Ghobash, who has served as UAE Ambassador to Russia and France, and who

is also the father of four, writes these ​letters​ to his eldest son with caution,
precision, and optimism. He explores the many different sects of Islam and how
religions are practiced across the globe, from the very peaceful to the violent. He
takes readers on a philosophical journey that is accompanied by a sober review
of recent Middle Eastern politics.

The Letters​ entertain and enlighten, even as they unpack topics as complex as
the genesis of extremist indoctrination and the personal responsibility each of us
faces in creating small changes to fix life's biggest challenges.

Ghobash places the Muslim Individual at the heart of the book and encourages a
new generation of Muslims to think for themselves. ‘’It is easier to reject the ideas
that you don’t agree with than it is to work with new ideas. So, it is important to
make an effort to understand the other side.’’ His arguments are balanced and
fair — a rarity among today's commentators who seem to be either ex-Muslims,
non-Muslims, or ​radicals​.

The courageous author poses fundamental philosophical and religious questions,

encouraging Muslims to reclaim the Islamic faith from those who are using it to
cause trouble in the world; in one passage he says: ''There are questions that we
do not ask, such as what it means to see the world through the eyes of women
rather than men, or that perhaps it is better to educate women rather than leave
them only to the realm of the home.''
According to the author’s website he studied law at Oxford and math at the
University of London, he also sponsors the Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize for
Arabic Literary Translation (in memory of his father, the late Saif Ghobash).
And he is a founding trustee of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in
collaboration with the Booker Prize in London.

Moral responsibility and individuality

The early signs and behaviors of extremism are also addressed in the book,
educating readers about the challenges of being a Muslim, especially in the
modern society where many Muslims are very vulnerable to the political climate
that is characterized by negative images propagated by the various media
around the globe.
Throughout the book, Ghobash insists that personal responsibility and
individuality are central points in curbing extremism.
The book also draws attention to the dangers found on the internet, where young
Muslims are most susceptible to radicalization. In one passage, he recounts how
his son, under the influence of a teacher, was exposed to bigotry. After carefully
watching his son, he realized that he had developed a strict interpretation of
Islam and that his behaviors had seriously changed. He warns his son about
those who identify who the good Muslims are, while at the same time despising
those whom they perceived to be not religious enough: ‘’ it is easier to reject the
ideas that you don’t agree with than it is to work with new ideas.
So, it is important to make an effort to understand the other side.’’

Countering extremism with logic and diplomacy

Armed with in-depth knowledge on the subject, the tactful emotional intelligence
of a diplomat and the gentle voice of a father, the author seems to be determined
to confront the ill-intended and to raise his children according to the practices of
the Islamic culture while protecting them from the vulnerability of being
radicalized by the terrorist organizations who champion evil ​political [VIDEO]
goals through propaganda.
Ghobash demonstrates a deep understanding of the Islamic faith and Middle
Eastern traditions, and rather than pointing out the course, he highlights the
importance of finding an individual voice, and the path one must take to protect
against the influence of dangerous political ideologies.

A universal message of peace

This is a courageous yet gentle book, for the young and old, Arab or non-Arab, it
celebrates the things that unite people together; including Iѕlаm, aѕ a divinе
mоvеmеnt of реасе. The ultimate message оf this book is to instill a healthy
respect for the freedom of the individual and for critical thought. It encourages
Muslims to create a аtmоѕрhеrе of juѕtiсе and kindnеѕѕ аt аll levels of lifе, bоth
individual as wеll аѕ collective. But, most of all, ​The lettersi​ nspire all of us to take
responsibility for what we choose to absorb, to think critically, to engage and to
help build a world that accepts the diversity and uniqueness of all people.