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Who was Fatima al-Fihri?

Fatima al-Fihri (c. 800–c. 880) is the Arab woman credited with founding the al-Qarawiyyin mosque in Fez in 857–859, which grew into the University of al-Qarawiyyin — recognized by UNESCO and Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating educational institution in the world.

Last updated: October 2026

The short answer

The daughter of a wealthy Kairouani merchant family settled in Fez, she spent her inherited fortune on a house of worship and learning; her sister Maryam built the al-Andalus mosque across the city. Her story comes down to us from a 14th-century chronicle — and some modern historians question it.

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Fatima al-Fihri (c. 800–c. 880) is the Arab woman credited with founding the al-Qarawiyyin mosque in Fez in 857–859, which grew into the University of al-Qarawi…

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