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Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri

Coordinates: 22°17′14″N 91°53′25″E / 22.2872°N 91.8902°E / 22.2872; 91.8902
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Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri
আল জামিয়াতুল আরবিয়াতুল ইসলামিয়া জিরি
Mosque in madrasa compound
Masjid-e-Tawba, Located at the Center of the Madrasa Compound
TypeQawmi madrasa
Established1910; 115 years ago (1910)
FounderShah Ahmad Hasan
AffiliationBefaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh
Religious affiliation
Deobandi movement
Director-GeneralKhubayb bin Tayyab
Location
Bangladesh

22°17′14″N 91°53′25″E / 22.2872°N 91.8902°E / 22.2872; 91.8902
CampusRural
Websitejamiaislamiaziri.org
Map

Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri, commonly known as Ziri madrasa, is a Qawmi madrasa located in southeastern Bangladesh, founded in 1910 by Shah Ahmad Hasan. Situated in Ziri Union of Patiya Upazila, Chittagong, it is one of the oldest and third-largest institutions in the Qawmi madrasa framework.[1] The institution introduced Dawra-e-Hadith—the highest level of traditional Islamic studies in the Qawmi curriculum—in 1920, initially under the leadership of Abdul Wadud Sandapi, who served as the first Sheikh al-Hadith. The madrasa was led by its founder for nearly six decades, and the current Director-General is Khubayb bin Tayyab. Musa Sandapi currently serves as the Sheikh al-Hadith.

Inception

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Shah Ahmad Hasan's burial site inside the madrasa compound

The inception of this madrasa dates back to a conversation between Shah Ahmad Hasan and Ashraf Ali, a tutor at Shah Ahmad Hasan's household, while Shah Ahmad was studying at Darul Uloom Hathazari.[2] They discussed the idea of establishing a madrasa to promote authentic Islamic education. Together, they began the madrasa in a small shop on the eastern side of a bamboo bridge in Kayagram. Abdul Bari from Hathazari joined as the Arabic teacher, and Ashraf Ali served as the general teacher. After some time, the madrasa was relocated to the western side of the bridge, where a mud house was built, and two more teachers, Abdul Bari from Lakkharchar and Dalilur Rahman from Khorandwip, joined the institution.[3]

After Shah Ahmad Hasan completed his studies and returned home, he reconnected with Ashraf Ali to discuss the future of the madrasa. He suggested relocating the madrasa to the eastern side of Chandpur Road, providing three reasons: difficulty crossing the bamboo bridge due to physical constraints, the better infrastructure for development on the eastern side, and the need to stay closer to his aging father.[4] Ashraf Ali agreed to the move but could not contribute financially. Shah Ahmad Hasan took on the financial responsibility, purchased land, and dug a pond in 1910, building a mud storehouse and road. He organized a religious gathering in Ziri Majumdar Para, with Abdul Hamid as the chief guest, which helped raise the necessary funds.[4] However, a severe storm destroyed the mud structure, and the locals were initially unwilling to contribute again. Shah Ahmad Hasan then sold some of his land to rebuild the madrasa using bamboo. After organizing an Eid prayer, the community agreed to support the madrasa once more, leading to the relocation of students from the western side.[5]

The madrasa's final relocation occurred when Shah Ahmad Hasan began teaching beneath a peanut tree to the west of the current mosque site at Ziri Madrasa.[6] Following the destruction of the Chandpur Road madrasa in a storm, some materials were moved to the new location, and a bamboo structure was built. This marked the establishment of the madrasa at its present site. Abdul Wadud Swandi, one of the earliest teachers, graduated from Darul Uloom Deoband, joined the madrasa, and taught there for nearly six decades.[7]

Development

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118th International Islamic Conference at Ziri madrasa

From its establishment until 1967, Shah Ahmad Hasan managed the madrasa, followed by Nurul Haque after his passing. Upon Nurul Haque's death in 1987, Shah Muhammad Tayyab took over as Director-General.[8] Under his leadership, the madrasa became self-sustained, introducing advanced departments in Tafsir, Fatwa, and Qira'at.[9] He also established a computer training center, a hospital named the 'Sharjah Charity Hospital' to provide free medical services for students, and a khanqah for spiritual purification, drawing people from all over Bangladesh. During his tenure, construction projects included four-story classrooms, a three-story mosque, a modern guest house, and a Darul Hadith building.[10] Additionally, the madrasa's 100th anniversary was celebrated in February 2007.[11] Shah Muhammad Tayyab died in 2020, and his funeral was held on the madrasa grounds with Junaid Babunagari leading the prayer.[12] After his death, his son, Khubayb bin Tayyab, was appointed the fourth Director-General, having previously served as Assistant Director in 2016.[13] The madrasa's 118th International Islamic Conference was held in November 2024, with Ilyas Ghuman as the chief guest.[14]

The madrasa introduced the Dawrah-e-Hadith program in 1920,[15] with Sheikh al-Hadith Abdul Wadud Sandapi as the first teacher. The first group of students, which included Azizul Haque, had four members. Subsequent Sheikh al-Hadiths included Abdul Wadud Sandapi (1338–1388 Hijri), Saleh Ahmad (1389–1391 Hijri), Nurul Haque (1392–1408 Hijri), Hafez Ahmadullah (1409–1411 Hijri), Ishaq Rangunbi (1412 Hijri), Ishaq Kanaimadari (1413–1418 Hijri), Ishaq Rangunbi (1418–1423 Hijri), and Musa Sandapi, who has held the position since 1423 Hijri.[16]

Departments

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Darul Hadith building and Khanaqah-e-Abraria

The institution includes an Islamic kindergarten, a Tahfizul Qur'an program, and the core Kitab division, which spans five academic levels from primary to postgraduate studies.[17] Specialized one-year programs are offered in fatwa, Qur'anic recitation (qira'at), and Arabic literature. Its library provides access to thousands of religious texts in multiple languages, available to students and teachers free of charge.[18] The madrasa also supports extracurricular engagement through its literary and cultural division, which organizes competitions in recitation, debate, poetry, and essay writing, alongside weekly seminars.[18] Technical training is available in electrical work, bookbinding, computing, tailoring, and calligraphy. Healthcare services are provided by the Sharjah Charity Hospital, where two doctors offer daily treatment and distribute basic medicines free of charge for three days. The publication division produces an annual magazine, Al-Hasan, Arabic wall magazines (Al-Tayyab and Al-Noor), and a Bengali wall magazine (Al-Abrar). Social service activities, managed by the Ziri Welfare Society, include mosque and madrasa construction, water well installation, pond excavation, and livelihood support for underprivileged families. Religious outreach is conducted through the Da'wah and Guidance Division, which also maintains a khanqah for spiritual development.[19]

Ziri patronage

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Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, Founded Under Ziri Madrasa's Patronage in 1938

Several educational institutions across southeastern Bangladesh have been established under the patronage or influence of Ziri Madrasa. Notable among them are: Al Jamia Al Islamia Patiya, Al-Jamiatul Arabia Mujaherul Uloom Miyakhan Nagar, Hossainia Madrasa Boalia, Islamia Madrasa Boalia, Wahedia Madrasa Boalkhali, Nurul Uloom Tajweedul Qur'an Madrasa Shahmirpur, Jhapuya Madrasa Maheshkhali, Islamia Arabia Madrasa Bahaddarkata, Bayt-un-Noor Madrasa Ashia, Ruknul Islam Madrasa Khandlia Para, Azizul Uloom Fulbagicha Madrasa Rangunia, Talimuddin Wadudiya Madrasa Khurushkul, Darus Sunnah Wadudiya Madrasa Matarbari, Darbeskata Madrasa Chakaria, Al-Jamiatul Islamia Dampara Chattogram, Baitul Karim Madrasa Ishanagar, Mohtorpur Habibul Uloom Madrasa Chattogram, Jamia-tul Kamalat Bandarban, and Ta'limul Qur'an Madrasa Bottoli.[20]

[edit]
  • Main gate
    Main gate
  • Second gate
    Second gate
  • Shiksha Bhawan
    Shiksha Bhawan
  • Ziri clinic
    Ziri clinic

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sarwar, MD Ghulam (2013). Bengali Fiqh Practice (1947–2006): An Analysis of Its Forms and Features (PDF) (PhD thesis) (in Bengali). Bangladesh: University of Dhaka. p. 284.
  2. ^ Hasan, Shah Ahmad (2016). Ahmadullah, Hafez (ed.). Mashayekh-e Chatgam (in Bengali) (3rd ed.). Patiya: Ahmod Prokashon. p. 197. ISBN 978-984-92106-4-1.
  3. ^ Hasan 2016, p. 198.
  4. ^ a b Hasan 2016, p. 199.
  5. ^ Hasan 2016, p. 200.
  6. ^ Hasan 2016, p. 202.
  7. ^ Hasan 2016, p. 204.
  8. ^ Uddin 2021, p. 46.
  9. ^ "Souvenir 2020". Al-Hasan. Patiya: Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri: 23. 2020.
  10. ^ A Tribute to Allama Shah Mohammad Tayyab Sahib (R.A.) (in Bengali). Patiya: Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri. 2020. p. 44.
  11. ^ Uddin 2021, p. 108.
  12. ^ "The country's top scholar Allama Shah Tayyab died". Jugantor. 25 May 2020.
  13. ^ Uddin 2021, p. 119.
  14. ^ "Jiri Madrasa's Yearly Assembly in Chittagong – November 7–8". Our Islam. 5 November 2024.
  15. ^ Azami, Noor Muhammad (2008). Theoretical Framework and Historical Development of Hadith (in Bengali). Bangladesh: Emdadia Library. p. 293. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022.
  16. ^ Uddin 2021, p. 121.
  17. ^ Uddin 2021, p. 48.
  18. ^ a b Uddin 2021, p. 49.
  19. ^ Uddin 2021, p. 50–51.
  20. ^ Uddin, Giyas (2021). History of Jamia Ziri (in Bengali). Patiya: Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri. pp. 58–59.
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