Home
The Chairman's Message
Dubai Marina
Nations Squabble Over Terrorism Definition
Israel Gets Its Foot On The Door
The Price We Pay When Free Speech Is Stifled
Virtual Universities
A Shaky Cost - Benefit Study Of War
The Golden Age Of Arab Science
Caliph Haroon Al Rashid & The Age Of The Abbasids
Woman Of Distinction
The Conquest Of The Dead Sea
Fire - A Friend Or Foe For Mankind
Dhofar After The Khareef
Sports: A1 Grand Prix
Engineering: Habtoor Grand Resoty & Spa
Habtoor News
About Us
Back Issues

Contact Us

 

 

 


 
   

General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, exchanged greetings with Khalaf Al Habtoor and a number of dignities from the UAE business community, heads of departments and establishments during a Ramadan gathering.

 

   
   
   

By: Mohammed Khalifa Bin Hadher

 

  Al Shindaga Magazine carried in its 66 issue of September/October 2005 an article by Mr. Raja Mattar, Lebanon, titled “The Christian Arabs are Arabs”. The purpose of the article was to respond to the allegations made by some of those who try to cast doubts on the identity of Christian Arabs, by alleging that their origin from Canaanites, Phoenicians, or that they are the remnants of Crusaders. Mr. Matter was absolutely right in stressing that the Christians are Arabs. He reminds of the Christian Arab Poet who said: Mecca and Jerusalem are both our Kaaba and our passions are with the Arabs.

  In addition to the facts underlined in the article, I feel that going quickly to history might be necessary. The records of history tell us that pre-Islam Arabs were either Jew, Christian or pagans. We know very well that the first two spread in Mesopotamia and Original Syria for obvious reasons. Arabs of  the Peninsula were pagan, except Yemen that had a majority of followers of the first two religions. The population of Mesopotamia and Original Syria was 80% Arabs and 20% Assyrians, Urbanites, Caledonians…. However, all of them shed the same origin, Semitism as well as closely similar languages that are derives from Aramaic.

  Some of the Arab Tribes that embraced Christianity before Islam are:

  Kalb that had a high standing among Arab Tribes. The fourth Rashidi Khalifa Othman was married to Naela Bint Al Farafisa, who is a Kalbi.

  Taghleb: the tribe that produced many famous poets, such as Amru Bin Kalthoum and Al Akhtal, who was the poet of the Umayyad Caliphs, never changed his religion.

Banu Ghassan who ruled Syria under the Romans.

  The Christian Arabs of today are the grand children of the old Christians. They are our brothers who share with us our vast good and bad heritage. They have the same rights of the Moslem majority. And, those of them who claim that they are not Arabs, or who feel “insulted” to be called Arabs, can not even prove that they are not!

  Our Nation has the means to stand firmly in the face of the Zionist poisonous claims. Our Nation might not be in its best times because of the evil powers facing us, but this will only act as a strong incentive to advance forward.

   

| Top | Home | Al Habtoor Group | Metropolitan Hotels | Al Habtoor Automobiles |
|
Diamond Leasing | Emirates International School |