Sana Muhammad Shakir Achieves Top Marks in Al-Azhar Preparatory Exams in Assiut

Student Sana Muhammad Shakir Abdel Hafiz.

In a moment that will remain etched in the memories of her family, Sana Muhammad Shakir Abdel Hafiz, a student at the Hussein Rushdi Girls’ Preparatory Institute in Assiut, received an unexpected phone call from Dr. Ali Mahmoud Mohamed, head of the Central Administration for Assiut Al-Azhar. The call brought the joyous news that Sana had secured the first place in the Al-Azhar preparatory certificate for the academic year 2025/2026 across the governorate.

Initially, her mother could hardly believe the news, but soon tears of joy flowed as celebrations erupted in their home. Sana herself took the announcement calmly, attributing her success to divine assistance and the support of her family and teachers.

Sana emphasized that her journey to success was not merely a race for grades but a testament that reaching the top doesn’t require exhausting hours of study without focus; rather, it demands effective time management and sincere effort.

She stated, “It’s not necessary to study for 24 hours; no one does that. If I study for an hour or two with focus, I benefit greatly. The key is organizing my time between studying, praying, and memorizing the Quran.” Despite the various subjects she faced—including religious, Arabic, and cultural studies—Sana did not view them as burdens. Instead, she approached them with confidence and calmness, consistently incorporating daily Quran memorization into her routine.

Sana explained, “Memorizing the Quran is crucial because it brings peace and focus. I would study attentively for two hours while also helping my family with household chores and spending time with them.”.

The family played an integral role in her achievements by not only encouraging her but also establishing clear rules regarding smartphone use and video games to help maintain their children’s concentration amidst modern technological distractions.

Her mother, Dr. Susan, noted the importance of closely monitoring children’s educational progress: “Each child has a mobile phone now; one night before exams I found her on her phone at 2 AM. I told her we need to focus on studying. A student’s connection with God and maintaining prayers is more important than anything else.”.

Dr. Susan believes that while leisure is important, it should be balanced with awareness: “It’s fine to relax but through beneficial activities and within limits.”.

Notably, Sana chose to forego private tutoring sessions, relying instead on what she learned at school and benefiting from teacher support and educational platforms provided by Al-Azhar’s initiative “Together We Learn.” When faced with challenges in certain subjects, she did not succumb to fear; instead, she sought help from her teachers and practiced exam samples until she overcame her anxiety about making mistakes.

She looked up to her older sister—who was previously among the top students at their institute—as a role model while setting larger goals for herself: completing her Quran memorization. With determination in her eyes, Sana expressed her aspirations: “God willing, I will enter Al-Azhar Secondary School; my dream is to attend medical school and specialize in surgery like my brother.”.

Dr. Ali Mahmoud Mohamed affirmed that Sana’s achievement serves as a beacon of hope for other students that excellence is attainable. He remarked on this year’s exceptional performance levels among students: “We faced challenges in ranking top students due to closely contested scores; this reflects the significant effort being made within Al-Azhar institutions.”.

He added that Al-Azhar is continuously updating its curricula and teaching methods to balance religious education with cultural subjects: “Al-Azhar represents both worldly knowledge and faith; its courses are no longer seen as burdensome but have become more engaging due to ongoing development initiatives.”.

Concluding his message to high achievers, he stated: “Achieving excellence is important; however maintaining it requires greater effort, discipline, and time investment.”.

Ultimately, Sana’s family attributes their success not merely to intelligence or expensive tutoring but rather to a simple formula combining Quranic blessings, familial support, diligent effort by Sana herself, and an understanding that great dreams begin with small steady steps.

Sana Muhammad Shakir Abdel Hafiz has etched her name among top achievers—not just as first in Assiut’s Al-Azhar preparatory certificate but as an inspiring model for a generation seeking their path to success.