Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque (Morocco)

The Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez is a mosque, library and historic university complex founded in 859 CE and located in the old medina. It is one of the oldest continuously operating centers of Islamic scholarship.

Founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, the complex developed from a neighborhood mosque into a major center for religious and secular learning over the medieval period. It continued as a teaching institution and underwent multiple restorations and expansions across the centuries, preserving its role in Fez’s intellectual life.

Sited in Fes el-Bali, the historic medina of Fez, the complex sits in the city center amid narrow streets and other heritage monuments and is within walking distance of other major medina sites.

• Access: Access to the mosque's prayer halls is generally reserved for Muslims; the historic library has limited public access and is best visited via arranged or guided visits.
• Founding and significance: Founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, it is widely cited as one of the oldest continuously operating institutions of higher learning in the world.
• Restoration and collection: The library underwent a major restoration completed in 2016 and preserves a collection of historic manuscripts dating from the medieval period onward.

What to See #

• Mosque complex: Part of a larger religious and educational complex dating to the 9th century, the site includes the mosque prayer areas, teaching spaces and an associated library with historic manuscripts.
• Library: Houses a historic manuscript collection that includes medieval Islamic works and Qur'anic codices; the library was the subject of conservation and refurbishment in the 21st century.
• University / madrasa: Functioned historically as a center for religious and higher learning with attached teaching spaces used over many centuries for Islamic jurisprudence, grammar and other subjects.