General Awareness about

 Date & Year of Formation : 2nd December, 1971  Official Religion : Islam  Official & National Language : Arabic  Capital :  National Day: 2nd December  National Anthem: IshyBiladi ( Long Live My Nation)  National Bird: Falcon  National Animal: Arabian Oryx  National Flag:It contains the Pan-Arab colors of red, green, white and black, which symbolize Arabian unity.  National Emblem/Coat of Arms : Falcon holding a red parchment with the name of country written in Kufic script and UAE Flag centered on falcon.

 National Currency : UAE Dirham  Population: 9.27 million estimated (as per 2016)  Traditional Occupation: Fishing, Pearl Diving  Traditional Inhabitants: Bedouins  Major Export: Crude oil,Natural Gas, Dates, Aluminium& Dry Fish  Members of AGCC, IMF, OPEC, ICAO, ILO,WIPO, WHO  First President & Founder :H.H.Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan  Present President:H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan  Prime Minister and Vice President:H.H Sheikh Mohd. Bin Rashid Al Maktoum  Neighboring Countries: Oman ,Saudi Arabia  Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

 The Seven Emirates

Name of the Emirate No. in Ruler of the Emirate Area Abu Dhabi 1 H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2 H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 3 H.H Sheikh Sultan III bin Muhammad Al- Qasimi Ras Al Khamiah 4 H.HSheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Fujairah 5 H.HSheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi Umm Al Qwain 6 H.H Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'allah 7 H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi

 Traditional Dress : Kandoora for men , Abhaya& Hijab for Women  Islands in UAE: Das Island, Abu Mousa Island, Delma Island, Al Reem Island, Sir BaniYas, etc.  Plantation : Date Palm, Ghaf Trees  Ports: Port Rashid in Dubai,Port Zayedin Abu Dhabi, Port Khalid in Sharjah, Port Saqr in Ras Al Khamiah

 Vision of UAE: UAE Vision 2021 was launched by H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the closing of the Cabinet meeting in 2010. The vision aims to make the UAE among the best countries in by the Golden Jubilee of the Union. In order to translate the vision into reality, its pillars have been mapped into six national priorities which represent the key focus sectors of government action in the coming years.

UAE Vision National Agenda for UAE Unity in Responsibility - Cohesive society and preserved identity Unity in Destiny - Safe public and fair judiciary Unity in Knowledge - Competitive knowledge economy Unity in prosperity - First-rate education system World-class healthcare Sustainable environment and infrastructure

 Important Monuments/ Places to visit in UAE:

Dubai:- Fort ( Dubai Museum), ,BurjKhalifa,Jumeriah Archeological Site,Bastakiya District, Shindagha Heritage & Diving Village,MajlisGhorfat Um-Al Sheif,BurjNahar

Abu Dhabi:- Grand Mosque, Al Ain Zoo, Al Hili Public Park in Al Ain,Jabel Hafeet and Ferrari World.

Ajman:- Ajman Museum, Ajman Dhow Building Yard, Ajman Beaches and The Mowaihat archaeological site etc.

Ummul Queain:- Dream land Aqua Park, Old Harbor, Ummul Quwain Fort, Museum, Ummul Quwain Islands etc.

Fujairah:- Ain al Madhab gardens , Al Fujairah paradise, Fujairah port, Fujairah heritage villag, Wadis, Museum and Fujairah Grand Mosque etc.

Rasal Khaimah:- Camel race track, Dhayah Fort, Iceland water park, Rasalkhaimah national museum, water ski club etc.

 Brief of Sharjah  It is the Cultural and Islamic capital of UAE  First Airport of UAE  It has around 400 mosques and 22 museums.  Sharjah was the first emirate to provide education for women in 1942.  The UAE’s first school, library and municipality were set up in Sharjah.

Places of visit in Sharjah: Al Qasba, Eye of Emirates,Sharjah Aquarium,Arabian Wild Life Center, Al Hisn Square in Rolla, Discovery Centre, Sharjah Art & Archeological Museum,Old Car Museum, Sharjah Stadium, National Park, Al Majaz water Front, Green Belt Park

Traditional Souks ( Market ) in Sharjah: Blue Souq, Souq Al Arsah, Iranian Bazaar and Al MajarrahSouq.

General Information About the religion “Islam”

 Islam is a religion which is based on “Thawheed” (monotheism) and it’s the religion of love and peace.  Muslims follow the religion of Islam and they worship to one Allah alone.  There are five pillars of Islam. They are:- is the ﷺ  Shahadah (Bearing witness that Allah is the only God and Muhammed messenger of Allah)  Salah (Praying five times )  Zakah (Giving charity to the poor people)  Sawm (Fasting during the month of Ramadan)  Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)  There six pillars of Eman (faith). They are:-  Belief in Allah.  Belief in Allah’s Angels.  Belief in Allah’s Books.  Belief in Allah’s Prophets.  Belief in the Day of Judgment.  Belief in Qadr (the destiny).  The holy books of Allah:-  As-Suhuf (Scrolls) revealed to the prophet Ibraheem (Abraham)  At-Tawrah (Torah) revealed to the prophet Musa (Moses)  Az-Zaboor (Psalms) revealed to the prophet Dawood (David)  Al-Injeel (Bible) revealed to the prophet Isa (Jesus) ﷺ  Al-Qur’an revealed to the last prophet Muhammad who is the last messenger of Allah was born in Makkah and died ﷺ  Prophet Muhammad in Madina. His father was Abdullah and Mother was Aaminah.  Muslim prays five times in a day. They are at Fajr(Dawn) Thuhr(Noon)Asr(After noon) Maghrib(Sunset) and Isha(Night Prayer)  Qur’an is the last holy book for the Muslims which was revealed to prophet Muhammad -in his 40th age during the month of Ramadan from cave “Hira” in the mountain “Jabal ﷺ un-Noor” located in Makkah and it’s in Arabic language.

 There are 114 Chapters in the Holy Qur’an and the 1st chapter of Qur’an is Surah Fatiha and the last chapter is Surah-an-Nas.  Muslims fast for 29 or 30 days during the month of Ramadan from the dawn till the sunset.  There are four Holy months in Islamic calendar which are Muharram, Rajab, Dhul Qa’ad and Dhul Hajjah.  The holy Masjid of Muslims are Masjid ulHaram (Makkah) Masjid un Nabawi(Madina) and Masjid ul Aqsa (Palestine).  The best companion of Prophet Muhammad(S.A) was Abu Bakr Siddique (RadiyallahuAnhu)  Muslims greet each other with Assalamualaikum (peace be upon you) with the reply of Wa’alaikum us Salaam (peace be upon you also)  Islamic year is based on Hijri calendar which is Lunar calendar and it’s based on the lunar system, and has twelve months. They are :-  Muharram  Safar  Rabee’ul Awwal  Rabee’u Thani  Jamadul Awwal  Jamadu Thani  Rajab  Sha’aban  Ramadan  Shawwal  Dhul Qa’adah  Dhul Hijjah ,(are Abu Bakr (r) , Umar(r ﷺ  The four Major Caliphs after prophet Muhammad Uthman(r) and Ali (r).  Friday is the special day for the Muslims in which they are performing the Friday prayer which is called “Salat-ul-Jumu’a” in Arabic.  Muslims must do “wudoo”_ Ablution (washing the parts of the body mainly face, hands, legs etc in a special way) before getting in to the prayer.  The first to embrace Islam among companions is Abubakr (r), among children Ali (r) and among the woman Khadija (r) who was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad(S.A)  Makkah and Madina are the holy cities for Muslims which are located in Saudi Arabia. And they are turning to Ka’aba in Makkah while doing the Namaz.  First angels made Ka’aba with the order of Allah, later Adam (a) re-built it and much later, Prophet Ibraheem (a) and his son Ismaeel (a) re-built it again and furnished it.  ZamZam is the blessed water, which came under the feet of Prophet Ismail (a) and the well of ZamZam is in the Masjid ul Haram (Makkah) near Ka’aba.  The heavenly trip of Prophet Muhammad (S.A) is called in Arabic Al Isra wal Mi’raj. He travelled from Makkah to Masjidul Aqsa along the Angel Jibreel (this journey is known as Al-Isr’a) and from Masjidul Aqsa to Seventh heaven to talk with Allah (this journey is known as Al-Mi’raj). This journey was happened in the month of Rajab and Namaz and Fasting were compelled from this day. By:- Abdul Vahab Hudawi [email protected] https://ushbidot.wordpress.com