The “Sawlatiya School” in Makkah, the oldest school in the Arabian Peninsula, will be moved from the area close to the Holy Haram after 140 years. All the buildings in the Al-Shabakyia District, where the school is located, will be demolished to make way for the expansion of the northern part of the Grand Mosque. Majed Rahmatallah, the school's principal, said the skyrocketing price of land in Makkah has made it impossible for the school's management to purchase another building nearby. He said that the owners of all the buildings that have been expropriated will be compensated. They are, therefore, waiting for compensation to build another school. Sheikh Rahmatallah, the founder of the school, arrived in Makkah in 1853 and established the school in 1870. He was allowed to teach at the Holy Mosque in recognition of his efforts and also to allow students to benefit from his knowledge. When he recognized the need for more organized teaching, he constructed the school, with a complete syllabus, close to the Holy Haram, at his own expense in 1865. Later on, he realized that the school would not serve his purpose. This inspired him to establish a well-organized school, modeled on Islamic schools in India, Al-Azhar Mosque in Egypt, Damascus and other countries. In 1868, a rich woman, Sawlat Al-Nissaa, came from India for pilgrimage and wanted to build an orphanage in Makkah. She discussed the matter with Sheikh Rahmatallah, who told her that there were many orphanages in Makkah, but that there was no school for teaching the sons of Muslims. She liked the idea and donated a large amount of money for the project. In 1869, the school was established at Al-Khandrasyia District in Harat Al-Bab near the Holy Haram. After a year, the teachers and students moved to the new building which was named after the Indian woman “Al-Sawlatiya” in recognition of her generous contribution to the school. It was the first ever regular school in Makkah to help combat illiteracy. The school offers religious subjects such as Hadith, Sunnah “Prophet's Tradition”, Tafsir and Fiqh “Islamic jurisprudence” and subjects like mathematics and science. In 1880, the school expanded further and more buildings were added. A mosque was also constructed within the school. In 1903, the school management constructed a third building which currently includes all classrooms. Later on a fourth building was added and was used as a hostel for boarding students. The school also has a library, including rare manuscripts and books, in addition to another small library devoted to secondary students. The school includes all three educational levels, catering for students from childhood to adolescence. From 1871 to 1904, each student was examined by a group of teachers to assess his education and to select books suited to his standard and knowledge.
