Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you, my dear students. I am pleased to present to you the first lecture of the course "Oman: State and People," entitled "Omani Identity." As you know, my students, national identity represents a social and moral system linked to the details of people's lives in their past, present, and future. It is also a national, religious, and historical commitment, and strengthening it is a national duty incumbent upon every individual and every institution of the state. Therefore, this lecture aims to achieve a number of objectives: first, to define identity in general and Omani identity in particular; second, to clarify the name of the Sultanate of Oman; and third, to identify the pillars and characteristics of Omani identity. When we begin by defining identity in general, it is everything by which an individual, group, homeland, or nation is known—the characteristics and features that distinguish them from other individuals, groups, homelands, or nations. Omani identity is defined as everything that distinguishes the Sultanate of Oman— geographical, historical, cultural, and social features and characteristics that make Omanis known and distinguish them from others. Now we turn to the naming of the Sultanate of Oman and its significance. When the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may God have mercy on him, assumed the rule of Oman, as you know, it consisted of regions and tribes with conflicting opinions and orientations. The country was called the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt, which indicates that the differences and divisions in pre-Renaissance Oman were widespread. His Majesty, may God have mercy on him, unified the name of Oman in 1970 and named it the Sultanate of Oman as a prelude to unifying the people. This name aligns with His Majesty's aspirations and the nature of the Omani sultanate system of government. Before we move on to the pillars of Omani identity, we will address a very important point: identity and the state. When Sultan Qaboos, may God have mercy on him, assumed power, he did not focus on individual identities but concentrated his attention on building a shared Omani identity based on citizenship, equality, and justice for all before the law. Thus, the Sultanate of Oman became a state of institutions and law, and the state exerted efforts in The principle of citizenship will be firmly established, as you will study in the next semester, God willing. Much has been done to build a new identity that unites all Omanis, going beyond the unification of official dress, a single flag, and a national anthem. This includes fostering a sense of the importance of the participation of all members of Omani society in building and developing the country in all fields and sectors, confronting difficulties and challenges, achieving the common good, and advancing the nation. Now we move to the pillars of Omani identity. Every national identity has elements, components, dimensions, and pillars. The first pillar is the reins of power in the country. In 1970, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur, may God rest his soul, recognized the necessity of restoring a unified national identity encompassing all components of society as the foundation for launching the larger project of building a modern state. The first pillar is religion. Islam, as a faith and a legal system, represents a fundamental pillar of Omani identity. Omanis adhere to it and adopt it as the path by which they worship God. The Omani state has given great importance to Islam since its inception, building mosques and printing. The Qur'ans are distributed, and a Ministry of Religious Affairs has been established, appointing a Grand Mufti. The government prohibits anything that contradicts the beliefs of Muslims and does not allow public displays of immorality, believing in the importance of religion and its role in the lives of Omanis. Now we move to the second pillar, which is language. The Arabic language represents a fundamental pillar that makes Oman an Arab country in terms of language, culture, literature, and arts. The linguistic diversity in the Sultanate of Oman is not based on ethnic divisions that separate society and create separate components. Rather, it is balanced and cohesive within a single region and a single general culture. Language, in its various forms within Omani society, represents an essential part of the identity of Omani society and a tool for expressing their popular and social beliefs. They acquire new cultural concepts through it, and every dialect used in an Omani region, city, or village, or by a group of Omanis, is part of Omani culture. The third pillar is geographical location. The Sultanate of Oman is distinguished by a highly strategic location, which is reflected Always in its foreign policy and trade relations with different countries, the Sultanate of Oman is located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The coastline of the Sultanate of Oman stretches from the Strait of Hormuz in the north to the border with the Republic of Yemen in the south. This location has contributed to the diversity of its terrain, which includes deserts covering most of the country, mountains throughout the Sultanate, and vast seas and extensive coastlines. The final and fourth pillar is the cultural and historical heritage of the Sultanate of Oman. The Sultanate of Oman is based on a cultural heritage that extends from prehistoric times to the present day. The name of Oman and its cultural and political role have never ceased since the rise of civilizations on its lands throughout the ages and centuries, as evidenced by ancient Arabic inscriptions and writings, classical Greek and Roman sources, and later ancient Arabic sources after the advent of Islam and the rise of the Arab-Islamic civilization, in whose building the Omanis played an important role. Oman has come to you, and whoever has been there, O land of glory, a land of the Prophet's supplication, may God be pleased with you and whoever is pleased with you. God has blessed us, making us a legend of glory. You think that greatness would not exist without us. Falah Mak Sattar Balma, the great Oman, from Oman, Oman. In conclusion, my dear students, as you have noticed, Omanis share these pillars that define and distinguish Oman's identity. Omanis are united by these pillars, a firm and unwavering unity despite their different tribes, ways of thinking, and the diversity of their interests and personal priorities. This leads to harmony, unity, and solidarity among Omanis. Therefore, my students, it is your responsibility to preserve this identity in this era of rapid knowledge and technological revolution and to pass it on to future generations. Thank you very much for your attention, and we wish you all the best.