Religious Education in Libya during the Monarchy (1951–1969): Reality, Institutions, and Societal Impact in Light of Statistical Indicators

Abstract

This research examines religious education in Libya during the monarchy (1951–1969) through three interconnected axes. The first axis reviews the religious educational landscape, where traditional education continued in Quranic schools (kuttabs) and zawiyas (religious lodges), while the state sought to modernize curricula and integrate them into formal schools. The second axis highlights religious institutions such as the Great Mosque and the Senussi zawiyas, and their role in producing scholars and preserving cultural and religious identity, in addition to their contribution to spreading education in rural areas. The third axis emphasizes the social impact of religious education, which contributed to strengthening moral values and shaping religious elites who played a significant role in political and social life, while also maintaining a balance between modern education and religious authority. The research concludes that religious education was an effective tool for preserving national and religious identity, despite the challenges it faced in the context of modernization and openness.