Contribution
Founding the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in 857–859 CE, which developed into the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest continuously operating educational institution.
Bio
Fatima bint Muhammad al-Fihriya al-Qurashiyya was a 9th-century Arab philanthropist who founded the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, Morocco—an institution that evolved into the University of al-Qarawiyyin, widely regarded as the oldest continually operating university in the world.
Stories
1. Founding the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque
On the first day of Ramadan in 245 AH (859 CE), Fatima purchased land in Fez and supervised the mosque’s construction—quarrying materials on-site and fasting until its completion to ensure its pious dedication.
2. Legacy of Learning
After its founding, the mosque drew scholars and students; over centuries it grew into a teaching institution and was recognized by UNESCO as the world’s oldest existing university.
