Abu Dhabi, Aug 20th, 2011 (WAM) -- Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque and First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council Dr. Yusuf Juma Salama said that UAE's founding father the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a leader who personified humanitarian benevolence and generosity in him throughout his life.
His death in the month of Ramadan indicates that God did favour the departed leader by calling him back in the holy month, the month of endless divine mercy, forgiveness and compassion; the Imam added. In a homage paid on the occasion of the death anniversary of Sheikh Zayed, Dr. Salama also shared with the people his reminiscences about the paramount virtues of the lost leader. " He was so generous, and the quality of generosity is a blessing from God. The Prophetic tradition has taught us that a generous person is close to the Heaven and stays far from the hellfire", noted the Imam. Recalling many of his attributes, the Imam said that Sheikh Zayed rendered great services in the cause of propagating Islam, setting up many mosques and religious schools, printing hundreds of thousands of copies of Holy Quran, supporting science and learning, helping the poor and needy and building several dams, houses, hospitals and healthcare centres across the world. He also noted the support given by Sheikh Zayed to the Red Crescent, which recorded the bright pages in the relief of people affected by natural disasters and the effects of wars in Palestine, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sudan, Somalia and the other parts of the world. Sheikh Zayed's support to humanitarian efforts across the world to alleviate human suffering was unparalleled. The Imam also recalled the great services Sheikh Zayed rendered in helping Palestine and its people throughout his life. Sheikh Zayed's charity works in Palestine are recorded in the radiant pages of history as he helped to rebuild mosques as well as churches in Bethlehem after they were pulled down or damaged in Israeli shelling, noted the Imam.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
