SHARJAH — Omar Saif Ghobash, Ambassador of the UAE to France, discussed his critically acclaimed book, Letters to a Young Muslim, on the second day of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) on Thursday.
In Letters to a Young Muslim, Ghobash chronicles a series of notes addressed to his then 15-year-old son Saif, each one exploring numerous trials and challenges facing young Muslims in today’s all-too-often complicated world. Touching on faith, culture and society, the book celebrates the individual, while also recognising the role of the community and how it helps to shape and bring people together.
Ghobash draws on his experience as a diplomat and father to convey an understanding and balance through his writing that provides hope to readers, as he outlines everyday challenges Muslims face across the globe.
“The publishers read the first version and asked me to simplify it,” he said. “I did and the series of letters that are printed in the book is the result.”
Originally printed in English, the book has since been published in other languages, but Ghobash says he’s hesitant to do so in Arabic.
While Ghobash may not be ready to have an Arabic version hitting the shelves just yet, he is pleased with the overall feedback he’s been getting. “A lot of young people have bought the book and the overall reception has been great,” he said.
Omar Saif Ghobash is an Emirati diplomat and author. He was appointed Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to France on November 24, 2017, having previously served as UAE Ambassador to Russia from 2008 to 2017. Attaining a BA in Law from Balliol College at the University of Oxford and BSc in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of London, Ghobash sponsors the Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation, in memory of his father, Saif Ghobash.
