Fatima al-Fihri: A Moroccan woman in the intellectual world
Grace
Mubashir, New Age Islam
5
September 2022
On
teachers day we commemorate the memories of Fatima al-Fihri, the founder of
first university in the world.
Fatima
bint Muhammad Al Fihriyyah was born in Tunisia in the early 800s AD. She is
known as Fatima Al Fihri.
She
earned the honor of Al Fihri by establishing at his own expense the 'Al
Qarawiyeen' mosque, library and university in the city of Fez in 859 AD. This
amazing university was named after his hometown of Al Khairawan. Al Qarawiyyin
was the first university in the world to award degrees, which greatly
influenced and restated the lives of the communities in the 9th century and the
place of women in the society at that time.
The
university's admission to all irrespective of religion and age is a testament
to the innovative vision of a North African Muslim woman towards the
educational system and her extraordinary commitment to the community. Al
Qarawiyyeen University, the oldest and still functioning today, inspired the
establishment of the world's most prestigious and impressive University of
Bologna (1088), University of Oxford (1096), University of Salamanca (1243) and
Harvard University (1636). The codes and ways of thinking that exist in higher
education today are related to some of the practices that Al Qarawiyeen
University has maintained.
Al
Qarawiyeen Library, the oldest in the world, dates back to A.D. There is a copy
of the Holy Qur'an written in Kufi script in the 9th century and thousands of
handwritten manuscripts on various subjects. The library also has an Arabic
copy of the Twelfth Gospel.
The
establishment of Al Qarawiyeen University greatly influenced the world of
education in the following centuries and molded countless world-renowned
personalities. In addition to many prominent Muslim scholars, the university
also attracted Judeo-Christian scholars. World famous people like Hassan Al
Wassan (Leo Africanus), the diplomat and geographer of Andalusia, Moses ben
Maimun (Maimonides), Islamic philosopher Ibn Rushd (Ayros), historian and
thinker Ibn Khaldun, and Sufi poet and philosopher Ibn Hasm studied in this
university. The medical scholar Ibn Beja, the grammarian Ibn ben Ajr, the Dutch
orientalist and mathematician Jacob van Gool, the prominent Sufi Muhammad
al-Jasuli, Ger Bert of Orillac
Free
education, quality of curriculum and various training courses have made Al
Qarawiyeen University a destination for intellectuals, scholars and philosophers.
Al Qarawiyeen University's contributions to and nurturing of scientific and
rational debates in the branches of knowledge of language, literature,
philosophy, astronomy, medicine, Islamic law, and Islamic jurisprudence were
extensive. In particular, Karmashastra has played a major role in Maliki school
of thought. Apart from a major historical debate, scholars at Al Qarawiyeen
University have been at the forefront of many political debates. A Muslim woman
of the 9th century, devoted and far-sighted, at a time when medieval European
societies were plunged into darkness, It defied the times itself to create a
rare space for intellectual advancement and enlightenment. The entire world
owes its gratitude to Fatima Al-Fihri, the mother of geniuses, for her
tremendous impact on the history of the university.
The
woman who left her mark
Fatima
al-Fihri was one of the two children of a wealthy merchant named Mohammed
al-Fihri of Khairawan (present-day Khairun, Tunisia). Famous as early as the
7th century, Khairawan City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its
impressive architectural style that still stands today. Founded by the Umayyad
dynasty in 670, the city of Khairawan was at the height of Islamic wisdom,
cultural richness and sophistication. This earthly paradise of spirituality and
knowledge has attracted the attention of many scholars. The town served as a
military post during the conquest of Al Gharb in northwest Africa. Khairawan
was ruled by the Aghlabid dynasty during the 8th and 9th centuries under the
Abbasid Empire. They captured Sicily and made Ifricia a demilitarized zone.
Globe Aghlabid palaces were also very popular. The Al-Fihri family left the
soil and wine they were born and grew up in to build an intellectual paradise
in Fez, which was relatively backward in terms of education, and traveled to
Fez.
In
fact, not much information is available about Fatima Al-Fihri. They belonged to
the Qarawiyya (those who came from Khairwan) community among the first citizens
of Fez, the seat of the Muslim dynasty of Idris. Fatima and her family migrated
from Khairwan to Fez in the early 9th century. At that time, the city of Fez
was under the rule of Idris II, a devout believer and respected ruler. Fez was
the center of attention and a city of joy and fortune in the Maghrib at that
time. Fez became one of the most glorious Muslim cities in the world, and Fes
was admired for its rich blend of traditional and secular piety and cultural
richness. Fatima's family lived in this town on the left bank of the Fez River.
Finally, Fatima married from Fez itself.
Al
Qarawiyeen: The heart of the city Fez
Today,
Fez has become one of the most fascinating tourist destinations in the world.
In particular, the old town of Fez, 'Fez al Bali', is fascinating. The old town
is amazing with its many narrow alleyways criss-crossing like a labyrinth. The
colorful and beautifully designed gates and 14 fort gates including the famous
'Blue Gate', the ancient transport arrangements through the streets and the
local sculptural ingenuity will enthrall anyone. Al Qarawiyeen is still the
heartbeat of Fez today.
As a
result of early hard work and effort, the Al Fihri family was blessed with
wealth. Then Mahathir's father, Muhammad bin Abdullah, became the ruler of a
huge business empire. When Mahati's husband, father and brother died in short
intervals, Fatima and her only sister Maryam achieved great financial security.
They became famous in the last days of their lives. The Maryam-Fatima sisters
strove to achieve higher education and spend their immense wealth for the
upliftment of society. Realizing that the mosques of Fez were not large enough
to accommodate the refugees from Islamic Spain and the growing Muslim
population of Fez, a beautiful Andalusian mosque was built in 859.
Fatimah,
on the other hand, as part of making her mark, immersed herself in the
construction of Al Qarawiyyeen University and its attached mosque, which
historians have described as the world's first degree-granting and still
standing university. Authentic history shows that despite not having the
slightest knowledge in the field of construction, due to their dedication and
sincerity, they directly led and gave instructions to the construction work.
From the beginning of the construction of the church and the university to the
completion of the work, it was their custom to fast and pray for the entire
days. They have shown the determination, patience and dedication needed to
build such a successful structure. Al Qarawiyeen Mosque, one of the largest
mosques in North Africa, started the university, which is at the forefront of
advanced studies in the Islamic world. Among the contemporaries who left their
mark in various fields, the famous Muslim thinker Abul Abbas, Khali Muhammad Al
Fazi, the Sufi scholar Ibn Arabi, the father of sociology and famous historian
Ibn Khaldun, the geographer Muhammad Al Idris, and the astronomer Nuruddin Al
Bitruji (Alpetragius) became famous for Al Qarawiyeen University.
The
university, which initially emphasized on the Holy Quran and Islamic Karma,
then expanded into various branches of knowledge such as Mathematics, Arabic
Linguistics, Medicine, Astronomy, Chemistry, History, Geography etc. None of
the courses were restricted to Muslims, rather, it opened its doors to students
from Jewish Christian fraternal communities as well. As Fatima bore the entire
cost of this institution, its absolutely free education attracted the lovers of
education. The famous writer and traveler Leo Africanus, the Jewish priest and
philosopher Maimonides, and Pope Sylvester II are all graduates of Al
Qarawiyyin.
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A
regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic
Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist.
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