Video: Dubai ruler praises Al-Qaradawi for his scholarly achievements
A video showing the ruler of Dubai kissing the forehead of Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has gone viral at a time when the UAE is waging a media war on the Doha-based Islamic scholar for his criticism of the UAE government.
The video was taped during a ceremony organised by the UAE government to honor Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi as "the international figure of the year" in 2012.
In the video, Mohamed Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, the Dubai ruler, praises the efforts of Al-Qaradawi and urges him to advice rulers and politicians who are always error-prone.
Although this is precisely what Al-Qaradawi has been doing in his speeches and weekly sermons, he is currently the subject of smear campaigns and fierce criticism by UAE media and politicians due to his criticism of the Gulf country's support of the coup in Egypt and its repression of Islamists.
Below is a transcript of Al-Maktoum's remarks to Sheikh Youssef Al-Qaradawi:
"We welcome you to the UAE and to Dubai. The UAE is your country and the people of UAE are your brothers. His Highness Sheikh Zayed loves you. Honestly, we salute your efforts for the sake of knowledge and Islam. We are all your students. Politicians always make mistakes. The duty of scholars is to advise the leaders, with honestly and sincerity and without compliments. Because the ruler and the scholar are responsible before Allah for [those of which they are in charge]. Thus there should not be compliments by scholars to rulers; [scholars] should show the right [path] to rulers.
"We are all your students. Honestly, I am delighted that you have been selected as the international figure [honoured for his role in serving as an Islamic scholar]. I was very happy when the selection committee announced your name. Although I do not interfere in the work of the committee, I was hoping that you would be the winner. When they wanted to introduce you to me, I said no need to introduce this popular international figure. Thank Allah. I congratulate you on this award."
video date is wrong .it is in 2001