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World's Oldest University
by Meam Wye
This university was part of Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and was established in 859 CE by a muslim woman named Fatima al-Fihri. Fatima was the daughter of a wealthy merchant named Mohammed Al-Fihri. After her father's death, she decided to spend her entire inheritance on the construction of this mosque. In addition to being a place of worship and teaching of traditional Islamic subjects, this university-mosque imparted education in many other areas including Medicine, Mathematics, Astronomy, History, Geography and Grammer.
Al-Qarawiyyin was regarded as a prestigious university during medieval times. It produced numerous pioneer scholars including Ibn Maimun (Maimonides) (1135-1204), Al-Idrissi (d.1166 AD), Ibn al-Arabi (1165-1240 AD), Ibn Khaldun (1332-1395 AD), Ibn al-Khatib, Al-Bitruji (Alpetragius), Ibn Hirzihim, and Al-Wazzan. Pope Sylvester II who has been given the credit of introducing Arabic numerals and the zero to the rest of Europe was also a student of this university.
Al-Qarawiyyin University - Medieval Islamic Civilization
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August 12, 2009 8:22 AM
This is quite interesting. I would have thought the first University came from the United States. This article proved me wrong. History is definitely fascinating at times when you learn something you didn't already know. I was actually impressed to with how many areas of study they had during that time period. It's shocking almost that those subjects were already being covered!
October 5, 2009 8:39 PM
SubhanALLLAH..... brave woman.... i didnt know beofre that first university was built by a muslim woman....
October 10, 2009 10:17 PM
Brave and strong hearted woman for almost any period in history!
October 10, 2009 11:33 PM
Brave hearted, open minded and enlightened attitude coupled with a soul sensitized to the societal needs of the many centuries to come! Thanks for sharing your views.
June 15, 2010 9:19 PM
Those were the Glorious Days of the Past. Where are we now ?
AbuHafidz, Kuala Lumpur.
February 22, 2011 1:46 AM
This is isn't actually correct. The very first university in the world was the grand mosque of kairoun. It was built after 9 shabahs were sent their by the instruction of the prophet PBUH. sorry to disappoint anyone!
March 14, 2011 6:45 AM
Maasha-Allah