What subjects did students study in maktabs in the medieval Islamic world?

In the medieval Islamic world, the maktab (also known as the kuttab) served as the primary institution for elementary education. The curriculum in these schools was centered on foundational religious and literacy skills.12

Students in maktabs were primarily instructed in the following subjects:

• Qurʾān: A central focus was the recitation and memorization of the Qurʾān as perfectly as possible.12
• Literacy: Pupils were taught reading and writing.12
• Grammar: Instruction in elementary Arabic grammar was commonly included.12
• Arithmetic: Some schools provided instruction in rudimentary arithmetic.32
• Ethics and Literature: The curriculum often incorporated the study of poetry and ethics (manners).2
• Penmanship: Students practiced the art of writing.2

While these schools were widespread across towns and villages in the Middle East, Africa, Sicily, and Spain, they remained distinct from institutions of higher education, such as the madrasah, which focused on more advanced religious and legal studies.32