H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah said, "The book is the essence of culture, science and knowledge."

His Highness considers the book as a start point to the world of science, knowledge and culture. Therefore we see him do dearly for the establishment of the Sharjah International Book Fair, and he achieved what he wanted - thanks to God and thanks to his extraordinary efforts – and here is the Sharjah Book Fair in its "33" session which includes thousands upon thousands of publishing houses, more than a million titles of books, thousands of visitors and guests from leading scientists, thinkers, writers, poets and creative artists who came from all over the world, East and West, participating in lectures, seminars cognitive, scientific, cultural, literary, artistic and cafes, in a unique and impressive demonstration.

His Highness said, "The book fairs are oases of light that must be developed and improved, and in fields thereof the competitors shall compete."

His Highness also said, "The book has become a vital requirement to catch up civilization which stands on the threshold of the twentieth century."

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah remained calls to deepen the reading love between children, and encourages them to read, and to provide books for young, girls, women, and for all.

His Highness knows for sure that reading is a knowledge, civilized and humane necessity, and it has a wide meaning rather than the defined written meaning, it means language, and language means human, and human means language. Reading is composition of love, perseverance, determination, keen and the main aim of the educational system. Reading and Book are, two faces of the beneficial fruitful work, and they are the main component of the erudite scientific person who is aware to all things and understands the meaning of life, universe and man a much higher degree of the non-educated and non-reading person.

Reading - before and after – is the food of mind and spirit together, and is the road that provides its follower with inexhaustible source of arts science, culture and knowledge, and this can be achieved through the reader reviewing to  experiences of philosophers, sages, scholars, writers, poets, artists and creators.

All of this would motivates a person to more production and creativity, as a service for himself and his community and for humanity as a whole.

The reading since the dawn of history is the first and the most important knowledge tools, and an element of the most important elements of building civilizations.

It is told in this area, that an old Egyptian wise wrote his will to his son on papyrus paper in which he says: "My son, Put your heart behind your books, and love them as you love your mother, as there is nothing more stature than the book."

Moreover, we cannot forget that the first Sura and the first verse was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad "peace be upon him" is "Read."

It is a signal from Al-Hakim Al-Alim to the necessity of reading to gain access to knowledge, the knowledge of God first and then the knowledge of the universe and life and everything therein.

Without the book and reading, the world - ancient and modern – could not take science and knowledge arts, and high human values from Al-jahez, Ibn Sina, al-Ghazali, Shafie and the similar scientists and intellectuals who built an Arab Islamic humanitarian civilization.

Without reading, our civilization would not be – and we would not reach glory and honor.

The doctor philosopher writer and poet Ibn Sina says and swears, "I did not leave reading throughout my life except for two nights, the night of the death of my father and my wedding night."

Taha Hussein says, "The reading is a right for every human being and even an inevitable duty on every person who wants to live a good life."

The above mentioned is the commandments of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and I swear that His Highness is a first class reader and writer who has over forty published book, and he reads every day for at least "300" page, he said in the remarkable speech before days at the opening of Sharjah International Book Fair and at the signing ceremony of his book "Under the Banner of Occupation", "I am a drop in the ocean and a village in the large Arab world, I bought all the books in the first exhibition session as an initiative to make it a success."

His Highness is still encourage reading and the love of books, as he says, "Book and Reading are more expensive than the whole earth treasures."

His Highness, at a seminar entitled "on the press publishing" said, I used to read Al-Khaleej newspaper before dawn, to look at the culture and art world."

God save our Sheikh and our teacher, the teacher of generations, and sustain him an asset to the nation.

Source: Al- Khaleej newspaper, UAE - Bahgat Al-Hadithi