Al-Madrasa Al-Salihiyya Established in the Ayyubid Period: The First Institution in Egypt Teaching Four Madhāhib

Abstract

This article examines the architectural structure of al-Salihiyya Madrasa, built during the Ayyubid period in Egypt, and its place in the history of Islamic scholarship. Constructed in Cairo between 639-641/1242-1243 by al-Malik al-Salih, the last great sultan of the Ayyubid State, the madrasa holds the distinction of being the first institution in Egypt where all four schools of Islamic madhahib were taught simultaneously. The madrasa represents one of the unique examples of its period with its architectural structure, four-iwan plan, and separate sections allocated for each school of law. This research analyses the establishment process, architectural features, and institutional structure of the madrasa in light of the works of Ayyubid and Mamluk period historians, particularly Ibn Wasil and al-Maqrizi. The most significant feature of al-Salihiyya Madrasa is its institutional structure that enabled equal educational opportunities for all four Sunni schools of law. This structure later paved the way for the Mamluk state's practice of appointing separate chief judges (qadi al-qudat) from each school of law. Besides its educational function, the madrasa also served as a center for mazalim courts (courts of grievances) during the Mamluk period. Al-Salihiyya Madrasa, where prominent scholars of the period such as Izz al-Din ibn Abd al-Salam and Afdal al-Din al-Khunaji served as professors (mudarris), continued its educational activities until the Ottoman period. This article takes a holistic approach in examining al-Salihiyya Madrasa's place in Islamic educational history, its architectural features, and institutional structure, thus revealing its unique position among educational institutions in the medieval Islamic world. The multi-madhhab educational structure and institutional organization of al-Salihiyya Madrasa can serve as a significant model for contemporary Islamic educational institutions. Particularly, the madrasa's approach of accommodating different schools of Islamic madhahib and providing equal opportunities for each school can be inspiring for interdisciplinary studies and pluralistic academic environments in modern educational institutions.