Kairouan
Fatima bint Muhammad al-Fihri was born in Kairouan, Tunisia, in the ninth century.
Fatima al-Fihri's Mosque
A woman from Tunis who built the world's oldest university in Fez — in twelve cards.
Fez
She migrated with her family to Fez in Morocco, and grew up there.
The merchant wealth
Her father was a prosperous merchant who left her a great fortune at his death.
The resolve
She resolved to spend her wealth on a mosque that would gather prayer and learning.
The land
She bought land in the Awaliyya quarter of Fez and began building in Ramadan 245 AH.
The fasting
It is told she fasted every day of the building until the mosque was complete.
Al-Qarawiyyin
The mosque was named al-Qarawiyyin after her people of Kairouan.
The mihrab
Ten arcades, a mihrab and a dome rose — the largest mosque of Fez in her day.
The school
The mosque became a school where scholars taught fiqh, Arabic and reckoning.
The sister
Her sister Maryam built another mosque in Fez on the same lines.
The university
Historians of education count it the oldest degree-granting institution still operating.
Today
Al-Qarawiyyin still stands in Fez, and students still read in its courts.
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- Kairouan
Fatima bint Muhammad al-Fihri was born in Kairouan, Tunisia, in the ninth century. - Fez
She migrated with her family to Fez in Morocco, and grew up there. - The merchant wealth
Her father was a prosperous merchant who left her a great fortune at his death. - The resolve
She resolved to spend her wealth on a mosque that would gather prayer and learning. - The land
She bought land in the Awaliyya quarter of Fez and began building in Ramadan 245 AH. - The fasting
It is told she fasted every day of the building until the mosque was complete. - Al-Qarawiyyin
The mosque was named al-Qarawiyyin after her people of Kairouan. - The mihrab
Ten arcades, a mihrab and a dome rose — the largest mosque of Fez in her day. - The school
The mosque became a school where scholars taught fiqh, Arabic and reckoning. - The sister
Her sister Maryam built another mosque in Fez on the same lines. - The university
Historians of education count it the oldest degree-granting institution still operating. - Today
Al-Qarawiyyin still stands in Fez, and students still read in its courts.