Hamdard (Wakf) Laboratories

Hamdard Laboratories (India), is an Unani and Ayurvedic pharmaceutical company in India (following the independence of India from Britain, "Hamdard" Unani branches were established in Bangladesh & Pakistan). It was established in 1906 by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed in Delhi, and became a waqf (non-profitable trust) in 1948. Some of its most famous products include Sharbat Rooh Afza, Safi, Roghan Badam Shirin, Sualin, Joshina and Cinkara. It is associated with Hamdard Foundation, a charitable educational trust.

Hamdard Laboratories was founded in 1906 in Delhi by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed and Ansarullah Tabani, a Unani practitioner. The name Hamdard means "companion in suffering" in Urdu language. After Abdul Majeed's death, his son Hakeem Abdul Hameed took over the administration of Hamdard Laboratories at the age of fourteen. Abdul Hameed became known as "Hakeem Sahab". Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed was born in Pelivet, India in 1883 to Sheikh Rahim Bakhsh. He is said to have learnt the complete Holy Quran Sharif by heart. He also studied the origin of Urdu and Persian languages. Subsequently he acquired the highest degree in the unani system of medicine.

Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed got in touch with Hakim Zamal Khan, who had a keen interest in herbs and was famous for identifying medicinal plants. Having consulted with his wife, Abdul Majeed set up a herbal shop at House Qazi in Delhi in 1906 and started to produce herbal medicine there. In 1920 the small herbal shop turned into a full-fledged production house.

Hamdard Foundation was created in 1964 to disburse the profits of the company to promote the interests of the society. All the profits of the company go to the foundation.

Hamdard Laboratories has a twin manufacturing plant in Ghaziabad and one plant in Manesar Haryana. One of its products, Safi, was previously found to contain harmful levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.