An Analytical Overview of the Historical Development of Madrasah Education in the Medieval Muslim World

This paper thoroughly examines the historical development of Madrasah education in Islamic civilization. Islamic education and cultural institutions like madrasahs have a long history dating back to Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.S). Early in Islam, the Prophet Muhammad founded Darul Arqam, Suffa Residential Madrasah, and Darul Qurrah Madrasah, which spread Islamic knowledge. Throughout the early Islamic period, mosques became educational hubs for Madrasah education. In Basra and Kufa, pious Caliphs founded large Madrasahs. Madrasahs flourished under the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, and specialized educational facilities were built, ushering in the Islamic Golden Age. Philosophy, theology, arts, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine significantly contributed to global civilization during this time. The focus of the study then shifts to the Indian subcontinent, where the advent of Islam and Muslim authority resulted in profound cultural changes. Muslim emperors left their imprint throughout centuries, promoting religious instruction and shaping art, music, justice, architecture, and other facets of life. The Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Qutab Minar symbolize this golden epoch. However, as the Mughal Empire declined and the East India Company rose, Western knowledge replaced Islamic study, causing Madrasah education to diminish. Using a qualitative research methodology, this study explores academic literature, historical accounts, and literary works to shed light on how Madrasah education expanded throughout Muslim society. It also clarifies the essential changes to the educational system and how they affected the Muslim community in India.