Al-Firdaws Madrasa, 13th-century madrasa and mosque in Aleppo, Syria.
Al-Firdaws Madrasa is a medieval educational and prayer building with eleven domes surrounding a rectangular courtyard. The structure displays Abbasid architectural features, including two double iwan-halls and a southern section with a mosque chamber topped by two domes.
A queen regent named Dayfa Khatun founded this complex in 1236 during Ayyubid rule, making it the largest educational institution in Aleppo. Funding came from a religious endowment that received income from the village of Kafr Zayta and a local mill.
The Arabic inscriptions blend Quranic verses with Sufi poetry, showing how education and religion intertwined in Islamic life. You can see how these words on the walls give the spaces their spiritual meaning.
The complex has four entrances, with the main access on the eastern side. The southern section houses the prayer chamber, so this area is reserved for religious activities.
The entire project was financed through a system where local villages and craft facilities generated income to support operations. This shows how communities in the medieval era funded educational institutions.
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