Classical Curriculum and Schooling

“The traditions of scholarship in Mauritania during the past three centuries, albeit profoundly linked to the medieval epoch, are probably the richest in West Africa. They compare favorably with [those of] Maghribi societies of an earlier date.” Charles Stewart, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana[1].

The traditional Islamic school in Mauritania is referred to as mahdara (literally - a fenced in or protected place). It has a long tradition going back to the Murabitun who came in and established institutions to train Muslims spiritually. They also divided the needs of the society amongst the present clans. Clans were appointed tasks such as farming, carpentry, blacksmithing, herding, etc. Specifically, the Bani Hassan clans were appointed the task of pursuing extensive martial training to protect the clans and the Zawaya clans were delegated the responsibility of preserving sacred knowledge. The mahdara was where the Zawaya focused their concerns and succeeded in developing a system to disseminate the traditional Islamic sciences among the Muslim community.

The indigenous schools in Mauritania employ a pedagogical system using time-honored texts and the mahdara teaching methods in a classical curriculum. Students at these schools range from young children to old men and women although normally, schooling begins at about age six. Students begin by learning to read and write the Arabic Uthmaani script and memorize Qu’ran in the Warsh and Qaloon recitations. Students then proceed to study various sciences within Islamic Law, including grammar, sacred law, exegesis (tafsir), Prophetic traditions (hadith), Purification of the Heart, and the Prophetic biography (seera). Over many centuries, this system of education has produced some of the worlds greatest scholars including Imam al-Mawlud, author of Purification of the Heart, which is now available in English. To this day, Mauritania is known for its excellent scholars and has produced many of the world’s most renowned Muslim academics.