University of Al Quaraouiyine: The World's Oldest Academic Institution

Quick facts: why Al Quaraouiyine matters

The University of Al Quaraouiyine (Jami’ al-Qarawiyyin) in Fez, Morocco, holds a distinction that no other educational institution can claim: it is the world’s oldest continually operating, degree-granting university, recognized by both UNESCO and Guinness World Records. Founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, a Muslim woman who transformed her inheritance into a center of higher learning, this institution has operated without interruption for over 1,160 years.

What makes this remarkable is the founder herself. While medieval European universities emerged centuries later, a woman in 9th-century North Africa was already establishing what would become a model for higher education across the Islamic world and beyond.

• Founded: 859 CE (245 AH) in Fez, Morocco

• Founder: Fatima al-Fihri (Fatima bint Muhammad al-Fihri al-Qayrawaniyya)

• Recognition: UNESCO and Guinness World Records cite it as the oldest continually operating educational institution granting degrees

• Original purpose: Congregational mosque (jami’) that evolved into a comprehensive center for Islamic religious sciences, classical Arabic, and Maliki jurisprudence

• Current status: State university specializing in Islamic and theological courses, Arabic language studies, and legal sciences

• Debate: While some scholars question whether pre-20th-century institutions qualify as “universities” in the European sense, the continuous scholarly activity from the 9th century remains undisputed

Names, location, and significance

The institution sits within Fes el-Bali, the walled medieval medina of Fez in northern Morocco—a UNESCO World Heritage site dense with narrow streets, ancient residences, and centuries of accumulated history.

You’ll encounter multiple spellings when researching this institution:

• Al Quaraouiyine

• Al-Qarawiyyin

• Al Karaouine (French transliteration)

• Al-Karaouiyine

This variety stems from attempts to romanize the Arabic القرويين, complicated further by French transliteration practices during Morocco’s protectorate era. The name itself means “belonging to the people of Qayrawan”—a reference to Kairouan in present-day Tunisia, the hometown of the al Fihri family who founded the mosque in Fez, one of the highlights of Morocco’s classic tours.

Both UNESCO and Guinness World Records describe al Qarawiyyin as the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning. This predates the European university model significantly: the University of Bologna was founded in 1088, Oxford around 1096. While access to the al Qarawiyyin mosque proper remains restricted to Muslims, the renovated al Qarawiyyin library and some university facilities now offer limited public access after recent restoration efforts.

Foundation by Fatima al-Fihri (a Muslim woman founder)

The world’s oldest university owes its existence to a remarkable act of philanthropy by a woman. Fatima al-Fihri, a Tunisian-born Muslim woman, founded the mosque-school in 859 CE—a fact that challenges many assumptions about women’s roles in early Islamic period scholarship and institution-building.

Fatima al Fihri migrated with her family from Kairouan to Fez during the Idrisid period, when political instability made Tunisia inhospitable. Her father, Mohammed al Fihri, was a prosperous merchant who had established the family in Morocco’s emerging capital. When he and other male relatives died, Fatima and her sister Mariam inherited considerable wealth.

Rather than simply managing this fortune privately, Fatima vowed to dedicate her share to building something lasting for her community. She purchased prime real estate near the Suq al-‘Attarin (the Spice Market) and personally oversaw construction of the al Qarawiyyin mosque. Traditional accounts emphasize that she fasted throughout the building process, beginning on the first day of Ramadan in 859 CE and continuing until completion.

The initial structure was modest—approximately 100 feet long with a prayer hall featuring four aisles, a rear minaret, and an exterior courtyard. But Fatima’s vision extended beyond architecture. She created a waqf (religious endowment) that would fund teaching and religious instruction in perpetuity, laying the groundwork for what would become a major center of Islamic scholarship.

Meanwhile, her sister Mariam constructed the nearby Andalus Mosque, demonstrating the al Fihri family’s extraordinary commitment to religious and educational infrastructure in their adopted city of Morocco.

A historiographical note: some scholars point to an inscription from 877 CE attributing work to Dawud ibn Idris, suggesting possible later expansion rather than original foundation. Modern historians generally interpret this as evidence of early additions to Fatima’s original structure rather than contradicting her founding role.

Historical evolution and intellectual apogee

From its 9th-century origins, the mosque suitable for prayer gradually transformed into an eminent center of learning. By the 10th century, as Fez grew into a political and commercial capital, teaching circles (halaqat) had become a defining feature of al Qarawiyyin’s identity.

Madrasa vs. University: What’s in a Name?

• Madrasa as-Saffarin (1271)

• Madrasa al-Attarine (1323-1325)

• Madrasa al-Mesbahiya (1346-1347)

A madrasa is a traditional Islamic educational institution, often attached to a mosque, focusing on religious and legal sciences, with students typically required to memorize the Quran and master Classical Arabic before admission. At Al Quaraouiyine, the madrasa model evolved to include a broader curriculum and degree-granting functions, aligning it with the concept of a university as recognized by international bodies.

These institutions formed an interconnected educational network, with al Qarawiyyin at its center.

The intellectual and academic history of the institution reached its height during the Marinid dynasty (13th-14th centuries). During this period, the curriculum expanded dramatically:

Subject Area	Examples
Religious Sciences	Qur’anic studies, hadith, Maliki fiqh, theology
Language Studies	Arabic grammar (nahw), rhetoric, logic (mantiq)
Mathematical Sciences	Arithmetic, geometry, astronomy
Applied Knowledge	Medicine, geography, political philosophy
Marinid sultans invested heavily in supporting infrastructure, founding satellite madrasas that served as student residences and supplementary teaching facilities:

The roster of scholars associated with the institution reads like a who’s who of medieval Islamic scholarship. Ibn al Arabi, the influential Sufi mystic known for his contributions to Islamic mysticism, studied here. Ibn Khaldun, often called the father of sociology, spent time at al Qarawiyyin. Mohammed al Idrisi, the 12th-century cartographer whose precision maps influenced European Renaissance explorations, is connected to the institution’s scholarly networks.

Perhaps most fascinating are the Christian scholars who sought knowledge at al Qarawiyyin. Gerbert of Aurillac—who later became Pope Sylvester II—reportedly studied mathematics and astronomy here, a testament to the institution’s role in cross-cultural knowledge exchange between the Muslim world and Christian Europe. Nicolas Cleynaerts, a Flemish humanist, documented his observations of the institution in the 16th century.

By the late medieval period, however, the curriculum gradually narrowed. Philosophy and certain natural sciences lost centrality as the institution focused increasingly on traditional Islamic sciences. This shift mirrored broader intellectual trends across the Islamic world.

Architecture of the mosque-university complex

The al Qarawiyyin mosque complex grew through expansion after expansion between the 9th and 20th centuries, eventually becoming one of the largest mosques in Africa. At capacity, it can accommodate approximately 20,000-22,000 worshippers—a staggering number that reflects its centrality to Fez’s religious life.

The basic layout follows classical Islamic architectural principles:

• Prayer hall: A large hypostyle space with rows of horseshoe arches supporting the roof

• Central courtyard (sahn): Features fountains for ablutions before prayer

• Minaret: A single square tower in the traditional Maghrebi style

• Entrances: Multiple side doors opening into the dense fabric of the Fez medina

Key construction phases shaped the complex over time:

Period	Dynasty	Major Contributions
9th century	Idrisid	Original mosque construction
12th century	Almoravid	Major expansions standardizing the prayer hall
12th-13th century	Almohad	Structural reinforcements and decorative elements
13th-15th century	Marinid	Carved stucco, zellij tilework, wooden ceilings
16th-18th century	Saadian/Alaouite	Restorations and embellishments
One distinctive feature connected to scholarship is the Dar al Muwaqqit (the timekeeper’s pavilion). This structure served a practical astronomical purpose: calculating precise prayer times through celestial observation. It represents the integration of scientific knowledge into daily religious practice.
The architecture reflects a blend of Andalusi and Maghrebi aesthetics—whitewashed walls, distinctive green-tiled roofs, and intricate geometric ornamentation. While these features appear frequently in travel photography, non Muslim visitors can only access limited areas, viewing the complex primarily from surrounding streets and nearby rooftops.

The library: manuscripts and modern restoration

The al Qarawiyyin library ranks among the oldest functioning libraries in the Muslim world, with roots traditionally traced to the 14th century.

A formal university library was established around 1349 CE (750 AH), with Marinid sultan Abu ‘Inan ordering significant expansion and reorganization. The collection grew substantially through royal gifts, private bequests, and scholarly donations over subsequent centuries.

The holdings include treasures of incalculable historical value:

• A famous 9th-10th century Kufic Qur’an, written in the earliest Arabic script style

• A richly illuminated mushaf (Qur’an) donated by Saadi sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in

Education and Curriculum Today

Teaching Methods and Student Life

A halaqa is a traditional study circle where students sit around a sheikh (teacher) to read, discuss, and memorize texts. This method remains central at Al Quaraouiyine, complemented by modern lecture-style classes in some programs.

Teaching at Al Quaraouiyine is delivered in traditional methods, where students are seated in a semi-circle around a sheikh. Students at Al Quaraouiyine must have fully memorized the Quran and be proficient in Classical Arabic before admission. Admission to Al Quaraouiyine requires prospective students to have memorized the Quran and several shorter medieval Islamic texts on grammar and Maliki law. Most students at Al Quaraouiyine range from 13 to 30 years old and study towards high school diplomas and university-level bachelor's degrees.

Education at the University of Al Quaraouiyine concentrates on Islamic religious and legal sciences with a heavy emphasis on Classical Arabic grammar and Maliki law. The curriculum at Al Quaraouiyine includes subjects such as Quranic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence, grammar, rhetoric, logic, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and geography. Al Quaraouiyine also offers some lessons on non-Islamic subjects such as French and English.