JAMIA AHMADIYYA  (a theololgical univesity)

Introduction

•                  (Arabic: جامعة الأحمدية‎; Jāmi’ah al-Ahmadīyyah, "the Ahmadiyya University") is an International Islamic seminary and educational institute with campuses in Pakistan, United Kingdom, India, Ghana, Canada, Germany, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, and Kenya. In addition, there are related Mualameen centers (Missionary Training Centres) in Pakistan and Madagascar. Founded in 1906 as a Section in Madrassa Talim ul Islam (later Talim-ul-Islam College) by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, it is the main centre of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for Islamic learning.

History

•           The foundations of Jamia Ahmadiyya were laid by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community himself, when he expressed the need for a madrassa for Ahmadi Muslims so that a new generation of Ahmadi scholars could be trained. This led to the creation of Talim-ul-Islam College in Qadian, India in 1898. The theology section was later separated and inaugurated as Jamia Ahmadiyya Qadian on 20 May 1928 by Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad,Khalifatul Masih II of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Following the Partition of the Indian Subcontinent, the Community relocated its headquarters to Rabwah, Pakistan. Keeping in view the needs of the Community in Pakistan, Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah was established. Since then, due to the exponential growth of the Community around the globe, campuses have been opened in many countries throughout the world.

Degree and Curriculum

      Two types of degrees are offered in most Jamias.

• Shahid Degree: This is the seven-year course. In some Jamias (e.g. in United Kingdom) this is the only course offered.
• Mubashar Degree: This is a four-year course offered in many Jamias.
• Some Jamias have associated Muallam courses as well. This course is shorter than the Shahid Degree.
• Curriculum for the Jamia Ahmadiyyas around the globe is nearly same and is organised and compiled by scholars of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The only differences are in the regional languages taught which are according to the locations of the institutions.

Appointments of Jamia Alumni

•          Jamia students may be appointed by the Caliph either as Missionaries of the Community (often called Murrabi, Imam, or Mawlana) or as Qadis or Muftis of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community with a specialisation in matters of fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence). Some Jamia alumni have also become Islamic historians such as the late Dost Muhammad Shahid, former Official Historian of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, with a specialisation in tarikh (Islamic historiography).Students of Jamia have dedicated their lives to the cause of Ahmadiyyat. Upon completion of their degrees, they are sent to various parts of the world including South America, Africa, North America, Europe, and Far East as appointed by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, present head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Jamia alumni stay with their careers as appointed by Khalifatul Masih for the rest of their lives, as per their commitment to the Community.