Muslims were once the torch bearers of Knowledge and wisdom, and World looked up to them.

To know
why, let us look at the education system of the city of Madinah at the time of the Prophet PBUH.

The foundations of the whole system were laid in city of Makkah, in the early stages of propagation of
Islam. This is reflected in the verses of the Holy book revealed in Makkah, which are in connection with
reading and writing, while the verses of Madinah lay emphasis on action and implementation of the
teachings. It is also important to note that the purpose of raising a Prophet PBUH in a nation is to teach;
preaching sure forms a part of teaching.

The practical step was taken about two years before the migration (Hijrah). When a few people from
Madinah embraced Islam, they requested the Prophet PBUH to send a teacher along with them who
could teach them the Quran, instruct them in Islam and its religious rites. And thus Saad Ibn Al Aas
(RA)was appointed to teach at Madinah.

It is really interesting to see that the Prophet PBUH asked the war prisoners (Captives) of Battle of Badr,
those of them who were literate, that each one of them should teach ten children of Madinah to read
and write. After which they were free to go.

Suffah was an enclosure connected with the mosque of the Prophet PBUH in Madinah. This was set
apart for the lodging of travelers and those of the locals who were too poor to have a shelter of their
own. At the same time, Suffah was also a regular residential school where reading, writing, Muslim
Sharia (Law), Memorizing of Quran, Tajweed (Reciting of Quran correctly) and other Islamic sciences
were taught under the supervision of the Prophet PBUH himself. The students earned their living by
working in their spare hours. It was also a learning Centre for day-scholars and visitors, who attended in
large numbers. The boarders at Suffah varied with time, but it has been accounted that once the
strength was about seventy. Batches of students from far off tribes would come and stay there to
complete their course and would then return back to their country. It was quite often that the Prophet
PBUH would send one of his companions along with them to help them organize education in their
country or tribe.

Suffah was not the only school at Madinah. There were atleast nine other mosques, which functioned as
schools as well. The inhabitants of the locality sent their children to these schools. The Prophet PBUH
encouraged the people of Madinah to learn and teach from their neighbours.
The Prophet PBUH inspected the study circles in his mosque. If he found any incongruity, he would
correct it at the very instant. The Prophet PBUH had a policy made that only the most learned in Quran
and Sunnah should conduct religious service, and hence people competed with each other in learning
and passing the tests of the state’s schools.

The Prophet PBUH felt the need of specialization and highly encouraged it. He guided the students to
recourse to such and such person if they sought specialization in subjects be it learning the Quran,
Tajweed, Mathematics or Law.

The teachers were forbidden to accept any remuneration from pupils. Ubadah Ibn Al Samit (RA) relates
that he taught the Quran and writing at Suffah and one of his pupils presented him with a bow. The
Prophet PBUH commanded him not to accept the present.

The Prophet PBUH, as the head of the State, required people who knew foreign languages. Zaid ibn
Thabit (RA) is known to have learnt Persian, Greek, Ethiopian and Aramaic. And at one instance when the
Prophet PBUH felt the need of someone who knew Hebrew, he had learnt it in a few weeks. It was Zaid
RA who wrote letters and read out the received letters to the Prophet PBUH.

It is a tiresome task to make a comment on syllabus or course followed back then. But it is evident that
the course wasn’t uniform in all schools. The teacher was the core of the system at any specific school in
question. Apart from Quran and Sunnah, the Prophet PBUH arranged instructors for shooting,
swimming, mathematics of division of heritage, medicine, astronomy, genealogy.

Girls too attended schools. In fact, the Prophet PBUH had set apart Wednesday when he lectured to
women exclusively and replied to their questions. Spinning was taught to women, as it was a special
occupation back then. The Prophet PBUH had even asked a lady to teach the art of writing to one of his
wives. In fact the Prophet’s wife Aishah (RA), excelled in Fiqh, Muslim sciences, poetry and medicine too.

The Prophet PBUH sent teachers from Madinah to important centres. Provincial governors were made
responsible for organization and control of local schools. The governors were given instructions in
writing, a detail of their duties, which included arrangement of teachers in Muslim sciences, Quran,
Hadith and Fiqh. To enhance the quality of education, the Prophet PBUH appointed inspector-general of
education, who would be touring various districts and provinces, and looked after the schools and other
educational institutions.
Isn’t it remarkable to think of such a system back at a time when Arabs were known for their illiteracy
and inhuman behavioural pattern of lives? There has been a lot of advancement from then, yet the art of
bringing education in an organized and systematic approach is the exemplary work of a visionary mind