This article is dedicated to shedding light on a spectrum of issues in educational thought in Islam, which may--due to their universal relevance--be of interest not only to specialists but also to a wider readership. It also provides an idea of the educational views and philosophies advocated by some great medieval Muslim thinkers which offer insights into the foundations of educational thought in Islam and show that medieval Muslim scholars have made significant, original contributions to various fields of pedagogy and didactics. Furthermore, it draws attention to the fact that many "classical Islamic" views on education can only be understood properly if due consideration is given to both the specifics of their development within the framework of Islam and to their place within the general course of the history of ideas in the ancient and medieval Mediterranean world. Thus, this article hopes to help reveal the richness, sophistication, and diversity of scholarly discussion in Islam on educational theory and practice, and indicate how "current" and "modern" certain of the educational ideas advanced by medieval Muslim scholars are. (Contains 60 footnotes.)