Jamia Millia Islamia was originally established at Aligarh during the British Raj in 1920 and in 1935, it moved to its current place at Delhi, Okhla. Jamia Millia Islamia is considered as the central university located in new Delhi and was was given the deemed status by University Grants Commission in 1962. On 26 December 1988, it became a central university. Jamia Millia Islamia was ranked 1st among all central universities in the country in rankings released by Ministry of Education of India.[3] In December 2021, the university received an 'A++' ranking by National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

The Jamia offers undergraduate and postgraduate information and technology courses. Jamia Millia Islamia joined the green campaign and installed 2,250-kilowatt solar panels on the campus. Besides its seven faculties, the Jamia has centres of learning and research, including the Anwar Jamal Kidwai Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC), Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Faculty of Fine Arts, Centre for Theoretical Physics, and the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Academy of Third World Studies (ATWS).

"Allah O Akbar" is written on a star that is located directly at the top. When disadvantaged travellers must cross jungles in the dead of night without a guide, they use the sky to plot their journey. The Jamia is led by the star of Allah O Akbar. Its eyes are glued to this star, which illuminates its passage through the pitch-black globe. It illustrates the fact that Allah is the greatest and that knowledge of the truth is found by bowing down to Him alone.