Educational institutions in Al-Aqsa Morocco during the Almohad era

Abstract

Far Maghreb, the most prominent of which were: political stability, as well as the political links between Morocco and Andalusia, and the encouragement of some caliphs to science and scholars, materially and morally, and attracting them to hold debates inside their palaces.  In the Almoravid era, there were numerous intellectual centers teeming with students of science and scholars, with Marrakesh and Fez at the forefront of these cities. On the other hand, the rulers of the Almohads spared no effort in building educational institutions in addition to their diversity.  The schools, mosques, and ribat, while others enjoyed some privacy, such as the palaces of the controversial libraries and the homes of scholars.

       In addition to these institutions, the establishment of schools, which was associated with the establishment of the Caliph Abdul-Momen bin Ali, was the Royal School for the Education of the Almohad Princes and the Naval School for Teaching the Art of Navigation next to the Kasbah of Marrakesh to graduate trained technicians to command the fleet.

     As for the stages of learning in these institutions, the Almohad state, like other countries of the Islamic Maghreb, did not have a clearly defined educational system, nor did it have specific stages or exact curricula that the student could adhere to and progress through in its frameworks until he reached the degree of a scholar or sheikh who is the focus of the educational and teaching process.  His method and his knowledge, which he teaches, and the students move from one scholar to another, and from one book to another.

    As for the methods of education, they varied according to the diversity of institutions and according to the different age of the students. The method of indoctrination, memorization and questioning was known in the schools, mosques and the palaces of the Caliphs to suit these methods with the students’ mental abilities.  To the degree of mental maturity that allows him to follow this method A. As for the journey in seeking knowledge, the students who completed the first stages of education in the schools and mosques and wanted to increase their knowledge by traveling to meet famous scholars and receive more knowledge from them depended on it.

    The spread of educational institutions in all parts of the Far Maghreb had a social impact, especially on the children of the poor and orphans. Some teachers taught them without paying attention to the material return, and some of them took care of their educational expenses, as the caliphs were concerned with the corners of the sheikhs and the righteous, imprisoning them, reconstructing them and looking into their interests, which allowed classes to be learned.  lower part of society.