It was night,

Shining Stars

It was a quiet, peaceful night. The sky above was adorned with countless stars, sparkling like tiny diamonds scattered across a deep velvet canvas. Thaman sat by her window, completely mesmerized. Her eyes were fixed on the twinkling lights, and she had been staring at them for a long time. Sometimes she looked toward the eastern sky, where the stars glimmered faintly, and sometimes toward the west, where they shone in clusters like small lanterns.

Among all the stars, one in particular shone brighter than the others. Its light seemed purer and more radiant, standing out as if it had its own special glow. When Thaman’s gaze fell upon this star, she felt an unusual calm and a sense of wonder. She was completely absorbed, forgetting the world around her.

She fell into deep thought. “All stars are made the same, aren’t they? Then why does this one shine so differently? What makes it unique?” she wondered silently. Her mind wandered, imagining the star as if it were alive, with a secret that made it extraordinary.

Suddenly, her mother’s voice called from the kitchen. “Thaman, get up, dear! It’s morning, and you’ll be late for school!”

Thaman blinked and slowly opened her eyes. “Yes, Mom, I’m coming,” she replied, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Breakfast was ready on the table, and Thaman ate quickly, still thinking about the star. She left for school, her mind replaying the image of the shining star in the dark sky. Miss Nimra’s morning assembly had already started, and the students were settling down. Miss Nimra, the English teacher, was about to teach the poem “Shining Star.”

Seeing the title on the whiteboard, Thaman’s thoughts immediately returned to last night. The image of countless stars in the sky filled her mind again. She remembered her question: Why aren’t all stars the same? Why do some shine more than others?

“Alright, that concludes today’s lesson. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask,” Miss Nimra said, closing her book.

Thaman raised her hand eagerly. “Yes, ma’am, may I ask something?”

“Of course, go ahead,” Miss Nimra replied, gesturing to her.

“Ma’am! Allah created all the stars the same, didn’t He? Then why do some shine more brightly while others shine less?” Thaman asked, standing confidently.

“That’s an excellent question,” Miss Nimra said with a smile. She paused and then explained patiently.

“Think about humans,” she said. “Allah created everyone with similar features—two eyes, two ears, two hands, and two feet. Everyone is equal in form. But to make each person unique, He gave different abilities, talents, and skills. Some are intelligent, some are creative, some have artistic skills, and others excel in different ways. In the same way, Allah made all stars similar in nature, but He gave them differences too. Some shine brighter, some dimmer; some are larger, some smaller. Their unique qualities make them distinct.”

Thaman’s eyes widened with curiosity. “So, does that mean the brighter stars are better than the dimmer ones?”

Miss Nimra shook her head. “Not at all. The brightness of a star only becomes noticeable when there are dimmer stars nearby. Its light is special not because it is better, but because of the surroundings. Similarly, the people around us give meaning to our lives. They help us discover our uniqueness and show us what makes us special. No one is superior or inferior—everyone has their own importance.”

“Wow! That’s amazing,” Thaman whispered, feeling a warm happiness in her heart.

That day, Thaman returned home with a light step, her mind still filled with thoughts of stars and their quiet lesson. She understood that everything in this world has its own unique qualities, and these differences are what make life beautiful. She looked up at the evening sky again, smiling, realizing that each star, like each person, is important in its own way.

From that day onward, Thaman looked at the world differently. She learned to value everyone’s individuality, knowing that no one thing is better than another—they are just different, and their uniqueness is what makes them shine.