What is the definition of a madrasa?

A madrasa—sometimes spelled "madrasah" or "medrese"—is an educational institution in the Islamic world. Historically, it's most commonly associated with teaching Islamic education, such as the study of the Qur'an, Hadith (records of the words, actions, or habits of the Prophet Muhammad), Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), as well as other religious sciences.

The term can also refer to any type of educational institution or a school, whether it is religious or secular. In some countries, a madrasa could simply be a school of any level, for instance, a primary or secondary school that doesn't necessarily offer a religious curriculum.

Madrasas have played an important role in the history of Islamic education. They emerged as centers of learning in the medieval Islamic world, and they contributed significantly to scholarship, including in fields such as mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy.