Growing up in the dusty streets of Zimbabwe in Africa, my first appraisal of a Muslim was a terrorist. In my mind, they represented unforgiveness, unending religious wars, suicide bombings, greediness, corruption, drug lords and every word that describe a bad person.
I watched American and Western movies which all portrayed them as bad boys. The wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya confirmed to me that I was not wrong in my assessment. The Western media convinced me to hate them and so I did.
I knew a few of them in Zimbabwe, Harare and their way of living and commitment to their belief. I chose not to belief what I knew and instead believed what I heard of them.
During my flight to the United Arab Emirates, a group of Muslims prayed in the plane passage after making countless requests to the air hostess who later budged in to their pressure. Their persistence to pray even at most ‘uncomfortable situations’ could not even persuade me as I chose to downplay the incident. Upon landing and after undergoing all the immigration procedures, the Immigration Officer said to me ‘Welcome to the Emirates, enjoy’. I melted.
As I stepped in to the streets of the Emirates, what I saw were not criminals, they were no suicide bombers, they were not drug lords, they were not at war, they were not greedy. Instead, I saw law abiding citizens, hospitable and loving residents. I saw clean and safe streets with zero percent crime rate, magnificent infrastructure, amazing eco-friendly environment. I saw a people who embrace cultural and religious diversity. I saw a principled, hardworking and committed group of people.
Every time, the words of the immigration officer echo in my mind ‘welcome to the Emirates’. Enjoy,’ I think of the ‘Christian’ immigration officer back in South Africa who asked me why I was travelling with one bag and treated me like a criminal.
Every time I see my Muslim friends pray, I think of the situations where I had refused to pray in public either out of shame or pride.
Every time I see the smartness, peacefulness and calmness of the streets of Dubai, I think of my own Christian friends living in the dusty, crime infested streets and corrupt environment being made to believe that Muslims and other religions are bad.
I was wrong.
No one is bad. No religion is bad, we were all created by the same God and the purpose of humanity is to love one another regardless of colour or race.
His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE once said:
“We are like those who had climbed a mountain and reached the top. When we looked down, we still wanted to go higher to realise our goals. Despite all the achievements, we still have an ambition for more. That is my way of looking at things.”
Indeed UAE has reached the top of the mountain in the global map and yet the adage have been changed to, ‘the sky is no longer the limit’.
‘Welcome to the United Arab Emirates, please enjoy’
By Desmond Nleya, Daily Times
