The history of Jamia Hamdard begins with the establishment of a small Unani clinic in the year 1906 by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed, one of the well-known practitioners of Unani System of Medicine of his time. Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed had a vision of making the practice of Unani Medicine into a scientific discipline so that Unani medicines could be dispensed in a more efficacious manner to patients. He gave the name "Hamdard" to his venture which means "sympathy for all and sharing of pain". His illustrious son, Hakeem Abdul Hameed, carried forward the philosophy and objectives of Hamdard in independent India. Even at the time of partition of India in 1947, Hakeem Abdul Hameed was dreaming of setting up a complex of educational institutions which would concentrate on highlighting the contribution of Islam and Islamic culture to Indian civilization and development of Unani medicines for curing diseases

On 22 Shawwal, 1367 Hijri, corresponding to 28 August 1948, Hamdard, which was a commercial enterprise at that time, was converted into a Wakf, with the object of giving effect to Islamic teachings of public charity including health and education. In 1964, Hamdard National Foundation was created with a view to receive and disburse the profits earned by Hamdard (Wakf) Laboratories. Hamdard National Foundation was to take up charitable causes in the areas of education, medical relief and the advancement of knowledge, consistent with the principles of the true teachings of Islam.

For setting up a complex of research and educational institutions, Hakeem Abdul Hameed purchased a piece of land in Tughlaqabad area of South Delhi which was hardly inhabited in those times. In order to implement and execute the objects of Wakf as enshrined in the Wakf deed, Hakeem Abdul Hameed and his Muslim associates, established several institutions for teaching and research as given below.

In 1962, Hakeem Abdul Hameed set up the Institute of History of Medicine and Medical Research with the object of promoting education and research in the history of medicine, besides appraising the principles of medicine.

In 1963, Hakeem Abdul Hameed and his Muslim friends and associates set up Indian Institute of Islamic Studies with a view to promote the study of Islamic Culture and Civilization especially its contribution to Indian society and culture.

In 1963, Hamdard Tibbi College was set up in Gali Qasim Jaan, Old Delhi. It was later shifted to Jamia Hamdard Campus in 1980 to provide education in Unani Medicine to students so that the heritage of Unani Medicine largely available in Arabic and Persian is passed on to the students of next generation.

In 1972, Hamdard College of Pharmacy was set up with the objective of providing education and training in all branches of pharmacy. The year 1989 saw the fulfilment of the dream of Hakeem Abdul Hameed when Jamia Hamdard was given the status of Deemed to be University by the Ministry of Human Resource Development on 10 May 1989. All the above named institutions set up by Hakeem Abdul Hameed and his friends and associates were amalgamated into Jamia Hamdard. In a brief period of only ten years, Jamia Hamdard has evolved into an institution fulfilling the objects of the wakf, which has funded it.

Jamia Hamdard was inaugurated by Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi on August 1, 1989. In his impressive speech, the Prime Minister lauded the efforts of Hakeem Abdul Hameed in setting up institutions of learning which were emerging in the form of a "Deemed to be University". He said, "This will enable (the Muslim) minority to go forward and help India to march forward".

Contribution of Hakeem Abdul Hameed to promote the cause of education, health and social service was acknowledged by the Government of India in 1965 when he was awarded Padma Shri for his valuable contribution and for his personal qualities of sacrifice, devotion and commitment to the cause of education. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991.The services rendered by Hakeem Abdul Hameed to the cause of education of Muslims have been acknowledged not only in India but in other countries too.

Jamia Hamdard was conceived as a seat of higher learning in Unani Medicine, Islamic Studies, Biosciences, Pharmacy, Nursing and other areas of knowledge by its founder as a means of fulfilling the objects of the wakf. Over a period of last ten years, Jamia Hamdard has emerged as an outstanding institution of higher learning with distinct and focused academic programmes. Graduate programme in Information Technology and Computer Applications and Post-graduate programmes in Information Technology, Computer Applications, Business Management, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy have been started in the last few years. Undergraduate programmes in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are being introduced from this year. Jamia Hamdard offers postgraduate and doctoral programmes in several disciplines for which advanced facilities are available.

The Revered Founder Janab Hakeem Abdul Hameed Saheb, a true Gandhian in spirit and simplicity was born in Delhi on September 14, 1908. His illustrious father, Janab Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed, received and improved the ancient system of Unani medicine and therapeutics. Hakeem Abdul Majeed wanted a large number of people to benefit from its efficacy and therefore gave the name “Hamdard” to his fledging venture.

The Unani system introduced by the father was rejuvenated all over the world by the illustrious son Hakeem Abdul Hameed Saheb, and true to the name "Hamdard", he grew up to be an epitome of sympathy. Hakim Sahib lost his father when he was just fourteen, but he proved to the world that he had nerves of steel and muscles of iron and thus carried out the task of his father.

Hakim Sahib had his early education in Madarsa Rehmani and in 1915 was admitted in a school. He obtained knowledge of English from an English teacher of the Anglo Arabic School named Aziz Ullah Begh and Persian from Maulvi Naseeruddin. In 1925 he was admitted in Tibia College from where he completed his education. Simplicity was the hallmark of his personality. He was a man of great poise who took every adversity in its stride, bearing a smiling face. He led an austere and disciplined life. All through he woke up before dawn, prayed and went for long walks. He ate simple food and led a simple life, sleeping on a plain cot. Even as India's one of the top 50 rich men, he continued with the same lifestyle. He imbibed Islamic values in his life completely and was a model par excellence of Islamic code of conduct. He dedicated himself to the cause of Education, which alone, he thought, was the way to betterment of society. He founded many institutions including Hamdard Dawakhana, Hamdard National Foundation, Majeedia Hospital, Hamdard University, Hamdard Education Society, Hamdard Public School, Rabea Girls Public School and Ghalib Academy.

The school is accredited by NAAC in 'A' grade.

Graduate programmes in Information Technology and Computer Applications and post-graduate programmes in Information Technology, Computer Applications, Business Management, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy have been started in the last few years. Undergraduate programmes in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are being introduced from this year.

Faculties include:

The library system consists of central library and six faculty libraries: the faculties of science, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, Islamic studies, and management studies and information technology. The central library is named ‘Hakim Mohammed Said Central Library’, after the younger brother of the founder.

The university's has a computer centre which works as lab of the Department of Computer Science, computing facilities, and system analysis units, as well as all necessary peripherals and requisite software. There are five laboratories in the computer centre, with facilities for their respective development fields.

The Scholars' House is a guest house for scholars, university guests, outside examiners, members of the selection board, and residential conferences.

It has 12 double-bed air-conditioned rooms, 18 single-bed air-conditioned rooms, 9 single-bed air-cooled rooms, and 4 flats with 4 air-conditioned rooms, living room, dining room and a small lounge equipped with telephone, TV, fridge, kitchenette, and an attendant.

The kitchen also serves doctors of Majeedia Hospital and outsiders upon request.

Majeedia Hospital (HAH cenetary hospital) is a recognised hospital in the modern and the Unani system of medicine. It houses 150 beds for the patients. Free OPD facilities are provided to University students, and to the teaching and non-teaching staff and their family members. The hospital also caters to the training of the students of Faculty of Medicine (Unani), faculty of pharmacy and Faculty of Nursing.

Central Instrumentation Facility was established in July 1990 with the installation of L7 Backman Ultra-centrifuge, Sorval Rt-6000 low speed centrifuge, DU-64 Backman UV-VIS Spectrometer, Perkin-Elmer 8700 Gas Chromatograph, Perkin-Elmer HPLC and Mettler electronic balance. In year 1992, gamma-counter, beta-counter and DNA Electrophoresis systems were added to the CIF. Recently, Perkin-Elmer Lambda-20 Double-beam UV-VIS spectrophotometer, Perkin-Elmer LS-50 luminescence spectrometer, Bio-rad FT-IR spectrometers and mini-computer facility comprising eight computers, Internet and e-mail facilities have been included in CIF.

The objective of CIF is to provide state-of-art sophisticated instrumentation facility to the researchers of Jamia Hamdard, in addition, to train the Ph.D. and M.Pharm/M.Sc.. students on various equipment. Jamia Hamdard research students operate instruments themselves for their experiments. This training strengthens their theoretical concept and makes them confident in facing interviews for jobs and carryout post doctoral research work. Many Ph.D. students, use CIF during late hours and on week ends to complete their experiments. Nearly 50 Ph.D. students and more than 150 M.Pharm. students have used CIF during 1990-1999.

Jamia Hamdard is giving full residential facilities for the staff and students.

Jamia Hamdard is providing residential facilities to its teaching and non-teaching staff, both in and outside campus.

There are nine residential blocks in the campus which are meant for residence of all categories of the teaching and non-teaching employees.

Jamia Hamdard has separate girls' and boys' hostels. Every hostel has a common room, reading room, dining hall, and visitors’ room. Number of hostels are as follows:

2 UG girls hostels

1 PG girls hostel.

1 UG boys hostel

2 PG boys hostels

1 International boys hostel

However not all boy students can get admission to hostel on account of shortage of accommodation.

A gymnasium has been constructed with the assistance of University Grants Commission and Hamdard National Foundation in 1999. Besides, playgrounds for cricket, volleyball, basketball and badminton (both for girls and boys) are available.

The university has five canteens which are partially subsidised and are run by contractors. They provide tea, coffee and light snacks.

The campus of Jamia Hamdard has a grand mosque named as Masjid-Rabia. Local people also observe prayers there on Friday and other occasions. In order to facilitate worshipers, water supply, electric fans, loud speakers etc. are provided. About 1200 people can perform prayers under the covered area of the mosque.and apart from this more than 5000 people worship out side the mosque area on Friday and eid Beside Rabia Mosque there are three separate mosques under three hostels are available.

The university welcomes foreign nationals who are good in academics and have secured good marks in equivalent qualifying examinations. Preference will be given to candidates who have secured good percentile in SAT/GMAT/GRE examinations.

The Foreign Student Cell looks after their rights and benefits. The Foreign Students' advisor looks after the affairs of foreign students. Cultural and social event are organized by the cell every year.