Construction of this Islamic school started in the second half of the 12th century under the reign of the Seljuq King Nour Eddine Zengi.

The school was not completed until the first half of the 13th century during the Ayyubid Period.

The Great Al-Madrasa Al-Adiliya is the resting place of King Al-Adel Seif Eddine, the brother of Salah Eddine.

In the early 20th century, the school hosted the Syrian National Museum, and in 1936 it became part of the Arabic Language Institute.