Jamia Hossainia Islamia Arjabad

Jamia Hossainia Islamia Arjabad, commonly known as Arjabad Madrasa, is a Qawmi madrasa located in the Harirampur area of Mirpur, on the eastern bank of the Turag River in western Dhaka, Bangladesh. Named after the prominent Islamic scholar Husain Ahmad Madani, the madrasa was founded in 1970 by Abdul Khaleq Asadi. The institution's first principal (Muhtamim) was Shamsuddin Qasemi, and the current principal is Bahauddin Zakaria.

Arjabad Madrasa is affiliated with Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh and is historically known as a stronghold of the anti-Qadiani Khatme Nabuwwat movement in the region. In November 2022, the madrasa hosted its first major alumni reunion, titled the "Abnaye Arjabad Conference/22".

History

The madrasa was established in 1970 under the supervision of Shamsuddin Qasemi to promote religious education in the Mirpur area. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the institution's activities were temporarily halted after a fire broke out on the premises. It resumed operations in 1974 with an expanded academic layout. In late 1974, Shamsuddin Qasemi joined as the Sadrul Mudarrisun (Head of Teachers) and later officially assumed the role of Muhtamim in 1976. Following his death in 1996, Mustafa Azad took over the leadership. After Azad passed away in 2018, Bahauddin Zakaria was appointed as The New Muhtamim.

Departments and Curriculum

The madrasa operates several distinct academic and administrative departments. The Primary maktab section provides children with a foundational education in Urdu and Persian, alongside general subjects like Bengali, Mathematics, Social Studies, and English up to the fifth grade.

The Kitab department is the core academic division, offering a comprehensive Islamic theology curriculum. Students are taught subjects such as Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Tafsir (Quranic exegesis), Hadith (prophetic traditions), Aqidah (theology), Arabic literature, Nahw-Sarf (grammar), Balagha (rhetoric), Mantiq (logic), and Hekmat (philosophy). The curriculum progresses systematically from the first grade up to the highest level, Takmil (equivalent to a master's degree).

A dedicated Fatwa and Farayez department operates under the supervision of specialized Muftis to provide Sharia-compliant solutions to daily religious inquiries. It issues written fatwas for the public and offers a specialized Takhasus fil Fiqh (higher research in Islamic jurisprudence) training program for graduates of the Takmil level.

Additionally, the madrasa offers a specialized research-based training course on Quranic exegesis (Tafsirul Quran). Held annually during the month of Ramadan, this course follows the specific instructional methods of the prominent scholar Ahmad Ali Lahori. Shamsuddin Qasemi, a direct student of Lahori, originally introduced this Tafsir methodology to Bangladesh, and his students continue to conduct the program today.

The institution's publication department is responsible for printing various books, monthly magazines, and periodicals, including an annual thematic memorial book.

Co-curricular Activities

To encourage the practice of Bengali literature and language, Bengali is included in the mandatory syllabus up to the tenth grade. The madrasa regularly organizes weekly public speaking sessions in the students' mother tongue, along with competitions in debate, essay writing, and poetry recitation. To further develop writing skills in both Bengali and Arabic, students independently publish two regular wall magazines titled Inqilab and Al-Falah.

Administration and Enrollment

As of the 2023–24 academic year, Arjabad Madrasa had an enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. The institution employs 55 teaching faculty members and 15 support staff, including guards, cooks, and cleaners.

Notable Alumni

• Manjurul Islam Afendi
• Waliur Rahman Khan
• Enayetullah Abbasi
• Mufti Enayetullah
• Shaker Hossein Shibli
• Waliullah Arman

See also

• List of Deobandi madrasas
• List of Qawmi madrasas