Establishing the foundations of moderate thought in societies is an inescapable necessity and an essential pillar for preserving their civilisational progress, safeguarding their unity, security and stability, and developing their members' capacity to distinguish between what strengthens national cohesion and what breeds disorder and chaos, between what protects achievements and preserves them and what opens minds to turbulence and dysfunction. Societies whose members are raised on moderation and adopt it as a path and a culture forge their way with full confidence towards leadership, and confront change with steadiness and capability.
Among the most important standards of this moderate thought is that it be grounded in a sound understanding of the teachings of the true religion, founded on the values of tolerance, ease, mercy, noble ethics and elevated purposes, and committed to authentic constants and firm foundations, so that the legitimate methodology becomes a source of intellectual security, psychological peace and social cohesion, and steers the individual away from the pitfalls of extremism and excess in either direction.
It also protects against the slippery slope of deviant theses and alien opinions that target minds and homelands. This requires drawing religious information from reliable sources and accredited institutions, and referring emerging issues to those qualified to address them. The United Arab Emirates has dedicated official institutions to serve this purpose, in the service of society and to close the doors to chaos and disorder.
Among the standards and manifestations of moderate thought is that it is built on entrenching the values of good citizenship, making obedience, loyalty to wise leadership, sincere rallying around it, belonging to the homeland, and preserving its security and stability a firm conviction and an unwavering principle in the hearts of the nation's sons.
This becomes a measure for reinforcing these values in society and rejecting any deviant theses that undermine this solid foundation and destabilise the relationship between leadership and society, under whatever banner, as well as organisations that erode the values of loyalty and belonging to homelands.
This standard also requires respect for national institutions, adherence to laws and regulations, and placing the supreme public interest of the homeland above all personal inclinations, emotional impulses and narrow interests, so that every individual becomes a faithful guardian of the nation's achievements and an active participant in its development and prosperity.
This requires building a robust inner immunity against intellectual chaos, particularly regarding the content that floods social media platforms and the diverse currents and intellectual movements of varying orientations present in reality, as well as campaigns that seek to cast doubt on achievements, harm homelands and sow division among their people. This effective fortification demands employing the skills of verification and scrutiny as essential preventive tools within the open digital space, to sort news.
It also means scrutinising video clips, ignoring anonymous accounts that spread the toxins of incitement and misinformation. Among the most important steps in this path is guarding one's tongue, controlling one's words and refraining from spreading rumours and false reports.
Among the manifestations of moderate thought is achieving a wise balance in the cultural dimension, combining authenticity and modernity in a harmonious fabric, so that the individual remains attached to their national identity.
They take pride in their historical roots, preserve the authentic Emirati character and its noble values, while at the same time remaining open to the sciences and ever-renewing knowledge of the age. This balance grants a distinctive capacity to absorb civilisational achievements.
It enables positive engagement with diverse cultures and the avoidance of intellectual subservience to imported theses that attempt to erase identities and dissolve cultural particularities. A deep conviction takes root that genuine progress and sustainable development are achieved by drawing on deep roots and setting forth from them towards the horizons of the future with confident strides and enlightened minds.
This vision and wisdom is evident in the entrenched Emirati approach, whereby the wise leadership has worked to institutionalise moderation, make it an ingrained life culture, regulate religious opinion, and entrench national values, in order to build a fortified national consciousness whose positive effects manifest at the level of the individual, society and the homeland.
These wholesome fruits are reflected in the building of a contented, stable family; a safe, reassured society; and a cohesive, compassionate homeland in which arms work together and hearts unite on the values of goodness and giving, where creative and innovative energies are directed towards fields of achievement and excellence, and challenges are transformed into solid bridges that carry the homeland towards leadership and the foremost ranks.
Moderate thought is a safety valve for societies, a steadfast fortress for protecting minds, preserving values, reinforcing unity of ranks and safeguarding homelands and sustaining their security and stability. It is a shared national responsibility in which the roles of the family, educational institutions, religious pulpits, the media and all bodies concerned with human development are complementary, so that generations may be raised with a sound understanding, sincere loyalty, sound awareness, responsible speech and civilised conduct that translates luminous values in their stances and behaviour, making them the finest ambassadors of the happiest and most blessed of homelands.