Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. == Development ==

From its establishment until 1967, Shah Ahmad Hasan managed the madrasa, followed by Nurul Haque after his death. Upon Nurul Haque's death in 1987, Shah Muhammad Tayyab took over as Director-General. Under his leadership, the madrasa became self-sustained, introducing advanced departments in Tafsir, Fatwa, and Qira'at. 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. Additionally, the madrasa's 100th anniversary was celebrated in February 2007. Shah Muhammad Tayyab died in 2020, and his funeral was held on the madrasa grounds with Junaid Babunagari leading the prayer. After his death, his son, Khubayb bin Tayyab, was appointed the fourth Director-General, having previously served as Assistant Director in 2016. The madrasa's 118th International Islamic Conference was held in November 2024, with Ilyas Ghuman as the chief guest. The madrasa introduced the Dawrah-e-Hadith program in 1920, 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. == Departments ==

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. 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. 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. 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. == Ziri patronage ==

, 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-Jameatul Islamia Al-Arabia Mozaherul Uloom, 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. ==Gallery==

File:Photograph of Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri taken by Owais Al Qarni 45.jpg|Main gate File:Photograph of Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri taken by Owais Al Qarni 12.jpg|Second gate File:Photograph of Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri taken by Owais Al Qarni 42.jpg|Shiksha Bhawan File:Photograph of Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri taken by Owais Al Qarni 01.jpg|Ziri clinic File:Khatam-e-Bukhari Ceremony 2026 at Al-Jameatul Arabiatul Islamia Ziri 04.jpg|Khatam-e-Bukhari Ceremony 2026 == See also ==