Modern Suffah: Quranic and Scientific Circles of al-Masjid an-Nabawi Today

Abstract

The aim of this article, which is a qualitative research based on the document analysis, is to reveal the educational activities conducted in al-Masjid an-Nabawi. Educational activities carried out in al-Masjid an-Nabawi can be handled basically in three separate groups: The Institute of al-Masjid an-Nabawi, lectures delivered by scholars, and course circles. On the other hand, this study was limited to the study of course circles. Thousands of students participate in this educational activity which is carried out in two main groups, namely Quranic and scientific circles. 112,243 students from 102 countries participated in the Quranic circles, which aimed to read and memorize the Quran correctly between 1-29 April 2014. This corresponds to an average of 5,353 participants per day. Between 15-27 May 2014, a total of 8,750 students participated in the science circles based on the memorization of classical texts. This corresponds to an average of 972 participants per day. It can be consequently said that al-Masjid an-Nabawi, which is the first model of the lecturing tradition at masjids, continues as the most graceful model for masjids which have been moving away from fulfilling their educational roles every passing day.