What was the significance of certificates (ijazahs) in the Middle Ages?

In the Middle Ages, certificates issued to students played an important role in life. These documents confirmed the successful completion of education at a madrasah and determined a person’s academic level, professional status, and social standing.

A certificate (ijazah) was not issued for a specific period of time, but rather based on the mastery of certain disciplines. Graduates were recognized not only for their personal qualities but also for their possession of ijazahs, which held significance when applying for jobs and even in matters of marriage. The certificates were stored in appropriate places, and the name of the scholar who issued them held great importance.

The exhibition at the Center of Islamic Civilization plans to showcase early examples of such certificates. Translations of handwritten ijazahs issued by prominent scholars such as Kazizoda Rumi, Sa’duddin Taftazani, Fazlullah Abullaysi, and Mustafa Rumi will be prepared. Replicas and facsimiles of these documents will be displayed in the museum.

Additionally, a video is planned to illustrate the significance of these ijazahs in the lives of people during the medieval period.