Madrassa: A System Of Religious Education, Special Reference To Kerala

Abstract

The most important factor influencing public perception that determines a community’s image and respectability in public life is its educational development. The madrassa curriculum does not prepare students to navigate modern society’s structures and leaves out some topics (Fiqh- Islamic Jurisprudence, Akhlaq- Morality) when they transfer (after the tenth standard) to a regular high school. Madrassa education systems avoid looking outside their walls for professional knowledge and skill development and stick exclusively to theological values and knowledge. This study reveals the evolution of madrasas in Kerala’s educational revolution, from their inception to the present. The madrassa tradition has changed significantly in terms of curricula, infrastructure, and other related aspects of learning and teaching techniques since the time of the Prophet Mohammed and continues to this day. This study focuses on Kerala’s traditional development, timely changes, and subtle variations in religious education. The paper shows how madrassas and their traditional Masjid-Dars (Islamic learning system related to the mosque) systems shaped the religious and educational landscape, particularly in Kerala, through various eras and relevant systems.