Introduction
The Jami’at al-Islamiyyah — the Islamic University of Madinah — is the world’s most internationally significant dedicated Islamic higher education institution. Founded in 1961 to provide the global Muslim community with qualified scholars trained in the Madinah tradition, it accepts students from over 170 countries on full scholarships — producing thousands of Islamic scholars annually who return to lead communities across the Muslim world. For higher Islamic education in Saudi Arabia, the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah is the apex.
What Is the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah?
| Feature | Details |
| Full name | Al-Jami’ah al-Islamiyyah bil-Madinah al-Munawwarah (الجامعة الإسلامية بالمدينة المنورة) |
| Common English name | Islamic University of Madinah (IUM) |
| Location | Madinah, Saudi Arabia |
| Founded | 1961 (1381 AH) |
| Mandate | Islamic higher education for the global Muslim community |
| Student body | International — 170+ countries; Saudi students also |
| Scholarship | Full scholarship for international students in Islamic sciences |
| Governance | Saudi government; direct state funding |
History and Founding
The Jami’at al-Islamiyyah was founded by royal decree in 1961 with a specific mission: to provide the worldwide Muslim community with scholars trained in the Madinah scholarly tradition, with a particular emphasis on Quran sciences, Hadith, and Arabic. The choice of Madinah — the city of the Prophet ﷺ — was deliberate and symbolic; scholars trained here carry the authority of proximity to the source.
Academic Structure: Faculties and Programmes
| Faculty (Kulliyyah) | Focus | Key programmes |
| Kulliyyah al-Quran al-Karim | Quran sciences | Hifz; Tajweed; Qira’at (multiple modes); Ulum al-Quran; Ijazah |
| Kulliyyah al-Hadith al-Sharif | Hadith sciences | Major Hadith collections; Hadith criticism; Sanad methodology |
| Kulliyyah al-Shari’ah | Islamic law | Fiqh; Usul al-Fiqh; comparative fiqh |
| Kulliyyah al-Da’wah wal-Usul al-Din | Islamic theology and outreach | Aqeedah; Da’wah; comparative religion |
| Kulliyyah al-Lughat al-Arabiyyah | Arabic language | Classical Arabic; grammar; rhetoric; linguistics |
| Graduate School | Advanced degrees | Master’s and PhD in all disciplines |
| Arabic Language Institute | Arabic preparation | Non-Arabic-speaking students; language preparation year |
The International Scholarship Programme
| Feature | Details |
| Eligibility | Muslim students from any country |
| Coverage | Tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, medical care, annual travel allowance |
| Language requirement | Arabic (beginners may do a preparation year at the Arabic Language Institute) |
| Duration | Bachelor’s: 4 years; Master’s: 2 years; PhD: 3+ years |
| Application | Via country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs or directly |
| Quota | Each country has an annual scholarship allocation |
The scholarship programme is one of the most significant mechanisms through which Saudi Arabia projects Islamic scholarly influence globally — graduates return home as scholars, imams, teachers, and community leaders shaped by the Madinah tradition.
Ijazah and Sanad at the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah
The Kulliyyah al-Quran at the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah is a primary source of globally respected Ijazah chains:
- Students in the Quran Kulliyyah receive regular Talaqqi from Shuyukh with authenticated Sanad chains
- Upon graduation, qualifying students receive Ijazah in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim and potentially other Qira’at
- The Madinah Sanad is among the world’s shortest — making Jami’at al-Islamiyyah Ijazahs among the most prestigious
- Graduates return to their home countries carrying both a degree and an Ijazah — a uniquely powerful combination
Global Alumni: How Madinah Shapes the Muslim World
The Jami’at al-Islamiyyah’s global alumni network:
| Region | Alumni role |
| South Asia | Imams; Islamic university faculty; Quran school directors |
| Southeast Asia | Leading scholars; religious ministry officials; Islamic education directors |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Community scholars; mosque imams; Islamic school founders |
| Central Asia (post-Soviet) | Rebuilding Islamic institutions; university lecturers |
| Western Muslim communities | Imams; Islamic school teachers; Muslim organisation directors |
Other Saudi Islamic Universities
| University | Location | Focus |
| Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University | Riyadh | Largest Saudi Islamic university; Shari’ah, Arabic, Da’wah, mass communication |
| Umm al-Qura University | Makkah | Broad Islamic and secular programmes; significant Quran sciences component |
| King Abdulaziz University | Jeddah | Islamic Studies faculty within broader comprehensive university |
Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I apply to the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah as an international student?
Applications are typically made through your country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs or Islamic Affairs, which receives an annual quota from the university. Some countries have direct application processes. You will need to demonstrate Arabic language ability or be prepared to attend the Arabic Language Institute preparation year.
Q: What language is used at the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah?
All instruction is in Classical Arabic. Students from non-Arabic-speaking countries typically spend 1–2 years at the Arabic Language Institute before beginning their main programme. Arabic fluency is a prerequisite for the Islamic sciences programmes.
Q: Can women study at the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah?
The Jami’at al-Islamiyyah has historically been primarily a male institution. Female Islamic education in Saudi Arabia is provided through dedicated women’s universities and women’s sections of other institutions.
Conclusion
The Jami’at al-Islamiyyah in Madinah is the singular institution through which Saudi Arabia most powerfully shapes global Islamic scholarship — producing thousands of scholars annually from 170+ countries, equipped with Quran Ijazah chains, Hadith training, and Islamic law knowledge rooted in the Madinah scholarly tradition. For administrators of institutions that send students to Madinah or receive its graduates, the Jami’at al-Islamiyyah is the benchmark for Islamic higher education quality.
Ilmify supports Islamic higher education institutions and Tahfiz centres working toward Jami’at al-Islamiyyah standards. Explore Ilmify →
Arabic 
English 
Malay 
Urdu