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The Oldest University in the World May Not Be Where You Think And the Founder May Also Surprise You

The Oldest University in the World May Not Be Where You Think And the Founder May Also Surprise You

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Although many people would imagine that the oldest university in the world is in Europe or China, it’s not. The oldest standing university on Earth is in Morocco. Founded in 859 AD, Al-Qarawiyyin is recognized by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continuously operating university, as well as the first institution to issue educational degrees. The University of Al-Qarawiyyin is located in the city of Fes, once a leading spiritual and educational center of the Muslim world. A fact that makes Al-Qarawiyyin all the more unique is that it was founded by a woman, Fatima al-Fihri, a young princess from Tunisia. 

Part of the University of Al- Qarawiyyin in the city of Fes, Morocco.

Part of the University of Al- Qarawiyyin in the city of Fes, Morocco. (Anderson sady/CC BY SA 3.0)

Part of the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fes, Morocco

Part of the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fes, Morocco (University of Texas at Austin) and artist’s depiction of Fatima al-Fihri. (CC BY SA)

Founding the Institution

Over 1200 years ago, Mohammed al-Fihri and his family moved from Qayrawan (modern-day Tunisia) to Fes. The al-Fihris were just one of many migrants moving across North Africa to the prosperous cities of Morocco. The al-Fihris and other ‘Qayrawaniyyins’ formed a community in the western district of the city. Mohammed al-Fihri, a wealthy merchant, had two daughters - Fatima and Mariam. Both were well-educated and brought up to be devoutly religious.

Mosque in Tunis (Tunisia, 1899).

Mosque in Tunis (Tunisia, 1899). (Public Domain)

When their father died, Fatima and Mariam came into an enormous inheritance (unlike in Europe, in Islamic countries women were able to inherit). Fatima accepted the unique gift of such sudden wealth by attributing the windfall to the blessing of Allah. She vowed she would spend her entire inheritance on building a mosque and learning center where the Qayrawan community could glorify Islam. Little else is known about Fatima or the other al-Fihris. However, her story sheds a great deal of light on the role women played in Islamic society at the time. Moreover, Fatima was not the only woman to found a mosque - hers is just the oldest still operating.

The Oldest Library Too

The library at Al-Qarawiyyin was an essential part of her enterprise for both religious and scholarly pursuits. Today, that library is also recognized as the oldest in the world. It contains over 4000 manuscripts, some of which date back to the 9th century. Of particular note is a collection of hadiths which are thought to be the oldest copy of the of the Prophet Mohammed’s sayings still in existence.

The library’s main reading room.

The library’s main reading room. (Aziza Chaouni)

The university embodies the spiritual learning that was at the very heart of the Muslim civilization in the days when the Islamic Empire stretched from Spain to India. Although located at the far edge of the empire, scholars and artisans would come to Morocco from all over the known world. Al-Qarawiyyin was originally founded as a mosque with a madrasa (Islamic school) so that the community of Fez could practice their faith while expanding their knowledge of spiritual matters. From the instruction of the Quran, the madrasa expanded to teach Arabic grammar, calligraphy, mathematics, music, chemistry, legislation, Sufi mysticism, medicine, astronomy, history, geography, and rhetoric.

Highly-Acclaimed

The renown of the educational aspect of Al-Qarawiyyin quickly outpaced the reputation of the mosque itself. Al-Qarawiyyin became known the world over as a place for great discussions and debates on religious, scholarly, and political matters. In addition to a wide variety of topics, the university attracted some of the highest quality teachers of the era.

Applications for admission flooded in. As a result, the administrators had to put in place a vigorous selection system. Some of the conditions of entry are still in place for those hoping to study at Al-Qarawiyyin today, for example, applicants must have memorized the whole Quran if they are even to be considered for admission.

Photo of the University of Al-Qarawiyyin.

Photo of the University of Al-Qarawiyyin. (Anderson sady/CC BY SA 3.0)

With such acclaim, the university naturally attracted a number of sultans and wealthy merchants who hoped to give their children first-class educations. They became patrons of the Al-Qarawiyyin and lavished wealthy subsidies, gifts, and treasures on the institution - especially books and manuscripts, which were in short supply in the 9th century.

The university produced a number of “high profile scholars that exercised a strong influence on the intellectual and academic realms in the Muslim world. Among the great names, the list includes Abu Abullah Al-Sati, Abu Al-Abbas al-Zwawi, Ibn Rashid Al-Sabti (d.721 AH/1321 CE), Ibn Al-Haj Al-Fasi (d.737 AH/1336 CE) and Abu Madhab Al-Fasi who led his generation in studies of the "Maliki" school of thought.” (The Foundation for Science, Technology, and Civilization, 2016)

Flourishing Muslim Scholars

While Europe was engulfed in the Dark Ages, Islamic society flourished. It is thanks to the Muslim scholars that the works of the ancient Greeks and Romans were preserved and translated. Indeed, it was the close proximity of Morocco and Spain that ultimately allowed European states to absorb the wisdom of Islamic and Greek scholars. “Among Christian witnesses of the contribution of al-Qarawiyyin is Gerbert of Aurillac (930-1003), famously known as Pope Sylvester II, and who is credited with introducing the use of zero and Arabic numerals to Europe” (The Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilization, 2016)

Despite the abundance of knowledge clearly visible at Al-Qarawiyyin, Europeans still looked down on the African institute. When the French conquered Morocco, they even sought to ‘civilize’ the university. Thankfully, their efforts failed and today one can still see the 9th-century buildings, as well as scholars studying and discussing the Quran.

Top Image: A section of the of the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fes, Morocco (Faenaaleph)

By Kerry Sullivan

References:

Arbaoui, Larbi. "Al Karaouin of Fez: The Oldest University in the World."  Morocco World News. Morocco World News, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2012/10/59056/al-karaouin-of-fez-the-oldest-university-in-the-world/.

Atlas Obscura. "University of Al-Karaouine."  Atlas Obscura. Atlas Obscura, 2016. Web. http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/university-of-alkaraouine.

The Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation. "Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University."  The Muslim Heritage Awareness Group. The Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation, 2016. Web. http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/al-qarawiyyin-mosque-and-university.

 

Comments

Fatima al Fihri was a great Muslim woman, I also believe this also tackles a major misconception of the religion of Islam as an anti women religion.

If a woman can accomplish this task in time when Islam was practised both socially and policitically, it shows that these misconceptions hold no weight.

A good video which shows her story is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye5TKNKksR0

No matter where you go, people show their true colors! SMH - Good article but I wondered how old is Timbukto.

"The oldest standing..." but there is knowledge which goes back waaaaaaayyyy before this! The building is a repository. Nice to now it was a lady who founded it but of course the wealth was key. I recently ate i a restaurant in Salzburg founded at the same time. So we can assume civilisation continues... lucky for me, women are allowed in the restaurant!

Founding 1965
traces its origins back to the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and associated madrasa founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859, but only became a university in 1965.

YHWH Allah's picture

"The oldest standing university on Earth is in Morocco."
I love you baby, Sirius! However; the oldest standing
university on Earth is in Hyperborea. Coal is King.

Mishkan 1.2m below Heel Stone
@ Stonehenge, United Kingdom

Kerry Sullivan's picture

Kerry Sullivan

Kerry Sullivan has a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts and is currently a freelance writer, completing assignments on historical, religious, and political topics.

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