Grandpa’s Nighttime Tale: The Thousand-Year-Old Al-Azhar

A Nighttime Tale: Grandpa’s Story About Al-Azhar

BY:Ubaid

“Hey children! You’re still awake?” Grandpa Aslam’s voice broke the silence of the living room. He had just walked in and found Maryam and Abdullah glued to a mobile phone, playing a video game with intense focus. His tone carried a mix of surprise and mild disapproval.

“You two are usually good kids who go to bed early. What’s going on tonight?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Grandpa, we just can’t fall asleep,” Maryam replied quickly. “And tomorrow is a holiday, so we asked Mom and Dad if we could play some games a little longer. They said yes.”

“Oh, I see,” Grandpa said with a smile. “But tell me, why must it always be games on your phone? You could read a book or a magazine instead.”

Maryam shook her head. “But Grandpa, we’ve already read all the books and magazines we have.”

This time Abdullah added, “Yes, we’ve finished them all. That’s why we’re playing games.”

Grandpa chuckled softly. “Well then, no problem. How about tonight I tell you about a place that perhaps you’ve never read or heard about before?”

The children’s eyes lit up instantly. They had grown tired of their game and loved the idea of listening to one of Grandpa’s stories. Maryam quickly put the phone aside and said with excitement, “Yes, Grandpa! Please tell us. We’re bored of playing anyway.”

Both children turned their full attention to him. Grandpa adjusted his glasses, leaned back in his chair, and began.

“All right then. Tonight, I’ll tell you about a thousand-year-old center of learning in the Islamic world, a place called Al-Azhar University. It’s located in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.”

Maryam immediately interrupted. “Grandpa! Egypt? Isn’t that the same country where the Pyramids are? Our teacher told us that the pyramids are one of the wonders of the world.”

“Yes! And Egypt has a huge river too,” Abdullah added proudly. “Our Quran teacher told us that the River Nile is even mentioned in the Holy Quran.”

Grandpa nodded approvingly. “Exactly, my dear children. You both are right. Egypt is indeed the land of the pyramids and the Nile. Its history goes back thousands of years, and that’s why historians and travelers take such deep interest in its monuments and culture. Among these historical treasures is Al-Azhar, one of the greatest universities in the world.”

The children leaned in closer, curiosity sparkling in their eyes.

“You see,” Grandpa continued, “Muslims conquered Egypt during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in the seventh century. Later, in the tenth century, a mosque was built in Cairo. This mosque was named Al-Azhar, after Hazrat Fatimah al-Zahra (may Allah be pleased with her), the beloved daughter of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Alongside the mosque, a school was established, and with the passage of time, that school grew into what we now know as Al-Azhar University.”

“Grandpa, what do they teach there?” Maryam asked eagerly.

“Well, in the beginning,” Grandpa explained, “there were only thirty-seven teachers. They taught subjects like the Holy Quran, Islamic jurisprudence, and the Arabic language. But over the centuries, Al-Azhar expanded enormously. Today it has hundreds of professors, and students can study not only religious sciences but also modern subjects—astronomy, medicine, physics, chemistry, engineering, commerce, and many more.”

Abdullah’s eyes widened. “That’s amazing! So people from all over the world study there?”

“Absolutely,” Grandpa said. “Scholars who graduate from Al-Azhar are respected worldwide. Its religious rulings, or fatwas, are considered authentic and authoritative across the globe. That’s why Al-Azhar is one of the most influential universities in the Islamic world.”

The children were now completely engrossed. Grandpa smiled, enjoying their attention.

“And do you know?” he added. “Even non-Muslims recognize its greatness. When Napoleon Bonaparte led the French invasion of Egypt in 1798, he was astonished by the level of knowledge, discipline, and organization he found at Al-Azhar. In fact, he wrote about it in his diary, praising its teachers and students. Later, when he formed a consultative council to govern Egypt, he included Al-Azhar’s senior scholars in it. That shows you how much respect he had for this institution.”

Maryam gasped in wonder. “Grandpa, can we visit Al-Azhar one day?”

“Of course, my dear,” Grandpa said warmly. “Not only can you visit it as tourists, but if you wish, you can even study there. Students from all over the world come to Al-Azhar to seek knowledge.”

“That’s wonderful!” Abdullah said with excitement.

Maryam clapped her hands. “Thank you, Grandpa! You always tell us such amazing stories. Tonight we learned something so new and inspiring.”

Grandpa smiled, his eyes twinkling with pride. “Remember, children, true knowledge is a treasure greater than any game or toy. Always value it, and never stop seeking it.”

The children nodded eagerly, their earlier desire to play games long forgotten. That night, as they finally drifted off to sleep, their young minds were filled not with flashing screens but with dreams of pyramids, rivers, and the thousand-year-old halls of learning at Al-Azhar.