madrasa
Noun: 1. An Islamic religious school or college: A "madrasa" is an educational institution, common in many Muslim-majority countries, where students study Islamic theology, law, and related subjects. The core curriculum often focuses on the Quran, Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh).
- The primary function of a madrasa is religious and theological education.
- It is used to refer to both small, local Quranic schools and larger, more formal institutions of Islamic learning.
- The word is often used in discussions about education, religion, and culture in the Muslim world.
- He received his early education at a local madrasa before attending university.
- The village madrasa teaches children to read and recite the Quran.
- Reforms have been introduced to include modern subjects like mathematics and science in the madrasa curriculum.
- Historical Madrasas: Historically, "madrasa" could refer to major centers of learning in the Islamic world, which sometimes taught a broader range of subjects including philosophy, medicine, and astronomy alongside religious studies.
- Modern Context: In contemporary political and media discourse, the term is sometimes used specifically in the context of certain regions or to discuss issues of educational reform and extremism, though this represents a specific and often debated usage.
- Madrasah: An alternative transliteration of the same word from Arabic.
- Madrassa: Another common English spelling variant.
- Hawza: A similar term used specifically for Shia Islamic seminaries.
- Islamic school
- Religious seminary (in an Islamic context)
- Quranic school (for basic institutions)
The provided reference context highlights a specific, modern usage related to geopolitical concerns in Bangladesh and Pakistan. It is important to understand that while this is a valid contemporary application of the word in certain contexts, the fundamental and broader meaning of "madrasa" remains an Islamic religious school. The examples in the reference ("close down madrasas that provided military training", "supported with money from Saudi Arabia") illustrate particular cases and political issues, not the definition of the institution itself.
- Muslim schools in Bangladesh and Pakistan
- the Pakistan government decided to close down madrasas that provided military training for their students
- many madrasas in Bangladesh are supported with money from Saudi Arabia