Fatima al-Fihri: Founder of the World’s Oldest University

“When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child prays for him.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

By Abdullahi Yusuf

More than 1,100 years before the modern debate on women in education began; a Muslim woman in Morocco laid a foundation that would shape global learning. Her name was Fatima al-Fihri, a visionary whose devotion and wealth built al-Qarawiyyin, recognised today, by United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO and Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest existing university.

Born around 800 AD in the city of Fez, Fatima was the daughter of a prosperous merchant, Mohammed Bn Abdullah al-Fihri.

When her father and husband died, she inherited a fortune. But instead of retreating into comfort, Fatima chose to invest her wealth in something greater than herself: a mosque that would grow into an enduring seat of knowledge. She did not merely commission a mosque; she cultivated a legacy of knowledge rooted in faith. In Islam, learning is an act of devotion.

The Qur’an itself asks: “Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:9).

In 859 AD, during the holy month of Ramadan, construction began. The modest mosque she envisioned soon became a hub where scholars, poets, jurists, and astronomers gathered. By the 10th century, al-Qarawiyyin had transformed into a beacon of scholarship, hosting symposiums, debates, and vast libraries that attracted seekers of knowledge from across North Africa and beyond.

Her Alumni include towering intellectuals such as Ibn Khaldun, the historian; Ibn Rushd (Averroes), the philosopher-physician; and even Gerbert of Aurillac, who later became Pope Sylvester Il, a testament to al-Qarawiyyin University influence across faiths and continents.

Her wealth became a source of ongoing sadaqatul jariyah that continues to benefit humanity centuries after her death. Her exact date of death remains uncertain, though some historians suggest around 878 CE. Yet her presence endures in Fez, where she is remembered with reverence. Many locals regard her as a saint, and her grave continues to be a site of respect and memory.

For her role, Fatima earned the affectionate title “Umm al-Banin”

– Mother of Boys – not only for her charity but for nurturing generations of students under her wing. Even today, she is revered in Morocco as a saintly figure. Her legacy is also honoured globally: a scholarship in her name supports young scholars from Europe and North Africa, while a Tunisian Prize established in 2017 celebrates women advancing education and leadership.

Fatima al-Fihri’s story challenges assumptions about women’s roles in history. Long before Oxford or Bologna opened their gates, a Muslim woman in Fez had already envisioned a community where knowledge was worship, and learning was legacy.

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