Islam accords high status to women, says Fatima

She thanks Mohammed for Islamic personality of year award

abu dhabi — Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), expressed “heartfelt thanks” to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who is the patron of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA), which named her the Islamic personality of the year.

Shaikha Fatima, who is also Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, is the first woman to win the annual prestigious award which has been given to 18 different personalities and institutions from around the world since it was first started 19 years ago.

Shaikha Fatima expressed her delight at receiving the honour and stressed that she will continue the efforts she started decades ago to back — all philanthropic and hu- man development efforts inside the UAE and abroad — based on the values of moderate Islam and the “ideals promoted by this upright religion”.

“Being honoured by you today clearly shows the high status given by Islam to women and offers us great encouragement that would help us continue to give to our citizens and all humanity,” she told officials of the DIHQA.

She emphasised that hosting this Holy Quran award annually in the UAE sends a message to the world that “our country nurtures moderate Islam and sponsors the Holy Quran and the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)”.

Shaikha Fatima congratulated all other individuals who were honoured with the award over the years.

She commended the achievements the DIHQA has made in the last 19 years in the service of Islam and Muslims. She said the award

Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha (centre), chairman of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, announcing Shaikha Fatima as the Islamic personality of the year on Sunday. —

has a high international status and that “competitors hail from more than 80 countries, thanks to the UAE’s ability to organise important events in all fields”.

She added that the ideas and proposals put forth by the award, as

Supplied photo well as its way of addressing Islamic issues, represent an “enlightened language” that is the basic means of communicating with people.

‘An honour for all Emirati women’ Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairwoman of the UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment, has described the naming of Shaikha Fatima as the Islamic personality of the year “an honour for all Emirati and Arab women”.

Shaikha Manal, who is the wife of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said Shaikha Fatima “is a model to follow in dedication to serving Muslims and all humanity in the region and beyond”.

“This honour is well-deserved. As per the teachings of our upright religion, Islam exalts women and urges for taking care of them and protecting their rights in the framework of clear Sharia (Islamic legal system). Our Prophet (Peace be upon him) gave this nation many lessons on how women should be dignified, protected and cared for. The Mother of the Nation played an important role in implementing these teachings through initiatives that support society, empower women to carry out their duties in an optimal way and raise good generations that benefit themselves, their families and countries.

“This contribution has a positive effect on the construction of a cohesive society that is also productive and self-developing in accordance with the teachings of Islam,” said Shaikha Manal. —