Sultan Qaboos (A Short History)
January 2020 started with great promise, until the news of our beloved Sultan's passing.
Even though we had already known about his illness and that in the last month of 2019, it reached critical, the news of his death still came upon us like a bolt from the blue.
It has been forty days since, yet the wound is still fresh...
I had planned to blog more this year, but after this tragedy, I feel it hard to.
Yet nobody should stop life and even though blogging might not be as important as other things, it is to me a great way to express my grief, so I can see life through rose-coloured glasses again - as we all need to these days - and I hope this post would allow.
Honouring His Majesty's legacy through writing, is the only way I know how, but I'm finding it, by far, the hardest thing I ever had to talk about. Still, I'll rally, because I feel it necessary.
Before I can go any further, I shall first talk a little about his life, because it's the only way anyone would be able to comprehend our intense love for His late Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Thus I have decided to post two parts; the first being a brief history, and the second his influence on his people's lives, so in the name of God Almighty we start...
Sultan Qaboos is the 14th Al-Said ruler and father of modern Oman.
Qaboos bin Said Al-Said was born on 18th November 1940, in Salalah, Oman. He was the only son and had two half sisters, Omaima (died in 2002) and Hujaija (died in infancy).
When he was born, his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur was already Sultan of Oman, after his father Sultan Taimur bin Faisal abdicated the throne, in 1932.
Qaboos recieved private primary and secondary education in Salalah, Oman, before his father sent him to Bury St Edmunds, England, at the age of 16, for two years, to be educated privately.
In 1960, He entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and graduated in 1962, then joined The Cameronians (Scottish Regiment) in Germany for a year.
He continued studying Politics and Goverment in England, then celebrated his graduation by touring the world.
Qaboos returned to Oman in 1964 and studied Religion and History.
Oman changed drastically. Many customs that were considered normal, had been forbidden, because everything seemed suspicious to him. And eventually, those changes grew bigger, until the country began a period of seclusion from the world.
When Qaboos returned from England, he couldn't escape his father's fears and was immediately confined to the palace.
After witnessing the backwardness state his father put upon Oman and how the legacy of his country was deteriorating, the young prince seeked the assistance of Britain, to overthrow his father.
And so, on 23rd July 1970, a peaceful revolution ensued and Qaboos was made Sultan of Oman.
My People,
Sultan Qaboos began the transformations immediately after he ascended the throne.
Among the very first decrees he enforced, was the abolishing of slavery.
He used oil revenues to build schools, hospitals and overall infrastructure. Then established telecommunication networks and electricity, and built ports and airports.
His Majesty's vision for Oman was to progress into a modern developed oasis, but steadily, because he believed gradual growth is the only way to preserve our values and identity.
Education and constant improvement in living standards was also key to accepting progression. All of which he made sure were given to citizens and expatriates alike.
During his reign, Oman:
Sultan Qaboos established an absolute monarchy as a political system for Oman and all legislation was made through Royal decrees. He was the Head of Government, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Finance, while appointing a cabinat to assist him.
In 1981, The Consultative Assembly of Oman was founded. It is a chamber of the parliament that is not appointed by the Sultan, but all members are elected democratically.
In 1997, The Council of State was founded. It is the upper house of parliament and members are appointed by the Sultan.
In terms of foriegn policy, Sultan Qaboos, maintained the country's neutrality, throughout his reign. He adopted the motto: “Enemy to none, Friend to all”.
He also played as an intermediary between the USA and Iran on many occasions and was an instigator of peace between Palestine and the Israeli government.
In addition, he assested the UN in several problems, including solving Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Many political leaders' families took asylum in Oman after the Arab Spring. And whenever Oman had to take in refugees, they were treated as Omani citizens, with the same rights and benefits.
Sultan Qaboos never started any wars nor did he particpate in them. He never put his people at risk and remained a pacifist all his life.
He married his cousin Kamila - the current Sultan's half sister - in 1976 and divorced in 1979, producing no heir.
As soon as he was told his illness was terminal, he returned to Oman - from Belgium, where he had his final checkup - to be in his country, among his people, before his last breath.
And so, in that dreary morning of Friday, 10th January 2020, he passed away. Thus ends his prosperous and eventful history.
As a military man, the late Sultan Qaboos was given a military procession before he was buried at the Al-Said cemetary.
It was revealed that his cousin, Haitham was his choice for Sultan. After the smooth transition, Sultan Haitham took an oath infront of the Council and on live television, promising to uphold Sultan Qaboos's policies.
Sultan Qaboos loved reading books about History and Politics and he had an extensive collection of publications in various languages.
In 1985, His Majesty instructed the composition of Arabic names into an Encyclopedia as a valuable addition to the prestigious Arabic library. Over 150 researchers from various Arabian countries were called in to compile the names.
In 2011, the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature was founded and supported by UNESCO. It was formed to reward intellectual accomplishments and to promote cultural awareness.
His Majesty's love for classical music started back when he had his British education.
In the 1970s, as Sultan, he occasionally flew in British orchestras to perform at his palace. But all along, his dream was to have an orchestra comprised of Omani-only musicians.
The Sultan believed that the arts play a crucial part in bridging between cultures and could be a tool to promote diplomacy and understanding among nations.
So in 1985, Sultan Qaboos founded the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and children were recruited as young as 8 and chosen through rigorous tests.
In 2003, Sultan Qaboos commisioned composer Lalo Schifrin to write a musical piece, called Symphonic Impressions of Oman.
In the past, classical musical events were held in The Bustan Palace Hotel, but it was inevitable that Oman would have a special venue for it. So in 2001, the project for building one started and in 2011, His Majesty opened the first opera house in the Middle East; The Royal Opera House Muscat.
His Majesty also ensured the preservation of Omani folklore music, so in 1984, the Oman Center for Traditional Music was established and historical music, songs and dances were collected and stored. The project was then cited by UNESCO as a historical reference.
Sultan Qaboos first started horse riding at the age of 4 years and developed into a skilled horseman.
Oman is considered to have among the finest breeders of Arabian horses in the World and that was due to the Sultan's love for horses, which also lead him to host yearly equestrian festivals and camel races.
After recieving military training, target sports became one of His Majesty's hobbies, that he frequently practiced in the desert. He was an exceptional sharpshooter at that.
From time to time, he loved trying out new weapons, but guns, pistols and even crossbows - used on targets rather than animals of course - remained his favourites.
Walking on the beach, particularly before bed, was also one of his favourite pasttimes. He did not only find it good exercise, but as a way to relax and meditate.
His favourite athletic sport was Tennis and he tried to play it whenever he had time. He also enjoyed watching Tennis matches and other sports on television.
He didn't build palaces in every village and town, and didn't stay at hotels when he was touring either, instead, he camped in the desert and slept in tents.
Even when foreign dignitaries paid visits, while he was on tour, he would fly them in from the capital to whereever his tour had paused, because nothing and noone could keep him from his people.
Astronomy was one of His Majesty's favourite subjects. He enjoyed stargazing and learning about anything relating to the planet.
Sultan Qaboos made efforts in preserving the environment and his love for the earth lead him, in 1989, to establish the internationally known Sultan Qaboos Environment Prize, backed by UNESCO.
Oman is considered one of the least polluted countries and has the cleanest beaches, which is why thousands of turtles migrate to the Omani coastline each year. It is also one of the few countries that are visited by birds from three continents.
Even though we had already known about his illness and that in the last month of 2019, it reached critical, the news of his death still came upon us like a bolt from the blue.
It has been forty days since, yet the wound is still fresh...
I had planned to blog more this year, but after this tragedy, I feel it hard to.
Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak knits up the o'er wrought heart and bids it break
_________
Shakespeare's Macbeth - Act 4 Scene 3
Yet nobody should stop life and even though blogging might not be as important as other things, it is to me a great way to express my grief, so I can see life through rose-coloured glasses again - as we all need to these days - and I hope this post would allow.
Honouring His Majesty's legacy through writing, is the only way I know how, but I'm finding it, by far, the hardest thing I ever had to talk about. Still, I'll rally, because I feel it necessary.
Before I can go any further, I shall first talk a little about his life, because it's the only way anyone would be able to comprehend our intense love for His late Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Thus I have decided to post two parts; the first being a brief history, and the second his influence on his people's lives, so in the name of God Almighty we start...
____________________
Sultan Qaboos (A Short History)
Family:
The House of Al-Said has been the ruling royal family of Oman - formerly ruling Oman , Gwadar and Zanzibar - since 1744. It is one of the longest ruling dynasties in Arabia and the first to gain independence.Sultan Qaboos is the 14th Al-Said ruler and father of modern Oman.
Birth:
Qaboos bin Said Al-Said was born on 18th November 1940, in Salalah, Oman. He was the only son and had two half sisters, Omaima (died in 2002) and Hujaija (died in infancy).When he was born, his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur was already Sultan of Oman, after his father Sultan Taimur bin Faisal abdicated the throne, in 1932.
Education:
Qaboos recieved private primary and secondary education in Salalah, Oman, before his father sent him to Bury St Edmunds, England, at the age of 16, for two years, to be educated privately.In 1960, He entered the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and graduated in 1962, then joined The Cameronians (Scottish Regiment) in Germany for a year.
He continued studying Politics and Goverment in England, then celebrated his graduation by touring the world.
Qaboos returned to Oman in 1964 and studied Religion and History.
Rise To Power:
Sultan Said inherited Oman in 1932, during a period when the country was in great debt, but he still made appreciable changes to maintain stability, until an assasination attempt in 1966, that prompted signs of paranoia in the Sultan.Oman changed drastically. Many customs that were considered normal, had been forbidden, because everything seemed suspicious to him. And eventually, those changes grew bigger, until the country began a period of seclusion from the world.
When Qaboos returned from England, he couldn't escape his father's fears and was immediately confined to the palace.
After witnessing the backwardness state his father put upon Oman and how the legacy of his country was deteriorating, the young prince seeked the assistance of Britain, to overthrow his father.
And so, on 23rd July 1970, a peaceful revolution ensued and Qaboos was made Sultan of Oman.
Reign:
Sultan Qaboos's reign is one of the longest in Arabia, spanning almost 50 years. He pulled Oman from the mud - his predecessor buried it in - and transformed it into a modern paradise.
“Yesterday it was complete darkness and with the help of God, tomorrow will be a new dawn on Muscat, Oman and its people.
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
I PROMISE you to proceed forth within the process of creating a modern government.
My first act will be the immediate abolition of unnecessary restrictions on your lives and activities.
My People,
I will proceed as quickly as possible to transform your life into a prosperous one with a bright future. Every one of you must play his part towards this goal.
Our country in the past was famous and strong. If we work in unity and co-operation, we will regenerate that glorious past and we will take a respectable place in the world.
I call upon you to continue living as usual. I will be arriving in Muscat in the coming few days and then I will let you know of my future plans.
My People,
I and my new government will work to achieve our general objective.
My People, My Brothers,
Yesterday it was complete darkness and with the help of God, tomorrow will be a new dawn on Muscat, Oman and its people.
God bless us all, and may He grant our efforts, success.”
_________
Sultan Qaboos bin Said's first public speech as Sultan, 1970
Sultan Qaboos began the transformations immediately after he ascended the throne.
Among the very first decrees he enforced, was the abolishing of slavery.
While he oversaw all that, Sultan Qaboos faught alongside the military against a rebellion that had begun before his reign. And in 1976, he succeeded. Oman was peaceful and united again - and remained so, throughout his reign.
Education and constant improvement in living standards was also key to accepting progression. All of which he made sure were given to citizens and expatriates alike.
During his reign, Oman:
- Joined the United Nations, in 1971
- Joined the Arab League, in 1971
- Co-founded the Gulf Cooperation Council, in 1981
- Ranked the most improved nation in the world in terms of development, by UN
- Ranked the safest country in the world by World Economic Forum
- Ranked the friendliest country in the world by InterNations
- Ranked among the most peaceful countries in th world by Global Peace Index
- Ranked to have among the best road quality in the world, by World Economic Forum
- Ranked the least polluted country in the Arab world, by World Health Organisation
- The capital was named the best city to visit in the world by Lonely Planet
- Listed five World Heritage Sites with UNESCO, for:
- Bahla Fort (1987)
- Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn (1988)
- Land of Frankincense (2000)
- Al-Falaj irrigation systems (2006)
- Ancient City of Qalhat (2018)
Politics:
As soon as the Sultan took over in 1970, he declared that the country will no longer be called Muscat and Oman, but the Sultanate of Oman. He also introduced the Omani Rial as an official currency.Sultan Qaboos established an absolute monarchy as a political system for Oman and all legislation was made through Royal decrees. He was the Head of Government, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Finance, while appointing a cabinat to assist him.
In 1981, The Consultative Assembly of Oman was founded. It is a chamber of the parliament that is not appointed by the Sultan, but all members are elected democratically.
In 1997, The Council of State was founded. It is the upper house of parliament and members are appointed by the Sultan.
In terms of foriegn policy, Sultan Qaboos, maintained the country's neutrality, throughout his reign. He adopted the motto: “Enemy to none, Friend to all”.
He also played as an intermediary between the USA and Iran on many occasions and was an instigator of peace between Palestine and the Israeli government.
In addition, he assested the UN in several problems, including solving Somali piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Many political leaders' families took asylum in Oman after the Arab Spring. And whenever Oman had to take in refugees, they were treated as Omani citizens, with the same rights and benefits.
Sultan Qaboos never started any wars nor did he particpate in them. He never put his people at risk and remained a pacifist all his life.
Marriage:
Death:
After recieving checkups in Germany, in 2014, the results indicated that the Sultan suffered from Colon Cancer. Consequently, he had multiple treatments over the years, until finally in December 2019, his condition turned for the worse.As soon as he was told his illness was terminal, he returned to Oman - from Belgium, where he had his final checkup - to be in his country, among his people, before his last breath.
And so, in that dreary morning of Friday, 10th January 2020, he passed away. Thus ends his prosperous and eventful history.
As a military man, the late Sultan Qaboos was given a military procession before he was buried at the Al-Said cemetary.
Succession:
As Sultan Qaboos had no direct heir, by law, the royal family should unanimously agree on a new Sultan within three days of his death. Instead, the family opted to open a sealed letter left for them by the late Sultan, containing his recommendation for the new Sultan.It was revealed that his cousin, Haitham was his choice for Sultan. After the smooth transition, Sultan Haitham took an oath infront of the Council and on live television, promising to uphold Sultan Qaboos's policies.
____________________
Interests:
I decided to add an "interests" section it to this post, because I believe the Sultan's interests had shaped the Omani personality you could come across today. He taught us everything from arts and culture to patriotism and we owe our good traits, if any, to him.
Sultan Qaboos's hobbies and interests were visible to Omanis, as he always made sure to share them with us. Some of those interests included:
Sultan Qaboos's hobbies and interests were visible to Omanis, as he always made sure to share them with us. Some of those interests included:
- Literature
Sultan Qaboos loved reading books about History and Politics and he had an extensive collection of publications in various languages.In 1985, His Majesty instructed the composition of Arabic names into an Encyclopedia as a valuable addition to the prestigious Arabic library. Over 150 researchers from various Arabian countries were called in to compile the names.
In 2011, the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature was founded and supported by UNESCO. It was formed to reward intellectual accomplishments and to promote cultural awareness.
- The Arts
His Majesty's love for classical music started back when he had his British education.
In the 1970s, as Sultan, he occasionally flew in British orchestras to perform at his palace. But all along, his dream was to have an orchestra comprised of Omani-only musicians.
The Sultan believed that the arts play a crucial part in bridging between cultures and could be a tool to promote diplomacy and understanding among nations.
So in 1985, Sultan Qaboos founded the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and children were recruited as young as 8 and chosen through rigorous tests.
In 2003, Sultan Qaboos commisioned composer Lalo Schifrin to write a musical piece, called Symphonic Impressions of Oman.
In the past, classical musical events were held in The Bustan Palace Hotel, but it was inevitable that Oman would have a special venue for it. So in 2001, the project for building one started and in 2011, His Majesty opened the first opera house in the Middle East; The Royal Opera House Muscat.
Photographer Khalid Al-Busaidi
“In Oman, we try to preserve our musical heritage.
I cannot give preference to just one direction or to separate works. I like the music of Andalucía, Turkish and Iranian music, a lot of Indian and African music.
I hope that all these efforts to develop music will lead to the fulfilment of my goal—to raise the cultural level of the people in general and musical education in particular.”
His Majesty also ensured the preservation of Omani folklore music, so in 1984, the Oman Center for Traditional Music was established and historical music, songs and dances were collected and stored. The project was then cited by UNESCO as a historical reference.
- Athletics
Sultan Qaboos first started horse riding at the age of 4 years and developed into a skilled horseman. Oman is considered to have among the finest breeders of Arabian horses in the World and that was due to the Sultan's love for horses, which also lead him to host yearly equestrian festivals and camel races.
After recieving military training, target sports became one of His Majesty's hobbies, that he frequently practiced in the desert. He was an exceptional sharpshooter at that.
From time to time, he loved trying out new weapons, but guns, pistols and even crossbows - used on targets rather than animals of course - remained his favourites.
Walking on the beach, particularly before bed, was also one of his favourite pasttimes. He did not only find it good exercise, but as a way to relax and meditate.
His favourite athletic sport was Tennis and he tried to play it whenever he had time. He also enjoyed watching Tennis matches and other sports on television.
- His People
He didn't build palaces in every village and town, and didn't stay at hotels when he was touring either, instead, he camped in the desert and slept in tents.
Even when foreign dignitaries paid visits, while he was on tour, he would fly them in from the capital to whereever his tour had paused, because nothing and noone could keep him from his people.
- The Planet
Astronomy was one of His Majesty's favourite subjects. He enjoyed stargazing and learning about anything relating to the planet.Sultan Qaboos made efforts in preserving the environment and his love for the earth lead him, in 1989, to establish the internationally known Sultan Qaboos Environment Prize, backed by UNESCO.
Oman is considered one of the least polluted countries and has the cleanest beaches, which is why thousands of turtles migrate to the Omani coastline each year. It is also one of the few countries that are visited by birds from three continents.
____________________
الله يرحمه
ReplyDeleteI‘m sure anyone who knows the things he has done would agree that he was the greatest leader of our lifetime and I’m so grateful to have been born in it.
I miss him.
The hard thing for me was to read or watch anything about him but reading your post made it much easier because it is so well written and so well put only you know how to do that...that’s the case for me anyway.
Ameen
DeleteYes he was and we were very blessed to have experienced it, Alhamdulilah!
I am happy that my post made it easier for you. I think as I was writing I kept editing it a lot thinking it might be too hard for you to handle hehe.
Thank you sisi