Around 1910, a group of people, including the late cleric Sheikh Mohammed bin Junaidel, gathered in a diwaniya during a celebration held to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Bin Junaidel was reading a poem of Al-Barzanji written in praise of the holy Prophet (PBUH), when the late cleric Sheikh Al-Tabtabaei arrived and inquired about what they were doing.

They all said that they were celebrating the Prophet's (PBUH) birthday. "This is not the way to celebrate such an occasion," he told them, noting that they should instead do so by following his instructions and avoiding the things he advised us to avoid. "This can only be done by teaching people their religion and this cannot be achieved except by opening schools for them," he added.

Those present at the diwaniya included Kuwait's top reformist, the late Sheikh Yousef bin Essa Al-Qenae. He liked the idea and immediately asked the permission of the late Sheikh Mubarak the Great to establish a school and name it after him - Al-Mubarakiya School. Donations were collected from merchants and benevolent people, and the school's most important requirements and construction materials were imported from India. The school was built and opened in the beginning of 1912 to mark the launch of Kuwait's regular educational system. - Translated by Kuwait Times from Al-Anbaa

By Dr Saleh Al-Ojairi