Reading is the most outstating attribute of human being. Book and reading are the most essential tools for building of civilization. And throughout history, reading has been the greatest contributory of knowledge development for individuals and communities. Since Allah honored humanity by asking them to “READ” in the first revelation of Quran, the grand trends of civilization contest and cooperation was heated through more keenness for knowledge and innovation.

Based on such understanding of the role of reading, our leadership’s instructions highlighted the need to promote reading. It seeks to maintain reading standing as the main tool for the development of knowledge within this overwhelming spread of smart technologies and their formidable platforms. Indeed, we want our libraries to retain their visitors and students.

The real value of time is to avail it for good purposes. Reading books which help minds toward more excellence, innovation and development stands high among such purposes. In our Prophet’s tradition, “Wisdom is the goal of believers, wherever they find it they must take it.” And any work which provides us with new understanding or ideas, regardless of its author- Muslim or non-Muslim, deserve to spend time, our precious asset, reading it.

Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments