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Unit 2 : Education in India during medieval period: Islamic Education

Like the ancient system of education, there was a good organisation of education in the medieval Notes
times also and both systems had great similarities in many respects. The relationship between
the teachers and the taught was close and cordial. Students respected their teachers and teachers
also constantly starved for their improvement. There was emphasis on religion. People were
generally God fearing and propagation and spread of religion was the chief aim of education.
Education was imparted at religious places. They were, generally, attached to mosques. Education
was free and discipline a rigorous one. Both rewards and punishments were in vogue. Kings
held teaches in high esteem and donated liberally to educational institutions. Teaching was
imparted orally. Students crammed verses of Quran without grammar and laws were taught.
The medium of instruction were Arabic and Persian.

2.1 Aims of Education
The aims of education in the medieval period are as follows :
(i) Imparting of Knowledge.
(ii) Propagation and Spread of Muslim Religion.
(iii) Formation of Character.
(iv) Preparation for Future Life.
(v) Organisation of Political and Social System.
(vi) Moral Development, and
(vii) Preservation and Spread of Muslim Culture.
Education aimed at making the individual capable of earning for himself. The prophet
Muhammad has himself said : ‘To seek knowledge is a duty for every Muslim (male) and
every Musalimah (female).” Islamic faith aims at the revealing of the internal nature of
truth, and is noted for its emphasis on the unity of all aspects of life. It emphasises on the
reality to individual, by raising his dignity and status, by removing any barrier between
him and God. The sanctity of knowledge was so high that its pursuit was considered as
pursuit on the path of reaching the Almighty.
It is observed that the two factors which control the behaviour of a Musalman are his
religion-moral conscience and the reward or punishment gentleman and who follows
principles of liberality, equality and fraternity in matters of this world and who lives
and dies for faith, piety and justice in order to achieve the blessings of his creator in the
life after death. Hanafi school advocated progressive trends and entertained a policy of
tolerance and assimilation in the circumstances and shunned much of conservatism which
resulted ultimately in its popularity. The contemporary scholars opined that the aim of
education in Marifat-i-Ilahi, refers of Dinvi Mushkilat, Khat-i-Nafas. Muhabat-i-Mula,
Tehsil-i-Duniya or Talb-i-Uqba. The aim of education was not to read some texts and
memorize them to each letter, but that it included Mutabeh, Bahas Wa Takrar and Kitabat.

The purpose of education, according to the muslims is the attainment of
knowledge which is considered to be a duty.

2.2 Main Features of Medieval Education

In view of the above discussion, the chief features of this period can be summarised as the
following:
(i) The chief aim of medieval education was to bring the lift of knowledge in the followers
of Islam.

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