His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has sent a message to researchers, specialists and various Arabic speakers congregating at the opening of the Arabic Language Conference in Africa.
His Highness: "We have to take care of the Arabic Language, unite for it, discuss its issues, study its affairs and make it easier for the young people to speak eloquently, explicitly and clearly, and to facilitate educating it to our children and to non-native speakers in various countries of the world, as much as we can." "The prestige of the Arabic language requires us and all who care to look at its contemporary issues and to examine its affairs and conditions. We pin hope on you, as Arabs, protectors and guards of the Arabic Language, to study its affairs and put practical programmes and projects for the generations that may facilitate use, employment and speaking of the language, “His Highness added.
This came during a speech delivered on behalf of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah by Director of the Educational Centre for the Arabic Language of the Gulf States in Sharjah, during the conference being held in cooperation with the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, from 5 to 7 September.
In his message, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah touched on the date of the entry of the Arabic language to the African continent, where he explained: "The Arabic language in Africa has reached Arfrica and its origins have been consolidated with the first Islamic opening of Arab Al Maghreb since the time of Uqbah ibn Nafi, after which it had spread and its roots had consolidated.”
His Highness continued: “In spite of the difficult circumstances experienced by many African countries in the last two centuries due to the diverse Western colonialism, which tried hard to undermine the pillars of the Arabic language and ignore and disregard it, this unique language has remained standing high, and continued to live, and survived disappearance and vanish, because the means of its preservation are inherent in it, where all the elements of survival, life, development and continuity exist. All Arabs and interested should strive to develop methods of education, and stimulate generations to study Arabic and use it perfectly and eloquently."
His Highness went on: “We convey to you the good tiding of establishing the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, which deals with Arabic language issues, and supports the well-known Arabic language academies. Our interest in the historical dictionary of the Arabic Language is still the pivot of our projects under the supervision of Language Academies. We have established poetry houses in several Arab capitals and cities. We spare no effort to always serve this great language, which God has honoured us with as the language of the holy Quran.”
“This is our principle and logic, and this is our way of life, because we believe that there is no way to live in a varied and diverse world except by dialogue, communication and understanding others through channels of thought, language, culture and science; this is a policy that we have adopted since we have ruled Sharjah and before that, and do not deviate from it,” His Highness concluded.