PROPHETS MODEL OF

EDUCATION IN
MADINAH STATE
Maryam Noor
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.

FOUNDATIO This is reflected in the verses of the Holy book revealed in

Makkah, which are in connection with reading and writing,
N OF THE while the verses of Madinah lay emphasis on action and
implementation of the teachings.
SYSTEM
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.
STEPS TAKEN TO FORM THE
SYSTEM
 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
 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.
METHODOLOGY OF PROPHET
PBUH
 Suffah was not the only school at Madinah. There were at least 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
neighbors.
 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.
 Commenting on the syllabus or course followed in the past can be a tedious task. However, it
is clear that the courses varied across schools and relied heavily on the teachers in each
institution. In addition to Quran and Sunnah, the Prophet PBUH arranged for instructors in
various fields such as shooting, swimming, math, medicine, astronomy, and genealogy.
 Girls attended schools and received education from the Prophet PBUH himself. He taught
women exclusively on Wednesdays and encouraged them to pursue various fields including
spinning, writing, and medicine. One of his wives, Aishah (RA), excelled in Fiqh, Muslim
sciences, poetry, and medicine.
SPREADING OF EDUCATION
 The Prophet PBUH sent teachers from Madinah to important centers. 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.

‫جزاك ُهللا خيًر‬