The university of his dreams was more than 4,000 kilometers away from his home, and yet Mamadou Safayou Barry decided to get on his bike and cross six countries to get there.

In May, he left Guinea for the prestigious Al-Azhar center in Egypt in the hope of being accepted.

During this adventure, the 25-year-old father of one suffered Four months of scorching heat and he was even detained in any of the countries devastated by Islamic militants or coups.

But it was worth it.

When he finally arrived in Cairo received a scholarship by the institution.

“I am “very, very” happy,” he told the BBC.

He added that despite the fact that he could not afford the Islamic Studies course at Al-Azhar, or the flights to Egypt, The university’s reputation prompted him to risk a trip via Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger and Chad.

Al-Azhar does one of the most influential centers of Sunni Islamic education of the world.

It is also one of the oldest. It was founded in 670 AD

Barry left home “in search of Islamic knowledge”, whether in Mali, Burkina Faso or Niger Attacks by Islamic militants on civilians are common and recent coups have caused political instability.

“Traveling through these countries is very difficult because they currently have no security,” he said.

Nahla Elseidy, dean of Islamic studies at Al-Azhar University, with Mamadou Safayou Barry. MAMADOU SAFAU BARRY

“They have a lot of problems and people are very afraid. In Mali and Burkina Faso, people looked at me as if I were a threat. I saw the army carrying big guns and cars everywhereBarry said.

He said it was arrested and detained three times without good reason: twice in Burkina Faso and once in Togo.

A stroke of luck

However, Barry’s luck changed when he arrived in Chad.

A journalist interviewed him and posted his story online, prompting some good Samaritans to do so finance a flight to Egypt.

This prevented him from cycling through Sudan, where some areas are currently war zones.

5 September finally arrived in Cairo.

His determination earned him a meeting with the dean of Islamic studies, Nahla Elseidy.

After talking to him, Elseidy offered him a place on the Islamic Studies course at Al-Azhar, with a full scholarship.

The al-Azhar Mosque, the oldest in Cairo, is the seat of a theology school considered one of the oldest universities in the Eastern world. GETTY IMAGES

The dean announced on social media that the university is prepared to offer its knowledge to students all over the world.

And that this philosophy “not only covers international students in Egypt, but also it extends further. Al-Azhar receives students from all countries, cares for them and offers them assistance.”

Barry said he was “really happy” with the grant.

‘I can’t express what glad I am. I thanked God“, said.

Barry added that the problems he encountered during his expedition had been long forgotten erased by the joy of becoming an Al-Azhar scholar. (JO)