Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia
Hazrat Allama Arshadul Qadri was a far-sighted thinker, a conscious leader with a sensitive heart. He always felt the needs of the community.
Founded in 1991 under the visionary leadership of Hazrat Allama Arshad ul-Qadri (رحمہ اللہ), Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia is one of India’s most prominent centres of Ahl-e-Sunnah learning. Situated in Delhi, the Jamia continues to uphold the legacy of Sultan-ul-Mashaikh Hazrat Khwaja Syed Nizamuddin Aulia (رح) — the beacon of love, tolerance, and spiritual enlightenment.
The institution combines classical Islamic sciences with modern educational disciplines to prepare students intellectually, linguistically, and spiritually. Here, young scholars are trained not only to understand the faith but to represent it globally — in Arabic, English, French, and Urdu.
Our mission is to nurture a generation of thinkers and preachers who uphold the message of peace and wisdom, contributing to humanity through knowledge, service, and moral leadership.
Hazrat Allama Arshad ul Qadri (رحمہ اللہ)
Hazrat Allama Arshad ul Qadri (رحمہ اللہ) was a renowned scholar, author, and reformer of the 20th century. A visionary leader of Ahl-e-Sunnah, known as “ QAID-E-AHLE SUNNAH”, he devoted his life to reviving Islamic thought and awakening the intellectual spirit of the Ummah.
Observing the decline in linguistic and academic strength among scholars, he envisioned an institution where religious education would meet the challenges of modern civilization — producing scholars well-versed in theology, reason, and world languages.
With this mission, he established Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi, naming it after the great Chishti Saint to reflect both knowledge and spirituality. His words, “We need scholars who can think globally and speak universally,” continue to guide Jamia’s vision even today.
Hazrat Allam
Hazrat Allam, further tells his tale of sorrows and anxieties:
The Ulama who are passing out from our madrasas these days, have only three options- mosques, madrasas and stages (for delivering speeches). The less qualified join the mosques; the somewhat qualified go to the madrasas while the well qualified (who are the most conscious ones also) take up taqreer (delivering speeches) as their profession. By the virtue of their fame, this group (of speakers) enjoys recognition among the masses and possesses the necessary ability to think of and work for the community. But their lives are like running water. Due to constant journeys, they do not find time enough to lead a movement.”
These were the factors that compelled Hazrat Allama Arshadul Qadri to set up Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. Hazrat Allama says:
“These are the factors which have pushed us towards decentralization. One will hardly find a community whose members, despite their numerical strength, are so insignificant. Under these circumstances, we have realized that we acutely need such Ulama as will be equipped with all the necessary qualifications of penmanship, language and mental strength. If we fail in preparing such individuals through theoretical and linguistic training, we will cut ourselves off form the developed countries and gradually become a part of the lost pages of history. With this feeling, we have decided to set up a training centre, “Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia” in Delhi to make our community keep pace with the academic and professional demands of this modern age. We have acquired a plot at Zakir Nagar, a largely Muslim-populated locality near Jamia Millia Islamia and relying upon divine help, started the construction works of a five-storeyed building. Thanks to Allah, we completed the construction works within two years, with the financial help from our generous well-wishers.
Since this was a unique work of its own kind, we ourselves had to chalk out the plans and design the syllabus and educational system with active cooperation from our colleagues.”
This is a brief description of how Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, came into being, in the words of the founder himself. Let us know why this Jamia was named after Sultanul Mashaikh, Mahboob-i-Ilahi Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. Before, we discuss that, we would like to give a brief biographical sketch of his life.
Mahboob-i-Ilahi Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia
Sultanul Mashaikh Mahboob-i-Ilahi Hazrat Khawja Nizamuddin Aulia is one of the leading personalities who played a pivotal role in preaching and propagating Islam in India. He was born at Badayun in 663 A. H. His father was Ahmad s/o Ali. He was of Husaini Syed descent. His forefathers migrated from Bukhara to Lahore, then to Badayun and settled there permanently. His father had passed away when he was only five years old. His mother took up the responsibility of his moral and religious upbringing.
He received reducation from the leading scholars of the time. At the age of 16 years, during the reign of Nasiruddin Mahmood, and during the nobility of Ghiyasuddin Balban, he migrated from Badayuni to Delhi. When he was twenty years old, he traveled to Ajodhan, went to Baba Farid Ganj-i-Shakar, became his spiritual disciple and was granted the Khilafah and Ijahzah. (spiritual succession and permission). Then he was ordered by his Murshid (spiritual mentor) to come to Delhi and engage himself in leading the people to the right path. By the virtue of his blessed company, many people who had gone astray, returned to the right path and many more embraced Islam. His teachings were for all. People from all religions and creeds respected him.
He passed away on 18th Rabi’ul Awwal, 725 A. H. Shikh Ruknuddin, the grandson of Hazrat Zakaria Multani (May his soul rest at peace!) led the funeral prayer. He was buried at a place which is known as Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin. There is always a crowd at his shrine. May Allah shower His blessings upon his holy shrine!
Nomenclature
Sultanul Mashaikh Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia (May his soul rest at peace!) brought, to the fold of Islam, many people who were groping in the darkness of infidelity and ignorance. This is a fact that the light of Islam which is visible in today’s India is the result of the constant efforts these saintly personalities made in the field of promotion and propagation of Islamic teachings.
Since this Jamia was founded at Zakir Nagar, a largely Muslim populated locality of Delhi, which is believed to be the chaukhat (court) of twenty two khawjas, for Dawah works, it was named after Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia with the hope that it might become a centre for the propagation and preaching of Islam and remain active in promoting the teachings to which Hazrat Nizamuddin had devoted every moment of his life at a time when everywhere conspiracies are hatched to defame and distort the true face of Islam..
Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia: a need of time
Many madrasas in India are active in spreading and promoting Islamic arts and sciences. The needs of the society the products of these madrasas fulfill are known to all. This Muslim Ummah is also a Dawah Ummah (Hence it deserved to be called the best community.). However, it is a fact that these days they are constantly negligent of this important aspect of an Islamic life which deals with Dawah works and their sublime goals. Perhaps, this is the main reason why madrasas are producing neither Du’aat nor Muballigheen (preachers / missionaries). This has rendered the mission of Dawah and Tableegh weak and ineffective.
This is the background of how “Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia” was founded, keeping in view the highest goal of propagating the universal message of Islam throughout the world. The Jamia aims at teaching the students international languages such as Arabic and English and training them for leadership so that they may discharge the duty of propagating the Deen (Islam) along with sincerity and dedication, beliefs and thoughts, piety and cleanliness, vision and insight among the non-Muslims and bring them closer to Islam.
Future Plans
The above-mentioned words make it clear that Jamia Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia is a movement. It was founded to reform the Muslim society in various ways and to preach Islam in India and abroad. So far, we have succeeded in running only two kulliyaat (departments), mentioned above. Now, we would like to mention the departments we plan to establish in the near future. They are as follows:
This residential institute will exclusively be for the girls where they will receive religious as well as modern education.
This institute will be set up to train the students in journalism, writings, translation and article-writing. The department of Arabic, English and Urdu Publications will be attached to this institute. In this institute, the students will be drilled in the fundamentals of translation besides writing articles and essays. Their research works will also be published in the annual magazine of the Jamia.
This will be a modern residential English medium school for the children coming of affluent families among the Ahl-i-Sunnah. Like other subjects, Urdu and Deeniyaat (theology / religious studies) will be compulsory subjects in this institute.
Besides, they will also be taught the basic teachings of Islam which are incumbent upon every Muslim to know.
The Jamia does not have a separate building for the library, therefore, one of the halls in the building has temporarily been turned into a library which is not sufficient for our needs. The members of the managing committee have a comprehensive plan for a separate building of the library. We request the rich people to extend their helping hands to them and earn more and more Sawab (reward) in the virtuous deed.
The members of the managing committee plans to build family quarters for the teaching and non-teaching staff. Allah willing, with help from the affluent and generous Muslims, this plan will also be accomplished in the near future.