Month: August 2011

Many happy returns on feast day

May God accept your fasting and prayers

In recent years, I have been hearing from friends saying: Feast has changed; it is not the same as before!

What changed?!

The feast or us?

Have we asked ourselves why we no longer enjoy the feast as before, when we were younger?

Let’s try to enjoy the true joy of the feast and then we can decide whether it has changed or it is us who have changed.

We always hear this phrase from young people, especially those who wake up after 9 o’clock the morning of feast, thus, missing the feast prayers in the mosque and missing the opportunity to felicitate their relatives, friends and other worshipers on the occasion of the feast.

Why do we wish each other a merry feast in the first place?

It is the beautiful feeling that we have done great deeds during the month of Ramadan, and we ask God to accept our good deeds. Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, Allah said, ‘All the deeds of Adam’s sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.’

Where does happiness lie?

You can draw happiness on the faces of the elderly by being with them and among them, visiting and accepting them.

You can draw happiness on the faces of children by uttering some words and giving some dirhams (the present given on the occasion of the feast).

Happiness is also created by being present among your family, making them feel they are number one for you, and that you chose to spend the feast vacation with them and among them.

Try to stand next to your father and brethren during the feast prayer, shoulder to shoulder

Try making the elderly happy as well as children. They only need sweet words from you that you can afford

Try to give your family all your time. They deserve that from you. Only then will you know that feast has not changed.

I wish you all a merry feast.

Although it is the seventh death anniversary of the leader and founder of our nation, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, he is still present among us heart and soul. He is present with us and in each one of us because of his many achievements, acts of generosity, great virtues, unique and wise leadership and enlightening vision.

The journey to development in our beloved country continues on the same path, persistence and determination inspired by the vision of the late leader and under the wise and rational leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and members of the Supreme Council, rulers of the emirates.

On the death anniversary of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the modern UAE and its renaissance, we feel the strong presence of Zayed’s dream for a country of big dreams. With his deep ideas and vision, he laid the foundations of this country.

The UAE, with its magnificent unity, is considered a unique model in the region. It has seven emirates united in love, generosity and loyalty, which is the ultimate expression of the genuine principles and values established by the Father of the Nation.

On the anniversary of the departed leader, words cannot express the deep grief and pain in our hearts for his loss, yet, we still remember the generosity of such great leader, mentor and role model.

Our love and admiration for the late leader and his great virtues make us pay rich tributes to the beloved and departed leader during this blessed month of Ramadan. We ask God to forgive him and have mercy on him and make him enter quickly into the fullness of heaven.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was selected as the “Islamic Personality of the Year” by the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) in its 15^th edition. This award honored him as a unique leader in the hearts and minds of his people.

It is hard to put in words the feelings of pride, honor and joy we have, we the sons and daughters of this country, towards our leader and father for his well-deserved earning of this award. The award is a reflection of his undaunted contributions in philanthropy and humanitarian work. They are noble contributions that go beyond his own people to the whole people of the world to alleviate the suffering of the needy and bereaved people.

President His Highness is an enlightened role model of charity and generosity. He is a live example of the principles established by his father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of our nation and its renaissance.

Honoring President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as “Islamic Personality of the Year” is a precious lesson that teaches us, the sons and daughters of this beloved country, the meanings of true generosity. It is a lesson that teaches us noble values and characteristics that His Highness possess and urges us to obtain them, cling to them, defend them and turn them into bright reality in our life.

From the bottom of our hearts, we congratulate President H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for this well-deserved award. We also congratulate ourselves, as country and citizens, for being under his unique and wise leadership.

 

On 6^th August, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundations of union, progress, renaissance and construction.

Since assuming the post of Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed sought massive development for his country. He was the Father of the Nation and embraced the citizens of his country with care and guidance when he said: 

“Our fathers are the first generation whose persistence and overcoming hardships caused our generation to exist on this land. The formation of the UAE is the concrete manifestation of the aspirations, hopes and ambitions of the united people of the UAE to build a free and dignified society and a promising and just future so that they might be the pioneering people for total Arab unity”.

The late leader Sheikh Zayed succeeded in affirming the principles of progress by relying on two strong bases in his modernization projects:

First: Planning, work, follow-up, organization and sincere efforts.

Second: Resources and expenditures that allow the success of development processes.

He did not forget the citizens; his first concern in developing young cadres and the nation was developing human resources. In this context, he said:

“The human being is the basis of any development process. Our concern for the individual is vital as the individual is the center of any real and continued development. Whatever buildings, schools and hospitals are constructed and whatever bridges are extended, they all remain material entities with no soul, unable to keep going. It is the soul of the individual that lies beneath any constructions. The thought, creativity and capability of human beings are what enable them to maintain any constructions and develop them to ensure their continuance.”

“The state gives its priority to build its individuals and care for its citizens throughout the country. The citizen is the true and most valuable resource on this land and in this country. The material capabilities cannot be enhanced or developed without qualified and capable human resources”.

“The road to development shall always require each individual in this society to exert their utmost efforts to reap the fruits. We ask God for His blessings to reach our goal and achieve renaissance.”

May Allah bless Sheikh Zayed’s soul …

We remember him with the utmost affection …

O Lord! Zayed is in your refuge and in the covenant of your asylum. So, [O Lord!] protect him from the trial of the grave and the torment of the Fire. Only You are worthy of all praise and of the fulfilment of your promises. So, O God! Forgive him and have mercy on him. Indeed, you are Forgiving and Ever-Merciful.