The paper examines influence of Islamic education on the personal social status and social mobility in Muslim society under the reign of the Circassian Sultans in Cairo in 1382–1517. These Burjit Mamluks ruled over Egypt and Syria for more than a century until Selim I unexpectedly crushed them in 1517. The study is based on historical and biographical works by al-Maqrīzī, Ibn Taghrī Birdī, Ibn Ḥajar, al-Sakhāwī and other medieval Arab writers of the Mamlūk period. The authors argue that their comparative analysis sheds light upon contemporary debates concerning history and theory of Islamic education. Its development in the Circassian sultanate was influenced by different political, administrative, economic and social factors. The so called leisure class appeared as a result. It much contributedto the development of pro-governmental political culture. Thousands of well-educated nonMamluk madrasa graduates became mediators between the military Mamluk elite and the civilian Egyptian society. Social boundaries between the Mamluks and Egyptians became more permeable. On the other hand, expenses of ruling elite grew up.