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Madrasah Bag

Part of: Madrasah life and learning

Glossary

What is a maktab?

By the Madrasah Bag team

Definition

A maktab is an elementary Islamic class for children, focused on learning to read the Quran and the basics of faith and practice. In the UK the word is often used interchangeably with madrasah for mosque-based evening classes, though some organisations use "maktab" specifically for the primary-level course.

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Meaning

Maktab comes from the Arabic root for writing, k-t-b, the same root as kitab (book). Historically it meant a primary school where children learned to read and write, often the Quran first.

What's taught

Maktab vs madrasah

In everyday UK use there's little difference: both describe after-school classes. Where a distinction is made, the maktab is the foundation course and "madrasah" covers everything from maktab level up to advanced study. See what is a madrasah.

Questions people also ask

Is a maktab the same as a madrasah?

In the UK they're often used interchangeably. Where they differ, maktab means the elementary level.

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