I never imagined that one day I would have to write an obituary for my master, father, teacher and leader. Nor did I ever imagine that my soul would announce the passing of the man who filled my soul with his brilliant presence until it merged and melted into his soul, becoming part of him as he became my whole existence and the essence of my soul.
By Allah, if death would accept a ransom, I would sacrifice my life for Zayed. If years of life could be offered, I would grant him the years of my youth and the sweetest days of my life.
O Merciful Allah! We submit to Your Will and Judgment with contented and acquiescent hearts but we are truly bereaved and the departure of our dearest beloved causes our hearts to bleed.
O Wise Allah! We accept Your Will but we are deeply wounded by the loss of the man You chose to lead our homeland, he upon whose hands rose the country, to which he was so faithful.
What words, what expressions can convey our anguish and our enduring affection for a lifetime we lived with Zayed, knowing no leader but him, no teacher of his stature, no head of state of his solidity, wisdom, patience, resolve and dignity?
Sheikh Zayed is absent in body, but his soul and memory will live on forever, inspiring us, giving us strength and pushing us forward.
The body is absent, but our Sheikh is ever present in the state he built, the nation he established and the example he set.
The body is absent but our Sheikh is still present in the factories, farms, parks and beaches, in our children's first steps to school, university and workplace, on the first page of the homeland's book, in the first line of the anthem at the hoisting of the flag.
O Sir whose influence extends from Ma'rib Dam to the precincts of the Aqsa Mosque, from the banks of the Nile and the Tigris to the schools, universities, mosques and factories throughout our vast Islamic world.
Wherever we turn, O Master, we see you in the eyes of your people, which sparkle even more with tears, revealing a never-ending reserve of love and an inexhaustible spring of loyalty.
Whichever way we turn, we hear your voice, so dear to the soul, and your words, vibrant with the essence of wisdom, love, advice, guidance and good counsel.
With you, my Master, our souls towered, our resolve flew high and the Emirates held its head high among the states of the world.
How can we not be proud of ourselves when we have you, the pure Arab, the true Muslim, the leader who inherited all virtues and added to them, the politician who combined politics with principles and morals, upholding them among his people and nation both in thought and deed?
How can we not be proud of ourselves when you have steered the homeland's ship through turbulent seas and gales and, with your steadfastness and vision, led it to safety and security?
You are absent, my father, from our sight, but you are still present in the warmest, fastest-beating and most intimate corners of the hearts because yours was a noble story running through the veins of history and the homeland, a story comprised of your achievements, character, convictions, virtues and good deeds, which are known far and wide.
"Allah always loves those who are loved by their fellowmen."
I bear witness that you have won the love of your people, of our Arab and Islamic nations, as no other leader has. We take solace in the fact that you will always be with us, existing in your faithful sons and loving people.
We take solace in the inheritors of your virtues, Sheikh Khalifa and his brothers.
We take solace in the foundations you established as permanent sources of good deeds, an endorsement of a saying by our prophet (may peace be upon him): "A human being's deeds end with his death except for three: steady charity, useful knowledge and a righteous son who prays for him." You, our great departed beloved, have all three and more.
We promise you, Sir, we shall always be as you wanted us to be: a consolidated and loving family.
We shall give without limit, take the side of justice, reject injustice and work in this land for the good of our country and our countrymen and for the progress and dignity of our nation.
"For Allah what He has given and for Allah what He has reclaimed. Everything with Him is by appointed date." And we are satisfied with the Will of Allah, accepting what has befallen us. We do not speak except to utter that which pleases Almighty Allah. "But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, who say, when afflicted by calamity: 'To Allah we belong and to Him is our return.'"
