On Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed

 
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed has a profound ability to create bridges between all cultures, while still remaining deeply devoted to his Muslim and Arab heritage, writes Salee Amina Mohammed.

 
Dear Editor,

It has been reported in the news that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of United Arab Emirates, has been meeting with US officials, including the President and Vice President of the United States. There has been a small amount of criticism by a few worried people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, who express concerns for Western influence in the affairs of Islamic-based countries. But, despite some criticism by a few people, one must be aware of the fact that a political figure needs to assess ALL sides of a situation, and must keep channels of communication open in order to resolve conflicts and improve mutual co-operation among all participants in world affairs. To be closed minded or stuck in the past or to be compelled to blindly follow only in the direction that others lead is only acceptable for fools and sheep. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, a well-trained and experienced political and military leader in the UAE, is neither. He's a remarkably aware leader, possibly one of the greatest in the entire Muslim community, if not, the world. WHY? Because Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed has every quality of a true Muslim, as well as a superior ability to assess relative importance, with even-tempered calm; accompanied by extraordinary intellectual acumen, Bedouin perception and insight; and highly developed diplomatic, political, executive and military skills. These various traits are found among some world leaders, but are very rarely found all in one person. His father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahayan, (May he rest in peace) was a truly loved and remarkable leader, whose talents united several warring tribes into one united country of seven Emirates (the UAE). Sheikh Zayed's sons inherited many of their father's excellent traits. However, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, although having inherited many extraordinary personality traits of Sheikh Zayed, during a lifetime of learning and following in his father's footsteps, has combined all that he learned from his father with a profound ability to reach beyond any limitations and to create bridges between all cultures, while still remaining deeply devoted to his Muslim and Arab heritage. Anyone who knows His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed knows that his only blind allegiance is exclusively to God, while nothing and no one sways him away from his determined full assessment of all pertinent matters necessary to make well-informed and rightly guided choices. Any criticism of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan can only be made by three types of people - either people who simply do not know him whatsoever, or people who are irrationally blinded by the uninformed or misinformed opinions of others, or people who are simply envious of those in power, displaying a prejudiced opinion that all Sheikhs are corrupted by their power and immense wealth. Although, I do not disagree that excessive power or wealth can be corrupting, since I've observed that among many people, not only Sheikhs; but for anyone to assume that simply because a person is a Sheikh that automatically have only their selfish or greedy interests at heart and not the needs or best interests of the people; then they need to set aside their prejudicial assumptions and become more familiar with the actual individuals involved. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed did not ask to be a Sheikh. God chose for him to be born in that position. Based on anyone's observations of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed's character and temperament, and especially his lack of arrogance and self-pride, they must certainly see his sincerity and commitment to the welfare and progress of his people, and his consistent compassion and humanitarian concerns for others. He was raised by two of the most generous people in Arabia - his father, the renowned Sheikh Zayed, who personally gave more charity than most countries give; and his mother, the beloved Sheikha Fatima, who was one of the first women leaders in the Gulf to very actively and strongly support charities and the welfare of women, independently of the actions of her husband or of the UAE government. So often, their charity has been quiet and unacknowledged, but it has been astoundingly effective and magnanimous. Therefore, anyone who would judge his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, based upon who he happens to meet, during his daily duties as a government leader, is forgetting about the greatness, dedication and compassion of the man, as an individual. There are few truly great people in this world. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed qualifies as one of them, and he deserves all of our support and trust. The entire fate of this world depends on the actions of its leaders. They can create peace, prosperity and co-operation or they can cause doom, destruction and hate. In fact, if we do not seek and support positive leaders, there will be little hope for our future. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan is one of those few leaders who has nothing in him that chases after fame and power or greater wealth. His first commitment is to what he knows is right, under God, and any person who actually knows him is fully aware of that. Therefore, do not judge him by who he meets. Judge him by who he is and what he stands for.

Sincerely,

Dr. Salee Amina Mohammed,

Ambassador of Goodwill for Islamic Culture,

Beverly Hills, California, USA.

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