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My daughter and I continued to navigate between the crowds, trains, buses, tubes and this week in particular, the snow, of the city of London. My daughter commented on how fortunate it was that we were able to read, as the signs were our lifesaver. In Bermuda, when we ask for directions to someplace, it's a simple "down the road and up the hill" directive. When travelling reading is essential, especially when everyone around you is simply too busy to help a country bumpkin Bermudian!

When one is able to read, one can process information for himself. In fact, there is a saying that goes, "if you want to keep knowledge from a person, keep him away from books". Reading provides us with knowledge and knowledge leads to success. We all know, including Dr. Seuss, that reading and books can take us to many places without us having moved at all!

Islam emphasises the need to be literate. Reading was the first commandment given to Prophet Muhammad - "Read!" The voice resonated in the cave of Mount Hira' for the third time.

The unlettered man named Muhammad froze, mostly in fear and confusion before the Angel Gabriel. Shakily, he replied to the angel, that he did not know how to read. The Angel replied, "Read, in the name of thy Lord who created man from a clot. Read, for your Lord is most Generous, who teaches by means of the pen, teaches man what they know not," (al-'Alaq: 1-5) And hence the beginning of a great prophethood by Prophet Muhammad.

It is significant to note that the command from Allah was sent to a man that could not read!

To me, this means that reading is a right for every human being and that reading is within the grasp of everyone, including paupers and princes.

It is a skill that can be taught to anyone and indeed should be. Did you know that the Ministry of Education under the sanction of the Hon. Premier declared this week National Literacy Week in Bermuda? Did you attend the panel and forum put on by the Bermuda Reading Association, the panellists being top educators and professionals; home-grown and international in the psychology and promotion of reading?

I hope you did, because your involvement with making every child in Bermuda a reader is Bermuda's only hope! Bermudians must be able to compete globally for the career opportunities available to members of the global community; these jobs and careers being born right here in Bermuda. Reading is the key and we must all get involved.

If you didn't attend the activities of the past few days, you still have a chance to learn how you can have an input and an impact on the development and promotion of literacy in these isles, especially if you are a parent, grandparent, godparent, aunt, uncle, or neighbour of a child or children. On Saturday, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, there will be workshops together with an award presentation to persons in the community who have assisted in the promotion of literacy in Bermuda over the past 25 years.

I hope you will make an effort to attend the Jubilee Conference of the Bermuda Reading Association. There's a slogan twirling around London, and let's adopt it here, that says "Just Read" Yes, let's read Bermuda, because reading matters! Islam considers that there are many benefits of reading: education, social harmony and civilisation all rest on the ability to read. It all started with the word, "read!"

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