Jamia-e-Imania or the Imania Arabic College (Urdu: الجامعة الإيمانية) is a Madrasa in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its full name is Majma-ul-Uloom, Jamia-e-Imania.[1]
Jamia-e-Imania was established as a Shia Religious Seminary for extended Islamic studies and higher religious education on 15 December 1866/1283 (A.H.) in the city of Banaras (Varanasi) India. It was founded by Moulvi Khursheed Ali Khan, on the proposal of Qazi Maulana Syed Bande Ali Khan the last Qaazi-ul-Quzaat (Islamic chief justice) of Banaras. He provided land for this purpose and the construction was completed under his supervision in 1870/1287(A.H.).
Jamia-e-Imania is the first and the oldest academic center of Shia Muslims in the Indian sub-continent. It is an educational, non-profit, charitable institution serving the community continuously for over a century and a half. It has produced a large number of religious scholars, preachers, professors, authors, orators (khatibs), poets (shayars) and religious activists.
There was a period of 30/40 years during which it suffered from many unpleasant situations and saw some setbacks but it was re-established and rejuvenated by Maulana Syed Mohammad Husaini in 1983 and very soon it was back to its previous position with his efforts and presently it is on the way of rapidly progress under the leadership of his son Maulana Syed Mohammad Zafar Al-Husaini who is the Chief authority and holding the highest post in this college.[2]