Islamic Education


Figure 1.--Photography was developed in France and quickly became widespread in Europe and America duiung the mid-19th century. It was brought to the Arab world by Europeans. Some of the ealiest images are from Egypt and they are fascinating. For more than a mrlinium there was little or no education availble to Arab children outside of religious instruction. Often schools were set up arojnd mosques. Well-to-do parents might pay an individual with some Islamic training to teach their sons, but not their daughters. Here is a scene that could easily have been taken a 1,000 years earlier. This photograph was taken in Egyot, perhsps Cairo, about 1890. The elderly teacher is described as Hoga (perhaps meaning Hajji) Abd-ulKerim teaching his students. Generally teachers like this taught reading and writing by having the boys memorize and recite passages of the Koran. Notice there are no pencils or even slates. There are paper sheets, presumbly Kornic verses tht the boys are memorizing. It is unlikely that the teacher knew much mathematics and certaunly no sceience. Islamicists would have fellow arabs blame the region's problems on the West. Few Arabs accept that Islam and their culture are resoinsible for the region's poverty and backwardness.

Islam emerged from the Arabian Penonsula (7th century). Islamic warriors won major battles and established a great empire-the Caliphate. Mosques were built all over the Middle East and North Africa as well as the Iberian Peninsula. Many mosques, especially the larger ones, opened schools. These were generally not schools to educate children in the modern sence by teach reading and writing and numercy. Rather the mosque schools were foocused on having boys memorize the Koran. Rarely was there discussiions concerning the meaning of Koranic verse. The focus was almost entuirely on memorization. We are not sure just how many boys attended these schools, but it would have almost entirely boys in cities and towns. A very small part of boys abnd virtually no girls were literate. And in the Arab world this continued into the modern era. We are less sure about the Ottoman Empire and the Indian Mogul Empire. Children from affluent, mostly boys, families were taught to read and write by tutors at home or by private teachers in small groups. Universities in the Islamic world as in Europe were founded by religious institutions. The oldest and most famous is Al-Azhar University founded by the Al-Azhar Mosque as a madrasa (970~72), centuries before universities wwee founded by European cathedrals. The great Islamic universities, however, never developed as great centers of secular learning. This occurred in the West because universities appeared in Wesrtern Europe just before the beginning of the Renaissance. There was never a Renaisance or Reformation in the European world. Secular education was not begun at Al-Azhar University until 1961.

Chronology

The Arabs armed with Islam burst out of the Arabian desert in the 7th century and by the 8th century had founded a powerful empire centered on Baghdad. The Arabs then spread Islam through North Africa and into Spain. Centers of leaning called "medersas" or Islamic schools were established throughout the Arab world. They were inspired by the schools established in Baghdad. The first medersas were founded by the Marinid sultans, during the 14th century.

Madrasas

An important educational institution in the Muslim world is the madrassa. We note a range of English sopellings: madrrasa, madrasah, medera, meddrassa, and other similar alternatives. The first madrasas were founded by the Marinid sultans, during the 14th century. This was at a gtime when there were no public schools in the modern sence of tuition free schools open to the general public. They were Islamic colleges with boarding facilities. The curriculum was heavily based on the stdy of Islam through the Koran. Students are required to memorize long passages of the Koran. The curriculum also included the Arabic language, astronomy, mathematics and medicine. At the time they were founded, the madrsas were the most advanced education institutions in the Western world. Presumably China also had avanced schools, but Euopean education was still very rudimentary. The medersas throughout the Arab world were generally constructed along the same lines. They were constructed on two levels around a central courtyard which had a fountain that was used in ritual ablutions. The courtyard was surrounded by a colonnade or gallery. THere was a large room served as both a lecture hall and for prayers. The students had their living areas or cells (in the sence of a monastic cell) were mostly located on the upper level. The importanceof the medersas in the Arab world can be seen in the beautiful architecture. They were also decorated with magnificent art work, including carved wood, geometric designs and floral motifs and delicate lace-like plaster-work. Unlike art in the Christian world, depictions of the human form were discouraged. The puplils, despite their magnificent surroundings, lived in stark simplicity. There cells were dark and often damp. They studied, prepared their meals, and slept in these small cells. The medersas provided the cells and bread without harge to the pupils. They had to buy the rest of their food and supplies such as books. Those without afflunt parents had to work part time. Some worked as as lecturers in mosques. Others woked as servants in surrounding homes. The madrasa has evolved in our modern age to be an important part of the educational system in some countries, especially Pakistan. This is the case where the public school system is weak and poor parents have to turn to the mosque to assist with education.

Caliphate

Islam emerged from the Arabian Penonsula (7th century). Islamic warriors won major battles and established a great empire-the Caliphate. Mosques were built all over the Middle East and North Africa as well as the Iberian Peninsula. Many mosques, especially the larger ones, opened schools. These were generally not schools to educate children in the modern sence by teach reading and writing and numercy. Rather the mosque schools were foocused on having boys memorize the Koran. Rarely was there discussiions concerning the meaning of Koranic verse. The focus was almost entuirely on memorization. We are not sure just how many boys attended these schools, but it would have almost entirely boys in cities and towns. A very small part of boys abnd virtually no girls were literate. And in the Arab world this continued into the modern era. Children from affluent, mostly boys, families were taught to read and write by tutors at home or by private teachers in small groups.

Mogul Empire


Ottoman Empire


Islamic Universities

Universities in the Islamic world as in Europe were founded by religious institutions. Universities date back to the Caliphate. The oldest and most famous is Al-Azhar University founded by the Al-Azhar Mosque as a madrasa (970~72), centuries before universities wwee founded by European cathedrals. The great Islamic universities, however, never developed as great centers of secular learning. This occurred in the West because universities appeared in Wesrtern Europe just before the beginning of the Renaissance. There was never a Renaisance or Reformation in the European world. Secular education was not begun at Al-Azhar University until 1961.

Countries


Morocco

Fez is known as the "Holy City of Morocco". It is famed for its Qarawiyin mosque--a symbol of Morocco's intellectual life. The mosque was founded in the 19th century and has supported both religious scholars and religious officials. There are many medersas (Islamic schools) which are located arounded the mosque. The most imposing medersa in Fez is Bou Inania, built in the mid 14th century by Sultan Abu Inan, the first ruler of the Marinid Dynasty. The building was clearly influenced by Spanish (Andalusian) archetecture. It was so imposing that it was also used as a mosque. The Medersa El Attarine, next to the Qarawiyin mosque was built in the 14th century by the Marinid Sultan Abu Said. He built it by the spice souk (market). It is thus called Attarine (from the Arabic air (spices). Medersa Shrij is another beautiful medersa in Fez. It was built in the 14th century and named after its beautiful ablution pool (from the Arabic saharaj - pool). Medersa es Seffarine was built in the 13th century and is the oldest Fez medersa. It is more modest than the others and built mor on the lines of a traditional Fasi (Fez) home. The most modern of Fez's landmark medersas is Medersa El Cherratin, built in the 17th century by the Alaouite Sultan, Moulay el-Rachid--founder of the present Moroccan royal dynasty.

Pakistan


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Created: January 16, 2003
Last updated: 4:24 AM 12/12/2014