Maktab

Maktab an educational institution for teaching children in elementary Islamic subjects. As against maktab, there was madrasah, which was meant for higher education. In Bengal both maktabs and madrasahs were found during the Muslim period, established both by the state as well as on private initiative. Learned persons on Islamic subjects were deputed to teach in those institutions. The Sultani and Mughal government liberally supported the maktab and madrasahs by way of making lakhraj or rent-free land grants. Such grants were known as maadat-e-maax. [Abdul Karim]'