Ancient Indian Education: An Inquiry into its Origin, Development, and Ideals c7.4

c7.4

The permanent settlement of Muhammadans in India, and the conversion, whether by force or persuasion, of some of the inhabitants to Islām meant the establishment of mosques, and as in other Muhammadan countries, the mosque, especially in towns, was a centre of instruction and of literary activity. Muhammadan educational institutions are distinguished as *maktabs* or *madrasahs*. The *maktab* is a primary school attached to a mosque, the chief business of which is to instruct boys in those portions of the Korān which a Muhammadan is expected to know by heart in order to perform his devotions and other religious functions. Sometimes instruction in reading, writing, and simple arithmetic is also included in the curriculum. The *madrasah* is a school or college of higher learning.