Jamia Ashraful Uloom
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جامعہ اشرف العلوم | |
| Type | Islamic seminary (madrasa) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1937 (reopened 1984) |
| Affiliation | Odisha State Board of Madarsa Education |
| Principal | Muhammad Farooq Qasmi |
| Location | , , |
| Language | Urdu, Arabic, Odia, English |
 | |
Jamia Ashraful Uloom (Urdu: جامعہ اشرف العلوم) is an Islamic educational institution located in Mahmoodabad, Kendrapara district, in the Indian state of Odisha. It is a residential madrasa offering a combination of religious and modern general education. The institution is registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 and is affiliated with the Odisha State Board of Madarsa Education.[1][2][3] The current principal of the institution is Muhammad Farooq Qasmi.[4]
The madrasa was initially founded in 1937 as a center for Quran memorization. It was closed for several years and later reopened in 1984. It was officially registered as a full-fledged Islamic residential college on 22 December 1986.[1]
Academics and curriculum
Jamia Ashraful Uloom is one of 167 registered madrasas under the Odisha State Board of Madarsa Education (OSBME). It offers both theological and general education subjects, including:
- Theological: Quranic studies, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Arabic, Urdu
- General: Odia, English, Mathematics, Science, and History[5][6]
The institution is recognized for equivalence by Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) for the following programs:
- Alim (B.A.), including B.A. (Hons-JMC)
- Fazil (M.A.) in Arabic, Urdu, Persian, Islamic Studies, History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Public Administration, Women Education, and Translation Studies[7]
It is also recognized by Dr. Abdul Haq Urdu University (AHUU) for both regular and distance mode admissions. Approved programs under the Alim level include:
- Regular mode: B.A., B.A. (Hons-JMC)
- Distance mode: B.A., Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC)[8]
The Odisha Madrasa Board conducts the following examinations:
- Wastania (Class VII)
- Moulvi (Class X)
- Mahir (Plus Two)
- Alim (B.A. level)
- Fazil-e-Hadith (Postgraduate in theology)
- Fazil-e-Urdu (Postgraduate in Urdu)[6]
Additionally, the institution holds academic equivalency affiliations with Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), facilitating graduates’ access to higher and professional education in mainstream universities.[1][9]
Community Role
The institution is considered important for the educational advancement of underprivileged sections of the Muslim community. According to a 2015 study, madrasa education in Odisha provides an accessible alternative to private schooling, especially for economically weaker families.[5]
Students are reported to have transitioned successfully to mainstream education systems and achieved respectable positions in society.[5]