American media personality Steve Harvey stated that his meeting with His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, left a profound impact on his thinking and his perspective on Islam.
He noted that Sheikh Sultan completely transformed his way of thinking in a single day by explaining the principles of Islam and the beauty of faith, helping him grasp its meanings in a way he had not previously understood.
In a video that went viral on social media and recorded during an interview on the sidelines of Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), Harvey stated that his first official visit to the UAE was to the Emirate of Sharjah.
During that visit, he attended SIBF and met with the Ruler of Sharjah, who spoke to him about Islam and faith.
Sheikh Sultan explained that the essence of the faith lay in the belief in one God, a conversation that led him to a deeper appreciation of the beauty of the religion, having previously lacked a true understanding of its meaning, Harvey said.
The encounter remained vivid in his memory, he added, noting that his youngest son, whom he described as a wonderful young man, recently expressed a desire to embrace Islam.
Harvey affirmed that he supported this decision and was not at all surprised; in fact, ever since his son was born, he had sensed that the boy would one day have a connection to the Middle East.
He had even chosen the name Ali for him, guided by an intuition he felt at the time, as if he had foreseen that his son would one day live in this part of the world, he added.
Harvey added that he had long wished to visit Sharjah, a destination he had sought to reach during his various travels around the world, noting that the emirate possessed qualities that made it an ideal place to raise a family, build a business and live in an environment that fostered respect and appreciation for the individual.
He described Sharjah as a tranquil place that prioritized education and culture, offering families an ideal environment in which to raise their children. He encouraged others to discover the true beauty of the emirate, noting that it is well-suited for those seeking stability, the prospect of starting a family and professional opportunities.
Harvey believed his experience in Sharjah and his meeting with Sheikh Sultan as a significant milestone in his personal journey that not only allowed him to get to know the emirate, but also prompted him to reconsider Islam and gain a deeper understanding of the values and meanings of faith.