The Madrasah: Islamic Institution of Learning

Definition

A madrasah (مدرسة) is a formal institution of Islamic higher education. Derived from the Arabic root 'd-r-s' meaning 'to study,' the madrasah system represents one of the Muslim world's greatest contributions to educational history and served as a model for the later European university.

Origins

While informal Islamic education took place in mosques, private homes, and bookshops from the earliest period, the formal madrasah as an endowed, purpose-built institution emerged in the 10th-11th centuries CE. The Nizamiyyah madrasas, established by the Seljuk vizier Nizam al-Mulk beginning in 1065 CE across Iraq and Iran, are among the most famous early examples. The Nizamiyyah of Baghdad, where Imam al-Ghazali taught, was the most prestigious.

Curriculum

The traditional madrasah curriculum centered on the Islamic sciences: Quran, Hadith, Fiqh (jurisprudence), Usul al-Fiqh (legal theory), Arabic grammar and rhetoric, and Tafsir. Many also taught logic (mantiq), theology (kalam), and the rational sciences including mathematics and astronomy. The curriculum varied by region and era, with some madrasas specializing in specific disciplines.

Structure and Endowment

Madrasas were typically funded through waqf (endowment), providing free tuition, lodging, and stipends for students. The physical design usually featured a central courtyard surrounded by student rooms (cells), one or more teaching halls (iwan), a mosque, a library, and sometimes a kitchen and bathhouse. This architectural plan was adapted across the Islamic world, from the madrasas of Fez to those of Central Asia.