Samarkand in Uzbeckistan, a Madrasa (Post 233) a repost

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a Madrasa in Registan Square. (I took this picture in 1968 long before restoration of the Registan Square began). This building was able to withstand quite well when an earthquake struck this area in early 1966.

"'Madrasa"" means a learning institutions. The education system ln Muslim regions consisted of Maktab for children up to age of 6 where they learned basics and ability to read Quran and memorised surahs required to read the in the daily prayers. The Maktab was followed by Madrasas and they had 16 grades ln 2 levels. Level 1 from age 6 to 14 and level 2 from age 15 to 22. In level 1, one trade was compulsory. The curriculum of Madrasa was multidisciplinary and included subjects like science, logic, Falsafa (philosophy), literature, law, governance, religion and others. Haroon Al Rashid in 790 in Baghdad started the first Madrasa, an institution of advanced learning called Al Nizamya center of knowledge. Madrasa in the Muslim world were modeled after the house of wisdom and knowledge in Baghdad.

Al-Azhar in Cairo, the oldest University in the world started in 970, in comparison Oxford started in 1248 and Harvard in 1636. Two other old institutions of advanced learning were, Ez Zaitona in Tunisia, which started in 737 and Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco established in 859. The curriculum was multi disciplinary and that is why the early Islamic scholars were scientists, philosophers, mathematicians, physicians and at the same time scholars of Islam. The separation between science and religious scholarship that now exists is not consistent with the past traditions of the Islamic scholars. There are exceptions, Allama Iqbal(1877-1938) was a philosopher and a scholar of Islam. Professor Sayyed Husain Nasar of the George Washington University is a scientist, a philosopher and a respected scholar of Islam. Khaliq (April 2016).

PS. The Golden Age of Islam started in the 7^th century and ended in about 18^th century when the occupation of Muslim regions by non Muslim powers occurred. Assertion that the golden age ended in 13th century when Mongol invasion brought an end of the Abbasid Caliphate is incorrect. Soon after their fall Ottoman Empire emerged and became the patron of art, science and education and so did Mongols after their conversion too Islam in their ruled areas and Khanates.

Masnavi of Rumi. The end and object...(Post 75)

The end and object of all negation is to attain to subsequent affirmation, as the negation in the creed, "There is no God," finds its complement and purpose in the affirmation "but God." Just so the purpose of negation of self is to clear the way for the apprehension of the fact that there is no existence but the One. The intoxication of Life and its pleasures and occupations veils the Truth from men's eyes, and they ought to pass on to the spiritual intoxication which makes men beside themselves and lifts them to the beatific vision of eternal Truth.

Omar Khayyam(1048-1131) come fill ..(Post 163)

Omar Khayyam a polymath is best known for his Rubaiyats translated by Edward Fitzgerald in the 1880s. Sufi poetry has lot of references to wine and love, more so in Hafiz(1325–1389) and Omar Khayyam. However their wine did not come from a bottle but a mystical experience. Love is Love of God (Ishque Allah). Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling: The Bird of Time has but a little way To flutter---and the Bird is on the Wing.

Muslim women rulers, scholars a repeat (Post 305)

Muslim women rulers, scholars and Sufis . 1.Women Sufies and Scholars Rabia Al Basri and Fatima Naishapuri, born in the 8th century were the early scholars and Sufis. As-Sulami (died in 1021) in his publication Early Sufi Women* mentions that between the 8th and 11th century there who 80 respected Sufi teachers and spritual guides. Some known figures were Lubna of Cordoba (Spain) who died in 984, who was a scholar and a mathematician. She presided over the famous Library of Cordoba that had about 500,000 books. Fatima b Al Qasim died in 1216. She was also from Andalusia and is regarded as one of the most learned scholar of her time. Zainab B Ahmed died in 1339 and was an eminent Islamic scholar of the 14th century. Bibi Hatati Kirmani and Aisha of Damascus were known Sufi teachers in the 15th century. Jaahan Ara(1592-1666) daughter of Emperor Shahjahan was a Sufi and a writer. (Women ...

Islam and Sufism an introduction

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