Maktab an Arabic word meaning schools 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, built both by the state as well as on private initiative. Learned people were made available 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-maash. [Abdul Karim]