Sheikh Sultan tours the institute’s facilities.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, officially inaugurated the Arabic Cultural Institute at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy, on Friday.

His Highness was received by Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA); Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates Airline; Abdulla Ali Al Saboosi, Ambassador of the UAE to the Italian Republic;  Nasser Al-Qahtani, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Italian Republic; Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; Dr. Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and Issa Abbas, Director General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority. The gathering also included senior officials and editors-in-chief from UAE newspapers.

Upon his arrival, His Highness was welcomed by the traditional Emirati ‘Ayala’ performance, expertly executed by the Sharjah National Band.

The Ruler Of Sharjah’s vision for the Arabic Cultural Institute

During the opening ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah delivered an inspired speech, expressing his joy and satisfaction with the successful partnership between Sharjah and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. This collaboration, which began seven years ago, has culminated in the establishment of the Arabic Cultural Institute within the university’s premises. His Highness reminisced about the inception of this relationship, highlighting the numerous student visits to Sharjah, where they participated in a variety of cultural, educational, and other enriching events. He also noted that delegations from Sharjah have reciprocally visited the university, engaging in its activities and further solidifying their mutual cooperation.

“Many individuals are driven by determination and a desire to serve their language, religion, and people, but some find themselves overshadowed by selfishness, sectarianism, and arrogance. Yet, it is the unwavering devotion to God and the relentless pursuit of knowledge that remain essential. As a researcher and scholar of the Arabic language, I am constantly amazed by its wonders. The language is replete with words and synonyms that convey meanings both overt and subtle, each holding a depth that invites exploration and understanding,” His Highness stated.

The Ruler of Sharjah explained that during his research through Arabic dictionaries and lexicons for the origins of this language, in terms of its inception and reference, he found claims about a language called “Semitic,” supposedly derived from Sam, the son of Noah, who had a son named Aram. This language was believed to originate from Iram, which is pronounced similarly to the Arabic words ‘haram’ (pyramid) and ‘wram’ (swelling), meaning a high land that the people of Aad settled after they had been on the outskirts of Oman. It is mentioned in the Quran verse: “Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Aad – Iram – who had lofty pillars,” referring to Iram with its pillars and not Aram, the son of Noah.

Sheikh Sultan and Sheikha Bodour during the event.

His Highness said some scholars have categorised the Arabic language alongside others, suggesting it shares similarities with languages such as Amharic or Hebrew. However, His Highness was not persuaded by these claims, which prompted the Ruler of Sharjah to delve deeper into research. He stated that the Quran verse: “And [mention, O Muhammad (PBUH)], when your Lord said to the angels: ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority,’’” indicates that the earth was empty, and that “And He taught Adam the names – all of them,” implies that Adam knew everything because he was guided by Allah, the Almighty.

The Ruler of Sharjah continued: “It was said that Adam and Eve descended in East Africa and from there they spread out. It was also said that the nearest place to which they spread was the Arabian Peninsula, and they crossed it within minutes at that time. I researched all the studies with great precision until I found that the earliest traces of Adam’s descendants were discovered in Sharjah by Professor Hans-Peter Uerpmann from Tübingen University. These migrations do not necessarily refer to their crossing through the peninsula, but after this discovery, old maps were corrected, and a red line was drawn from East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, reaching Sharjah. This is a source of pride for Sharjah that it is home to the earliest descendants of Adam.”

His Highness shared the findings of his extensive research, revealing that the Arabic language is indeed the same language that spread to the Arabian Peninsula. He expressed his deep joy with each discovery that confirms the existence of original Arabic words, though they may no longer be in common use among Arab peoples due to their antiquity, yet remain preserved in dictionaries. Additionally, His Highness highlighted the ongoing efforts to complete the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, a monumental project comprising 125 volumes, each containing 750 pages. This comprehensive corpus will elucidate the translations and findings from the Latin language dictionary into Arabic, further enriching our understanding of the language’s rich history.

His Highness concluded: “I am presently at the outset of working on the first five volumes regarding the Latin dictionary. My hope is that this comprehensive work will aid in revealing the profound connections between the Arabic and Latin languages and highlighting their shared linguistic heritage. This project holds immense significance, as it underscores the belief that Arabic is the language through which God guided our forefather Adam, enabling him to populate the earth.”

“Our aspiration is not merely to inhabit the earth but to do so in harmony, extending our hands in cooperation for humanitarian causes rather than destructive pursuits. We are committed to safeguarding our cultural heritage, whether it be Arabic, Italian, Latin, or any other, from any form of distortion or tampering. The recent incident at a festival in Paris, where the image of Prophet Issa (Jesus), peace be upon him, was grossly distorted, has deeply troubled us and many others. We stand firmly against such tampering and raise our voices in protest: No to distortion; we should protect our languages, beliefs, and cultures. These efforts are crucial for every individual seeking to live in peace on this earth.”

His Highness, along with the attendees, had the pleasure of witnessing the ARABCOR choir’s captivating performance in Arabic. The choir, composed of students who have learned the Arabic language at the university, showcased their linguistic and musical talents, enriching the event with their harmonious voices and cultural expression.

The Ruler of Sharjah was also presented with a collection of books and publications as a commemorative gift from the administration of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, in appreciation of His Highness’s ongoing efforts and support in strengthening the relationship between the university and Sharjah.

Following the ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah visited the Arabic Cultural Institute building, where he unveiled the commemorative plaque, officially inaugurating the institute. Also, His Highness toured the permanent Sharjah Archaeology Exhibition titled ‘The Cultural Heritage of the Emirate of Sharjah,’ organised by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority within the institute’s premises.

The Sharjah Archaeology Authority’s exhibition showcases 83 significant artefacts, representing all the historical periods discovered in Sharjah. These range from the Stone Age through the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Kingdom of Mleiha, and the Islamic period up to the 20th century.

His Highness also toured the institute’s facilities and attended its inaugural events, which were organised by SBA in collaboration with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.