The madrasa was created originally as Sunni counterpropaganda against Isma’ili Shi’ism.

Evidence

In the madrasa, Sunni Islam created a new and crucial weapon in the struggle for religious unity. In these great colleges, spreading all over the East, the scholars and theologians of the Sunna devised and taught the orthodox answer to the Isma ili intellectual challenge. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 380 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

It was in this period that the Islamic institution of higher education, the madrasa, was rapidly developed and expanded, and assumed the central position that it has retained ever since. In its origin, its immediate task was counterpropaganda—to devise and disseminate an answer to the challenge of Isma ili doctrines and of Fatimid power. As the historical record shows, it was successful in both. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 448 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The madrasa system was created as an ideological counter-weapon against Isma’ili Shiism. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting…, 380; The madrasa originated as counterpropaganda against Ismaili and Fatimid influence. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting…, 448

Broader Connections

• The madrasa system was created as an ideological counter-weapon against Isma’ili Shiism. #corroborates (0.98) — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 380
• The madrasa originated as counterpropaganda against Ismaili and Fatimid influence. #corroborates (0.95) — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 448