A lesson not to be forgotten

Tomorrow is the anniversary on the Islamic calendar of the death on the 19th day of Ramadan of Sheikh Zayed. This photograph, taken from the archives of Al Ittihad, our sister newspaper, recalls his recognition of the importance of universal education, one of the tenets of Islam and one of the key preoccupations of the founder of the nation. Sheikh Zayed is pictured on December 18, 1980, talking to students from UAE University, the nation's first, in Al Maqam Palace in Al Ain.

In Islam, any kind of decent work that leads to a better life for oneself and others is considered a form of worship, with education especially held in high esteem. The Prophet Mohammed told his companions that the acquisition of knowledge was the religious duty of all Muslims and this was a tenet to which Sheikh Zayed attributed great importance. "The best investment of our wealth is in creating cultured and educated citizens," Sheikh Zayed once said. "We have to be swift and make our progress in education faster than our progress in any other field."

To the right in the photograph, looking down and writing, is Ahmed Al Suwaidi, one of Sheikh Zayed's key advisers and the founder of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. * The National Time Frame is a series that opens a window into the nation's past. Each week it features an image from the archives of both prominent institutions and private collections. Readers are invited to make contributions and can submit ideas and photographs to [e-mail]