Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

Baba Zayed as spiritual leader Throughout his lifetime, Sheikh Zayed demonstrated a tolerant version of pure Islamic faith, far removed from fanaticism or extremism. For Baba Zayed, Islam was the primary source of instruction and guidance to be followed in life. He once said, “If people understand Islam properly, they will achieve miracles.” With his emphasis and priority given to moral values, Sheikh Zayed believed that nurturing a culture of tolerance was as important as any other of the great initiatives he undertook. To him, tolerance was a symbol of a nation’s maturity and vitality, and proof of its ability to achieve more advancement and progress. Given his wise understanding of human nature, Sheikh Zayed sought to develop and promote a culture of tolerance that could reconcile and unite the entire human race through an emphasis on the common bonds that link us all together. After his experience and great achievement with bringing together the seven tribes to establish the UAE, Sheik Zayed was very much aware of how damaging hostility could be to the future of humanity. His reflections on this topic further strengthened his admiration of the Islamic faith, which at its core is based on respect of human beings regardless of their religion, colour, language, origin and traditions. “We should be proud of our religion because Islam is against all forms of racism,” he said. “To stereotype a fellow human being is to deprive him of his humanity.” Sheikh Zayed’s enlightened vision came from embracing the concept of diversity, which is deeply rooted in the heart of Arabic-Islamic culture. He maintained that, despite a myriad of beliefs, religions, and civilisations, people remain connected by common human bonds, united together regardless of differences. Today, this vision of diversity is manifested in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a majestic marvel that reveals a spectrum of architectural splendours, formulating a harmonious unity between styles, regions, and eras. This historic Mosque, the spiritual heart of Abu Dhabi, personifies the Islamic message of peace, tolerance and diversity extolled by the late Sheikh and will forever remain the fruit of his unique vision. The father of the UAE created this Islamic monument, a centre for Islamic sciences and an emblem of genuine Islamic values, in order to further the horizons of Islamic thought rooted in tolerance, love and peace. 5 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I