Z3913 2018
Zàyid ibn Sultàn Àl Nahayyàn, 1918-2004.
Words of a Leader Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan / translated by Mohammad Asfour.-
1st ed.- Abu Dhabi: Department of Culture and Tourism, Dar al-Kutub, 2018.
40 P. ;24 cm.
Translation of: كلمات القائد الشيخ زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان
1. Zàyid ibn Sultàn Àl Nahayyàn, 1918-2004. 2. United Arab Emirates. President (1971-2004: Zàyid ibn Sultàn Àl Nahayyàn-) Speeches-Selections. I. Asfour, Mohammad.

United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, P.O.B. 94000
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Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi
»Cultural Foundation«
Dar al-Kutub
Cover design by: Ashwaq Abdulla


English translation © Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without either prior permission in writing from the publisher.





Table of Contents

Introduction
7
To the youth
9
The role of women
15
On the future of the UAE
21
On the future of the Arab world
29
The Islamic values
37







Introduction

It is widely known that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (6th May, 1918 - 2nd November, 2004), ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966 and President of the United Arab Emirates from 1971 until his death, was an expressive speaker. He employed his eloquence to promote enlightened ideas and promote adherence to noble moral standards. Not long after he assumed his position of leadership he earned the title “Sage of the Arabs”.
On all sorts of occasions, and in line with an established Arab tradition, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan used to extemporize speeches characterised by wisdom and clarity of vision, as well as maintaining another tradition, which required the leader to combine wisdom, legislative sagacity and fluency. His recurrent advice to citizens, young and old, was to learn to live and work together in harmony and peace. In all his speeches, he strove to create in the State and the people the spirit of high endeavour, determination, creativity, initiative and altruism.
His speeches covered a wide range of topics and were characterised by a lack of ostentation or pedantry. We present here a selection of his words to get a glimpse of his deep insights into current issues and the challenges of the future. The selected quotes exhibit a wide variety of interests, especially those in which he addressed the younger generation, in whose endeavours he saw the key to a brighter future, and those in which he far-sightedly urged that women be given the opportunity to participate in all aspects of modern life.
In many of his speeches and statements, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan stressed the importance of proper governance, which he considered the cornerstone of a successful government as a body created to serve the people and to lead them to achieve their goals. “Government officials are employed to serve the citizens” was one of his ethical fundamentals on which his way of thinking was based. He constantly reiterated it in speeches that aimed at clarifying the idea. He repeatedly said that the good employee or the good official is he who always strove to establish the principle of good citizenship. Moreover, he kept restating the need for the wise utilisation of the country’s wealth and for greater openness to new scientific knowledge.
His unceasing concern with the future of the Emirates is seen in his constant encouragement of, and search for, ways to put the UAE at the forefront of modern nations. This is evident in the process of modernisation that encompasses infrastructure, economics, social reform and cultural production - all based on well-defined rights, at the top of which are the freedom of speech and human dignity.
His political speeches held justice at their core. This is why he always called for dialogue, as well as for the restoration of the rights of all peoples suffering from injustice. The flourishing of the UAE and the other Gulf states in general was not viewed as separable from the future of the Arab world and the neighbouring countries. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan urged solidarity and cooperation between nations, Arab and non-Arab. The ideal policy in his view was openness and a combination of modernisation and preservation of traditional values and distinct identity. He also called for protecting Islam against sectarianism, factionalism and attempts, through ignorance or ill-will, at linking it with terrorist tendencies. In this regard, he used the strongest language to combat all attempts at exploiting religious spirituality.
Such are some of the main lines of thinking, which this thoughtful leader touched upon in the speeches that he delivered, in words that combined clarity of vision, power of expression and realistic, historic, moral and political thinking.
Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi








TO THE YOUTH



A call for the youth to work
We pin great hopes on the youth of the United Arab Emirates, who are well aware of their responsibilities and who work tirelessly for the future of their country. [1]

A word to the young graduates
Graduating young men must not think that receiving a diploma and occupying a job is the end of the road. If a young man says this, it is he who has come to an end; his country can hope for nothing from him. [2]

Taking care of the youth
Just as we have to take care of our children, they must respond by being alert and not negligent. There should be frequent meetings with them in clubs and conferences to discuss their views and develop mutual understanding. We must all make use of the experiences of the older generation in order to avoid making mistakes as far as possible. [3]

A word to the youth
You represent your nation, the United Arab Emirates, and we pin great hopes on you. We ask you to do your best and to succeed with flying colours. [4]

On education
The country considers the education of the younger generation of both sexes one of its top priorities to prepare them for their future positions in life in the service of their country and themselves. [5]


A generation of believers
The Holy Qur’an is the foundation of all the sciences, and the source of all virtues. It is the word of God, which He revealed to us and to the rest of humanity as a guide to follow and uphold. We have to hold on to it and to make it the beacon of our theoretical as well as practical knowledge. Islam is a civilised and civilising religion. It encourages tolerance. It honours man, and provides him with the foundations of his economic, social and political life. We must raise our younger generation on its principles in order to create a generation of believers, a generation that upholds these heavenly guiding principles, a generation that believes in God, country and nation. [6]

Seeking knowledge
An educated person sees his way through whereas an uneducated person is lost in perpetual darkness. Knowledge is endless, and everyone should actively seek it. Get your degrees in order to take part in your country’s construction and development. [7]

Our real asset
The younger generation is the country’s real asset. We expect them to take over the task of building their country in the future. [8]

The real size of a country
We are proud to think of the younger generation as the real asset of this country. The real size and power of a country are measurable by a citizenry that is characterised by deep faith, high standards of ethics and decency, and extensive knowledge. [9]


Young people must work assiduously
Young people must work assiduously; strive to earn their own living, to shun laziness and dependency, especially now that we are actively striving to build our country. [10]

Happiness of the youth
I assure you that the state is actively concerned with the welfare of its young people and their problems, pursuing the best means of making them happy, and creating the proper conditions for a decent life for them and for their country. The state spares no efforts in this regard.

The wisdom of the elderly
Young people need to make use of the experience and wisdom of the older generation in their daily struggle. He who seeks the good of all and sacrifices self-interest for that of the community will be honoured by it.

Our national self-esteem
Young people’s self-esteem is part of our national self-esteem. Their happiness makes me happy. I am anxious to know about their needs so that we may provide them with all their needs and raise their level higher and higher. [11]


Paying attention to the youth
I stress the need to pay full attention to the young people in the Arab wo