Madrasah: what is it and where did it come from?

The official answer to the question "Madrasah - what is"next: it is an educational institution of Muslims, which trains teachers and even priests. Sometimes future civil servants are trained here. That is, it can be considered an analogue of higher education in Europe and America.

Madrasah - what is it? His story

If translated directly from Arabic,This word literally means a place where someone learns something, learns something and learns. That is the meaning of the word "madrasa" - "a place to study."

The first educational institution of this type appearsduring the rule of the Abbasid dynasty. The first mentions and answers to the question: "Madrasah - what is it?" - dates back only to the 9th century, but in the 13th this phenomenon is already widespread. In such schools, subjects with a religious bias, including theology and Koranic disciplines, were mainly studied. In addition, the students were taught the Arabic language, necessary for reading the Quran, as well as arithmetic and history. In the 11th century, the school was transformed into a state institution. The government appointed teachers who worked there. Perhaps it was thanks to this that the Sunni orthodoxy actively developed. Gradually, from the institution that was originally a school, they made a place for training personnel for the public service. That is, the madrasah has become a stronghold of control over the religious and political life of the state.

Organization of studies

The main subjects that were studied in the madrasa: medicine, mathematics and law.

These schools were supposed to cookofficials, faithfully devoted to the state. It was this that determined the choice of objects, because the madrasa, according to the plan of the authorities, was supposed to turn into an instrument of control over the political and religious life of the society. Classes were held in mosques that were of no primary importance for the faithful. School maintenance and expenses were paid by the waqf. Moudarris teachers also received a salary at the expense of the state. They recruited assistants with whom they lectured for students, organized disputes on religious topics, and also studied literature that could be useful to students in government posts in the future. Pupils who have undergone such training became loyal subjects of the state, which provided them not only with housing and accessories for the duration of their studies, but also with a stipend. The 12th century in the history of education in Arab countries is notable for the fact that at this time new educational institutions, so-called madrasas-tombs, are being built. One room in them was intended for conducting classes, and the other, fenced off, served as the burial place of the founder. This shows that the organization of the madrasa was an honorable occupation, a kind of contribution to the development of the state.

What was studied

Speaking of how madrassas - what we arefigured out that this is an analogue of higher education for officials. Accordingly, the studied disciplines were selected in the light of this specialization. Since law schools prepared bureaucrats and bureaucrats, in addition to fiqh, jurisprudence and a number of other related disciplines were introduced. The Fatimid imams, thanks to their active missionary work, were able to persuade Sultan Saladin to open new schools. Since he was a supporter of Sunnism, in new educational institutions, students were brought up in the spirit of this trend and were preparing to accept a post in the public service.

That is, the Sultan did everything to train bureaucrats who shared with him only religious and political views.

Architectural traditions

Muslim madrasa is considered one of the masterpiecesarchitecture, as its design was given the closest attention. The complex of structures included the mosque itself, housing for students, classes and refectory. The main room was ayvan - a vaulted hall, divided into three naves by rows of columns. One side of it was open and led to the main courtyard. Special attention was paid to the design of madrasas. The buildings in Istanbul and other cities that have survived to the present day are striking in their beauty and sophistication.

Cultural and historical significance

The main role of the madrasa as an educational centerIt was not limited only to training officials loyal to the state. They were of great importance for the spread of Islam both in the East and in the West, having at one time had a great influence on the system of European education. For example, the first educational institution that trained bureaucrats for public service was the University of Naples in Italy. In fact, this is a direct borrowing of the experience of Muslims in the training of officials. Europeans quickly adopted this experience.

As a result, almost all European universities were organized according to the madrasah model. They provided students with scholarships, housing, and access to educational materials.

Madrasah today

There are no educational institutions of this type.only in Muslim countries. For example, in Kazan, there is the Muhammadia Madrasa, where students receive a theological education or are preparing to become translators from Arabic. Only Muslims are accepted to study.