The Al Faridia University ( ur, , Jamiya Faridia) is an
Deobandi Islamic university
The term "Islamic university" ( ar, الجامعة الإسلامية, ''Jami'ah Islamiyah''), sometimes called madrasah jāmiʿah ( ar, مدرسة جامعة), can be used to describe secular educational institutions that were founded by people ...
situated near the
Faisal Mosque
The Faisal Mosque ( ur, , faisal masjid) is the national mosque of Pakistan, located in capital Islamabad. It is the fifth-largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Pakistan's ...
in
Islamabad
Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
. The university was established in 1971 by
Maulana Abdullah Ghazi, who remained the
Chancellor until he was assassinated by unknown gunmen in October 1998.
As of 2022, it is the largest and oldest
Madrasa
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , pl. , ) is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary instruction or higher learning. The word is variously transliterated '' ...
in Islamabad, and has 1,600 students and more than 95 teachers and is considered one of the leading
Islamic educational institutions in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
, and it attracts students from various parts of the country and from other countries as well. The seminary has produced a large number of graduates who have gone on to become prominent Islamic scholars and preachers.
History
In 1966, a small seminary was established at
Lal Masjid Lal Masjid or Red Mosque may refer to:
* Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Pettah, Sri Lanka
*Lal Masjid, Islamabad, Pakistan
**Siege of Lal Masjid
The siege of Lal Masjid ( ur, , code-named Operation Sunrise) was a confrontation in July 2007 between ...
by
Maulana Abdullah Ghazi, in which there were about 20 to 25 students for the
Hifz class. After some time, a need was felt to have a bigger place for running this seminary so that a large number of students who were increasing with the passage of time could be accommodated.
Hence, a place in the meadows of the
Margalla Hills
The Margalla Hills () are a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park on the northern edge of Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, just south of Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills. Th ...
in Sector E-7 was acquired with the help and cooperation of Seth Haroon E. H. Jaffer (Jaffer Group of Companies), Haji Akhtar Hassan (OSD Kashmir Affairs & Finance Secretary of Azad Kashmir), and
Admiral Mohammad. Shariff, NI(M), HJ (Rtd).
The area where the
Capital Development Authority A Capital Development Authority is a special sort of entity found in various countries that is concerned with the municipal development of the capital city or capital territory of that country. Examples include:
*Capital Development Authority (Isla ...
built
Sector E-7 of
Islamabad
Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital ...
originally housed several small settlements and the area where Jamia Faridia was specifically constructed had originally been a village by the name of "Dhok Jeevan", which had been inhabited since the rule of the
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...
, and was one of the largest of these settlements and also included the area of (what is now) The
Faisal Mosque
The Faisal Mosque ( ur, , faisal masjid) is the national mosque of Pakistan, located in capital Islamabad. It is the fifth-largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Pakistan's ...
''.
''
The seminary was relocated to its current building in 1984. Maulana Abdullah Ghazi served as the chancellor until his assassination by unidentified gunmen in the courtyard of Lal Masjid in October 1998.
![Moulana Abdullah Grave](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Moulana_Abdullah_Grave.jpg)
Following Maulana Abdullah's assassination, his son
Maulana Abdul Aziz
Abdul Aziz ( ur, ) is a Pakistani cleric and sermon preacher at Lal Masjid, Islamabad, which was the site of a siege in 2007 with the Pakistani army. He is also the current Chancellor of Jamia Hafsa and Jamia Faridia, Aziz was released from c ...
was appointed as chancellor and his younger brother
Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was a
Quaid-i-Azam University
Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad ( ur, ; commonly referred to as QAU), founded as University of Islamabad, is a ranked 1 public research university in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Founded as the University of Islamabad in 1967, it was initially dedi ...
graduate and a former
UN envoy, undertook the task of modernizing the institute. As part of this initiative, he launched the Al Faridia Model School, a tuition-free high school that provides classes from 7th grade up until matriculation.
He also introduced short academic programmes including
information technology
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of Data (computing), data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information te ...
,
philosophy and
Tajweed
In the context of the recitation of the Quran, ''tajwīd'' ( ar, تجويد ', , 'elocution') is a set of rules for the correct pronunciation of the letters with all their qualities and applying the various traditional methods of recitation (''Q ...
(Quranic phonetics).
Academic profile
Etymology
Initially called "''Madrasa Arabiya Islamia"'', the institute underwent a name change when it was relocated to Sector E-7. It was renamed The Faridia School following the recommendation of Seth Haroon E. H. Jaffer. Eventually, it became known as Al Faridia University or Jamia Faridia..''
''
Reputation and rankings
The institute is the largest Islamic seminary/madrasa in Islamabad and the
Wifaq ul Madaris
Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia, Pakistan (Urdu: ) is the largest federation of Islamic seminaries in Pakistan, founded in 1959. More than 10,000 seminaries and 23,000 madaris across Pakistan are affiliated with the federation. It controls all the ...
ranks the institute among the top 5 madaris/institutes for Islamic learning in Pakistan. It is regarded as one of the most modern madaris.
The institute has hosted several Pakistani and global personalities including Saudi Leader
Abdullah Omar Nasseef,
Grand Mosque Imam Sheikh
Mohammad Al Subail, Pakistani scientist
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, and scholars such as
Mufti Taqi Usmani
Muhammad Taqi Usmani (born 5 October 1943) is a Pakistani Islamic scholar and former judge who is the current president of the Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia and the vice president and Hadith professor of the Darul Uloom Karachi. An intellectual ...
,
Maulana Zahid Ur Rashdi,
Dr. Qibla Ayaz, and
Muhammad Hanif Jalandhari.
Academic Degrees
The seminary is recognized for its extensive curriculum, which includes traditional
Dars-i Nizami
Dars-i Nizami is a study curriculum or system used in many Islamic institutions ( madrassas) and Dar Ul Ulooms, which originated in the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century and can now also be found in parts of South Africa, Canada, the United ...
studies,
Arabic language
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...
,
Quranic studies
Qur'anic studies is the academic study of the Quran, the religious scripture of Islam.
Schools
Behnam Sadeghi and Mohsen Goudarzi classify scholars of Quranic studies into four groups: traditionalists, revisionists, skeptics, and neo-traditiona ...
,
Islamic jurisprudence,
Hadith studies
Hadith studies ( ar, علم الحديث ''ʻilm al-ḥadīth'' "science of hadith", also science of hadith, or science of hadith criticism or hadith criticism)
consists of several religious scholarly disciplines used by Muslim scholars in th ...
,
Islamic history, and other related subjects. Its certificates are issued to students under the
Federation of Madaris, and its Dars-i Nizami degree is equivalent to an
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Th ...
in Islamic studies.
The following certificates are issued by the Institute:
*Certificate of
Hafiz-ul-
Qur'an
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , s ...
(memorizing the Noble
Qur'an
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , s ...
)
*Certificate of Secondary (Equivalent
Matriculation
Matriculation is the formal process of entering a university, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as a matriculation examination.
Australia
In Australia, the term "matriculation" is seldom used now ...
)
*Certificate of Higher Secondary (Equivalent FA)
*Certificate of Higher Education (Equivalent
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...
in
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
)
*Certificate of
Dars-i Nizami
Dars-i Nizami is a study curriculum or system used in many Islamic institutions ( madrassas) and Dar Ul Ulooms, which originated in the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century and can now also be found in parts of South Africa, Canada, the United ...
(Equivalent
M.A in
Islamic studies
Islamic studies refers to the academic study of Islam, and generally to academic multidisciplinary "studies" programs—programs similar to others that focus on the history, texts and theologies of other religious traditions, such as Easter ...
)
Campus
The institute has a large campus with modern facilities, including a
mosque
A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
, classrooms, library, computer lab, and residential facilities for students.
The campus is located north east of Hill Side Road in
Sector E7 of
Islamabad
Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital ...
, around 1.5 km east of
Faisal Mosque
The Faisal Mosque ( ur, , faisal masjid) is the national mosque of Pakistan, located in capital Islamabad. It is the fifth-largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Pakistan's ...
, and at the foothills of the
Margalla Hills
The Margalla Hills () are a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park on the northern edge of Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, just south of Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills. Th ...
, the westernmost foothills of the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...
, putting it at the northernmost end of the city, It is located on an elevated area of land against a picturesque backdrop of the
Margalla Hills National Park
Margalla Hills National Park ( ur, ) is a national park in Pakistan located in Islamabad Capital Territory, near its northern boundary with Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The park includes the Margalla Hills, which form the foothills of ...
, it is easily accessible and located in a peaceful and serene environment, the area is known for its well-maintained infrastructure, lush greenery, making it an ideal place for a educational institution.
The campus has been divided into four sections, each named after one of the four
Rashidun caliphs
, image = تخطيط كلمة الخلفاء الراشدون.png
, caption = Calligraphic representation of Rashidun Caliphs
, birth_place = Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia present-day Saudi Arabia
, known_for = Companions of t ...
.
Jamia Mosque
Historically before the construction of the institute, an old mosque named Toobah Mosque was constructed by nearby village residents. However, the mosque was later incorporated into the institute and was expanded into a Jamia Mosque which was later re-named to Jamia Masjid Abdullah Ghazi Shaheed.''
''
The Al Faridia High School
The Al Faridia High School is a public high school which offers students classes from 7th till the matriculation, and was established by Maulana
Abdul Rashid Ghazi
Abdul Rashid Ghazi ( ur, عبد الرشید غازی; – 10 July 2007) was a Pakistani Islamic fundamentalist who served as the vice-chancellor of Faridia University. Prior to his radicalisation, he served as a diplomat for UNESCO. He was ...
.
Library
Named after the renowned intellectual center in
Baghdad
Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon. I ...
during the
Islamic Golden Age
The Islamic Golden Age was a period of cultural, economic, and scientific flourishing in the history of Islam, traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 14th century. This period is traditionally understood to have begun during the reign ...
, the Bayt al-Ḥikmah Library is situated across from the main building. The library boasts an impressive collection of over three thousand books and journals, including the complete 32-volume set of
Encyclopædia Britannica
The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various t ...
.
Maktaba Faridia
Maktaba Faridia is a
bookstore
Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librar ...
and publisher that is a subsidiary company of Jamia Faridia. It was founded in 1982 to help students get their academic books and other accessories.
AQ Khan Forest Trail
In 2002, the institute constructed a
pedestrian path from the institute to
Faisal Mosque
The Faisal Mosque ( ur, , faisal masjid) is the national mosque of Pakistan, located in capital Islamabad. It is the fifth-largest mosque in the world and the largest within South Asia, located on the foothills of Margalla Hills in Pakistan's ...
. It was constructed with the financial assistance of Pakistani Scientist
Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, and was therefore named the AQ Khan
Trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. ...
.
See also
*
Jamia Hafsa
Jamia Hafsa (جامعة حفصة) is a madrassa adjacent to the Lal Masjid Mosque Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The mosque and its seminaries are overseen by cleric Abdul Aziz Ghazi.
The seminary, and the adjoining Lal Mosque, was ow ...
*
Lal Masjid Lal Masjid or Red Mosque may refer to:
* Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Pettah, Sri Lanka
*Lal Masjid, Islamabad, Pakistan
**Siege of Lal Masjid
The siege of Lal Masjid ( ur, , code-named Operation Sunrise) was a confrontation in July 2007 between ...
References
External links
Official websiteFaridia Universityat
InstagramFaridia Universityat
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
References
Islamic universities and colleges
{{authority control
Deobandi Islamic universities and colleges
1971 establishments in Pakistan
Educational institutions established in 1971
Islam in Pakistan
Madrasas in Pakistan
Universities and colleges in Islamabad