Madrasah is an Arabic word which means "school". However, in the present context a madrasah means an Islamic Religious school.

Historically, the madrasah started like other forms of Islamic education; the learning of the Quran and Hadith from individual ulama or the studies of Islam conducted in mosques. Its main purpose was to educate an individual on Islamic religion or various aspects of the religion. In many mosques there were space such as halls and annexes which were used for classes as well as residence for students and teachers.  Many madrasahs can be found in China.

To date there are 35,000 mosques and 40,000 religious staff (including Imam or Ahong) all over China. In the Capital city of Beijing there are 64 mosques and the oldest one is the Niujie (Cattle Street) mosque which was built in 996 C.E. The Niujie Mosque has become a tourist attraction for its historical and architectural value. As well, it plays its major fuction in providing Muslims from overseas of within China for prayer purposes. Similar to mosques in other Muslim nations, mosque are symbol of Islamic identity and the centre of Muslim solidarity, besides performing religious obligations such as congregational prayer, to express respect and fear to the Creator – Allah.

Muslim Educational Institutions has a complete educational system that ranges from Kindergarten to tertiary learning can be found here. For instance, in Linxia and Xining and Ninxia, there are Muslim Kindergartens, Primary schools, Secondary schools and higher learning (Lanzhou Muslim College, Xinjiang Muslim College, Northwest minority College in the Lanzhou and the Ninxia Muslim College) and mosque-based Qur'an study which enable the visitor to obtain a general picture of the Muslim education.

In 1991 Brother Jaafar Mah contributed funds to help set up the first kindergarten in Xian for Muslim pre-school children. There is a need for such kindergartens in China as Muslim children are obliged to eat Halal meals specially prepared by Muslims only. Then there is the more important need to expose children at a young age to Islamic values and conduct so that they will grow up to be morally upright, well-behaved and ever conscious of their duties in life (fardu 'ain & fardu kifayah). The kindergarten named "Miao Miao" meaning "young shoots" is now quite established and self-financing

Visits to Muslim kindergartens are an item on the itinerary of our Silatururrahim Tours as participants are eager to see how these establishments are run. Arabic is one of the subjects in the curriculum and young children do learn the language fast.

In September 1997 a small child-care cum study center was set up in Xian to take in orphans and poor children in the vicinity who could not afford a pre-school education. A local Chinese Muslim couple helps to run the center in their own premises.There are five orphans of school-going age. Tour participants who went to Xian in June 1998 were completely taken in by the plight of those orphans that they immediately agreed to adopt them. We are now in the process of going through legal procedures to enable the orphans to be adopted in Singapore.

In December 1999,a childcare center cum kindergarten was set up in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. The aim is to provide some pre-school education for children in the vicinity. Fees are waived for those who come from families who cannot afford to pay even the meagre fees charged, which is about $15 US.

For two years, in 1998 and 1999, a teacher Ms Betty Tsui, who is incidentally our tour guide, was hired to give English lessons twice a week to a male and a female madrasah in Inner Mongolia, so that these students will be able to communicate with members of our Silaturrahim Tour when they come to visit them. There can be better educational and cultural exchanges if there is no language barrier. Each pupil was given a set of English books and audiotapes by Sister Mariah Mah. Some tour members donated dictionaries and storybooks.

After a year of teaching English in a madrasah and having the opportunity to mix closely with Muslims, Ms. Betty was so touched by the teachings of Islam as exemplied by the charitable works done by the Silaturrahim group members, that she embraced the religion. She confessed that before she became a Muslim she was a rather self-centred person, caring only for her own needs but now she thinks differently. "Islam has broadened my outlook in life. I forgive easily and have become less selfish. I am glad I found this beautiful religion of Islam" she remarks.

All educational facilities are made possible from proceeds of the Silaturrahim Tours and personal donation from sincere Muslims who wish to contribute to a worthy cause.

In 2008, we distributed clothes to 800 needy students, bursaries to 50 secondary school students and food supplies to 90 families who were living at below subsistence level.

In 2009 we gave out annual bursaries to 110 students from poor farming families, giving them an opportunity towards a tertiary education in universities. InshaAllah they will graduate and be gainfully employed so that they will help break the poverty circle. Each student could only be given 200 British pounds as our resources are stretched, our priority is to fund the orphans. In 2011 we are presently funding 200 students.

We also started to run 3 Arabic language classes, each class consisting of 50 students at the XIJI VOCATIONAL COLLEGE. InshaAllah, this effort will be an avenue enabling our Muslim students to graduate as skilled workers with Arabic language facility.