Established in 859 AD by a devout Muslim woman from an elite Tunisian family, the Kairaouine Mosque in Fez, Morocco, can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers within its vast complex—and you can visit it on Morocco Sahara Odyssey.
Question: Where in the world can you find a ninth-century mosque that doubles as one of the world’s oldest universities and was built by a woman?
Answer: The Kairaouine Mosque in Fez, Morocco
Amidst the labyrinthine streets of Fez's ancient medina lies a spiritual sanctuary and bastion of learning—the Kairaouine Mosque. Established in 859 AD by Fatima Al Fihria—a devout Muslim woman from an elite Tunisian family—the Kairaouine began as a humble madrasa (Quranic school). Over the centuries, it grew into a vast complex that now ranks as one of the largest mosques in Africa, accommodating up to 20,000 worshippers.
The Kairaouine is more than just a place of prayer—it is also considered the oldest continuously operating university in the world. Long before the rise of medieval European institutions like Oxford and Bologna, the Kairaouine was already a renowned center of Islamic scholarship. Students from across the Muslim world flocked to Fez to study subjects ranging from theology and law to astronomy and medicine.
The university's curriculum still focuses primarily on classical Arabic and Islamic studies, drawing many international students to this day. They gather in traditional study circles called halqa, sitting on the floor around their teachers just as their predecessors did a millennium ago. This timeless scene plays out in the Kairaouine's sprawling courtyard, though the true extent of the complex is hard to grasp from ground level. Over the ages, shops and houses have grown up around the mosque, camouflaging its perimeter.
For a bird's-eye view of the Kairaouine's grandeur, one must ascend to the rooftops of the medina. From above, the mesmerizing, green-tiled roofs of the prayer hall unfurl like a colossal accordion, while the towering minaret stands sentinel over the spiritual heart of Morocco. While only Muslims may enter the mosque itself, visitors can catch tantalizing glimpses of its serene courtyard through doorways at nearby Chemmaine and Derb Boutouil.
One of Kairaouine's greatest treasures lies within the university’s library. Founded in the 10th century, this library is among the world's oldest, containing over 4,000 manuscripts. The recently renovated repository (see the fun facts below)—open only to students and qualified researchers with advance permission—safeguards a priceless collection of manuscripts and a tangible link to over a thousand years of scholarship. Amongst its hushed stacks, one might encounter a ninth-century Quran penned on camel skin or a 14th-century copy of Ibn Khaldun's groundbreaking Muqaddimah.
6 Fun Facts About the Kairaouine Mosque:
- The Kairaouine Mosque is named after the Arabic word "Qarawiyyin," which means "people from Kairouan," referring to the Tunisian city from which Fatima al-Fihriya and other refugees originated.
- The mosque's minaret, standing at 144 feet tall, is one of the oldest in North Africa and serves as a landmark for the city of Fez. Erected in 956 AD, it was originally used not only for the call to prayer but also as an astronomical observatory. Muslim scholars at the mosque made significant contributions to the field of astronomy.
- Fatima Al Fihria funded the construction of the original mosque entirely from her own inheritance.
- The Kairaouine's alumni include pioneering scholars like historian Ibn Khaldun and Jewish philosopher Maimonides (who studied at the mosque in disguise). In the 12th century, the Kairaouine hosted the famous Islamic philosopher Averroes (Ibn Rushd), whose works later had a profound impact on Western thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and Dante Alighieri.
- In recent years, the Kairaouine Mosque has undergone extensive restoration work ensure its preservation for generations to come. The Kairaouine's library was renovated in 2016 using cutting-edge technology to protect its precious manuscripts. The new system controls temperature, humidity, and lighting to ensure optimal preservation conditions. In 2017, the Kairaouine mosque also received a new solar power system, marrying ancient faith with modern sustainability.
- In the 16th century, the Kairaouine played a key role in the Moroccan resistance against Portuguese colonialism. The mosque served as a rallying point for the city's defenders during the Battle of Fez in 1578.
Explore Fez’s medina—or old city—and visit the Kairaouine Mosque during our Morocco Sahara Odyssey adventure.
