About Us

HISTORY OF MADRASAT-UL-BANAT

Madrasat-ul-Banat was founded by Moulana Abdul Haq Abbas, a zealous educationist and a prominent personage in the undivided Punjab. It started as small Madrasa in Basti Danishmand near Jullander (India) in I907. In those days groups of women and children from the neighboring Basti attended lecture based on Islamic teachings and Arabic language, the main aim then was to educate the women about the Islamic teachings. This is because in those days Hindu culture was proliferating into the Muslim homes mainly because of lack of knowledge and understanding about their own religion. In November I926, foundation stone was laid for the Madrasa at Jullander city, with the objective of providing religious education to Muslim children, especially girls to whom this right was denied by the then orthodox and conservative Muslim society.

In making this institution a success, the founder had to face opposition from all quarters because the majority of the Muslim society was not in favor of modern education for girls. Firm in his conviction, the founder stood like a rock and continued his untiring efforts till he made the school a success. After partition the school had to migrate to Lahore leaving behind its property worth millions of rupees. It however, brought with it its fair name and countrywide fame to newly allotted land at 15 Lake Road, Lahore.

It was in Jullander that the Madrasa had the honor of a visit by the late Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah accompanied by Fatima Jinnah (1942), who was deeply impressed by the novelty of its character and remarked that it would become a Women’s University in the near future. After establishment of Pakistan it has not been devoid of such honors. It was visited by many distinguished personalities namely: Madre Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah (1952, 1957), Chaudary Mohammad Ali, Ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, Maulvi Fazal-ul-Haq, the then Education Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Mohammad el-Fasi Minister of Morocco, and a number of leading national and foreign dignitaries. All of them equally impressed and re-affirmed the wish of late Quaid-e-Azam.

To offer highest tribute & appreciation to the founder President Anjuman Madrasat-ul-Banat, the Executive Committee ofAnjuman Madrast-ul-Banat desired to institute a gold medal in his name as ”Abdul Haq Abbas Gold Medal” to be conferred upon to the first position holder in M.Sc. Botany, every year in Government College University, Lahore. Later on ”Abdul Haq Abbas Gold Medal” is now being conferred upon to the top position holder of B.Sc. (Hons) Environmental Sciences.

Impressed by the progress of this institution and convinced of the failure of Missionary schools to meet the educational requirements of Muslims children, the management decided to introduce the modern method of education based on Montessori system with a change in the syllabus in such a way as to preserve Islamic, social and cultural values. Thus the new section of this institution; the Junior Cambridge section was initiated in 1950. In 1956, the management started the intermediate College; Kuliat-ul-Banat. In I962, it was upgraded to a Degree College. At that time it was planned that by the beginning of 1970’s the management would be able to initiate M.A classes in Arabic and Islamiyat. Unfortunately in I972, Urdu medium section and the degree college of this institution were nationalized. At present, the management of Cambridge school is in the hands ofAnjuman Madrasat-ul-Banat which was registered under Society Registration act in 1953 and was declared as a charitable organization (Tax exemption 4/S 42. No 71 (I 1)-ITP/54).