Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University

Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University stands in the heart of Fès el-Bali, the old medina of Fès in Morocco, close to Place Seffarine. It was founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman from Kairouan in present-day Tunisia, during the Idrisid period, and it grew from a neighbourhood mosque into one of the leading centres of learning in the medieval Islamic world. UNESCO and Guinness both describe it as the oldest continuously operating university. Its teaching covered Quranic studies, jurisprudence, grammar, mathematics, astronomy and medicine, and scholars travelled from Andalusia and sub-Saharan Africa to study here. The building was substantially enlarged in the 12th century under the Almoravid ruler Ali ibn Yusuf, who added the central nave, the many aisles and the elaborate courtyard, and later Almohad and Marinid rulers added a minaret, fountains and decorative work. The prayer hall is said to hold more than 20,000 worshippers and is one of the largest mosques in North Africa. Its Andalusian-style courtyard has a pavilion fountain and zellige tilework, and the carved cedar and plaster decoration reflects Almoravid, Marinid and Alaouite styles. The attached Al-Qarawiyyin Library, one of the oldest in the world, holds rare manuscripts and was restored and reopened to the public in 2016 under a project led by the Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni. The mosque itself is an active place of worship, so only Muslims may enter the prayer hall. Non-Muslim visitors can look through the open doors that line the surrounding lanes, see the courtyard and tilework from the threshold, and explore the neighbouring craft districts such as Place Seffarine, where coppersmiths work. The building is in continuous use and has been repaired many times, including major Moroccan government restoration campaigns in the 20th and 21st centuries. Because interior access is restricted, a visit here is best combined with the nearby Al-Attarine and Bou Inania madrasas, which are open to all visitors and show the same architectural vocabulary.