By IANS/WAM,
Abu Dhabi: Philanthropy should not be limited to one race or religion, but should flow out to all mankind according to their needs, a UAE newspaper said Friday, citing a speech by Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
When someone is able to give to others less fortunate or in desperate need, their giving should not be restricted to one particular type of person, the Gulf News daily said in its editorial, based on the prince’s speech.
In the speech on the necessity of giving beyond boundaries, the prince said that 20 years ago, he visited Tanzania and saw people dying of famine, but did not do anything as they were not Muslims.
He returned to Abu Dhabi and told this to his father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who pointed out: “The one who created you created them as well.”
Since then, Sheikh Mohammad has made it a point to remember the overall humanitarian impact of any philanthropy.
“To be a real giver, you have to trespass across boundaries, and erase ethnicity, race and religions from your repertoire,” he said.