When thinking of the world's oldest universities, most people likely think first of Oxford or Bologna. However, according to UNESCO and Guinness World Records, Al-Qarawiyyin University (also spelled Al-Karaouine) is the "oldest existing and continually operating educational institution in the world."

Founded in 859 by Tunisian-born Fatima al-Fihri in Fez, Morocco, the university is not only the world's oldest higher education institution but also the first known to have been founded by a woman — and a Muslim woman at that.

Fatima al-Fihri used her inheritance from her wealthy merchant father to establish the institution, which began as a mosque and an associated school, or madrasa, before evolving into a center of higher learning. It introduced a system of awarding degrees based on different levels of study across a variety of disciplines, including religious studies, grammar and rhetoric. Although the university initially focused on religious education, its curriculum soon expanded to include logic, medicine, mathematics and astronomy, among many other subjects.

Thanks to the breadth of its curriculum and the quality of its education, scholars and students from across the Muslim world traveled to study at the institution. Its reputation grew so rapidly that the university introduced a rigorous admissions process, requiring applicants to have memorized the Quran and possess strong knowledge of Arabic as well as the general sciences.

Sultans of the era supported the university through subsidies, gifts, and, most notably, donations of books and manuscripts. As a result, Al-Qarawiyyin developed several libraries across its main and auxiliary buildings, housing many of the most influential works of its time. Its historic library remains open to the public and preserves al-Fihri's original foundation document, which was inscribed on a wooden board.

Today, the library houses more than 4,000 valuable manuscripts spanning a wide range of disciplines, including historic copies of the Quran. Among its treasures are a 14th-century copy of Al-Muqaddimah and an original copy of Kitab al-Ibar by the renowned Muslim historian Ibn Khaldun, regarded as a pioneer of sociology.

Other notable works include Al-Muwatta, the earliest major collection of hadith — the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad — compiled by Imam Malik. It is considered one of the first legal texts to combine hadith with fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence.

Like modern universities, Al-Qarawiyyin regularly hosted debates and scholarly symposia, encouraging the exchange of ideas and the advancement of knowledge. The institution was founded on principles of higher education that closely resemble those of today's universities. Al-Fihri envisioned a space that would foster intellectual exchange, learning and teaching for the benefit of society.

It is widely believed that al-Fihri's vision influenced the development of higher education in Europe. The university's structured approach to institutional learning — unprecedented at the time — resonated across the continent in the centuries that followed. European rulers and scholars recognized the value of this educational model and established their own institutions, most notably the University of Bologna in 1088 and the University of Oxford around 1096.

Throughout its history, Al-Qarawiyyin attracted many distinguished scholars, including the 12th-century geographer and cartographer Muhammad al-Idrisi, whose maps later aided European exploration during the Renaissance. Although renowned for Islamic studies, the university also welcomed scholars from other faiths. Among its Christian visitors was Pope Sylvester II (946–1003), who was known for his interest in mathematics and astronomy.

The university was incorporated into Morocco's modern state university system in 1963. Contrary to common misconceptions, both women and men were able to study there throughout much of its history. In 1965, the institution officially adopted the name University of Al-Qarawiyyin. By the early 1990s, however, enrollment had declined significantly as many students opted for newer, Western-style universities.

To this day, Al-Qarawiyyin continues to preserve its traditional teaching methods. Students gather in a semicircle, known as a halqa, around a sheikh or instructor, maintaining a centuries-old educational tradition.