MAS Journal of Applied Sciences 6(3): 789–795, 2021
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52520/masjaps.108 Derleme Makalesi
The First University in the World: Al-Quarawiyine University
Hiba Abdouni1* 1Istanbul Aydın University, Department of Political Science and International Relations *Sorumlu yazar: [email protected]
Geliş Tarihi: 19.03.2021 Kabul Tarihi: 25.04.2021 Abstract Most people would suppose that the first and oldest university in the world is in Europe. The first university in the world is in North-Africa Morocco and it was founded by the Tunisian Muslim woman Fatima Al-Fihri. The aim of the article is to raise awareness about the important role of this university and how it encouraged researches and scientists from all over the globe. In addition to this, most people are not aware of the existence of this university even though it was actually recognized by the UNESCO and the Guiness World Records. So, another aim of this article, is to make readers fully aware about how the idea of “University” was introduced for the first time in Morocco and then later expanded to the rest of the world. This article will also present a number of famous scholars who studied at Al-Quarawiyine University as well as how the university was being funded during that time.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Morocco, fatima al-fihri, al-quarawiyine university, unesco, guinness world records, famous scholars
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INTRODUCTION recommended was not the Arabic of the Morocco is known for its long- people, but instead that of the Quran. lasting, resistant and stable monarchy. It Arabity and Islam formed the pillars of a has a close relationship with the west and reappropriation of identity. Finally, the a very colorful cultural life. During the choice of classical Arabic as the official second world war, the French defeat of language had the effect of 1940 aroused the hopes of Moroccan simultaneously evacuating French as a nationalists. Moroccan troops were symbol of colonialism and Berber integrated into the French army and perceived as a symbol of division in the participated in military operations until Moroccan society. It was Allal Al-Fassi the end of the conflict. After the war, the (1906-1974), founder of the nationalist nationalist push became more pressing. of Istiqlal, Minister of State in charge of Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef claimed Islamic affairs and member of the Arabic independence from Morocco, but was Language Academy of Damascus and forced into exile in August 1953. France Cairo, who undertook the Arabization of already engaged in the war in Algeria, Morocco, although more than 80% of the also had to face the nationalist revolt in Moroccan population at the time was of Tunisia. France decided to move towards Berber origin. In 1970, several a political solution: The sultan was Moroccan personalities had signed a brought back to Morocco. The manifesto advocating Arabization government of Edgar Faure negotiated (Miller, 2012). King Hassan Second took the terms of La Celle Saint-Cloud the throne in 1961 and promulgated a declaration, November 1955, which led new constitution in 1962 establishing a to the country’s independence on March two-chamber parliament. He endorsed 3, 1956. The Sultan of Morocco signed a the policy of Arabization of education treaty of friendship with France who and administration. This policy begun in would thus maintain armed forces in 1957 when the French Language had Morocco until 1963. In August 1957, the been declared a “Foreign Language”. sultan, who was already enjoying Once Morocco became independent, immense popularity, proclaimed himself nationalist claims became real with the king of Morocco, under the name of language question, which arose quickly Mohammed the Fifth. For Moroccans, for reasons of legitimacy and identity. Mohammed the Fifth was the main The higher council of national education architect of the independence of their demanded that Arabic become the only country. He is considered by many to be language of instruction. In reality, the father of the modern Moroccan Arabization was part of a logic of nation. From the day after independence, decolonization by means of a process of the Arabization policy was imposed legitimization and defense of the Arabic because it was a question of erasing the language (Hitti, 1970). King Hassan colonial trace by promoting a past that Second was the instigator of the Green was certainly prestigious, but also March on the Sahara. The Spaniards left idealized. It was also a kind of the region in 1976 and withdrew from legitimation of the new Moroccan the conflict in 1979, so that Morocco authority against the old colonial could occupy the abandoned territory. authority. King Mohammed the fifth was Consequently, Morocco will begin a kind enough to Arabize Morocco. Let us policy of Moroccanization in Western not forget that as in all in the other Arabic Sahara. Today in 2021, it is finally speaking countries, the Arabic confirmed that the Sahara is officially
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The Moroccan Sahara (larousse.fr, nd) woman Fatima Al-Fihria. Who is Fatima (frommers.com, n.d). The Idrissid Al-Fihri and how did she get the idea of dynasty reigned over much Morocco for building a university? What kind of more than a century, from 789 to 974. It subjects were taught at the university? takes its name from its founder Idriss the Who are the famous scholars who First, an Arab who, fleeing the attended the university? And how was persecution of the Abbasids, set out to the university being funded during that conquer the Maghreb, including much of time? the north of present-day Morocco. The founder of The Idrissid dynasty, Idriss Fatima Al-Fihri First, is best known for having been Fatima bint Muhammed Al- behind the founding of the famous city of Fihria Al-Qurayshi was the founder and Fez, in Northern Morocco. Idriss the first patron of the world’s first university in was the friend of the Berbers, and the the history of mankind. The institution is enemy of The Abbasids. The latter had commonly known as The University of him assassinated in 791, but this was not Quarawiyin in Fez-Morocco. Today it the end of the line. In fact, his son Idriss stands and continues to promote learning the Second, took up the torch and and education. It was over a thousand completed the foundation of Fez, divided years ago, in the 9th century, that the into two nuclei on the opposite banks of concept of institutionalized academic the Wadi Fez. It will not be unified learning and research was born. Fatima nearly three centuries later by The Al-Fihria was born in present-day Almoravids (Harris, 1921). Urban Tunisia in about 800 AD and was the development went hand in hand with the daughter of a well-off Arab merchant. rise of the Idrissid Dynasty. The Idrissids Fatima’s family migrated to the city of built new cities that still exist today, with Fez in Morocco, around the same time several iconic monuments such as the Al Arabs were fleeing Cordoba and Quarawiyin Mosque in Fez. But the Southern Spain as they were being Idrissids lost their breath following the expelled from those regions. Fatima and death of Idriss the Second. The territories her sister Mariam were well-educated were divided between his sons and their young females. But what was the reason power weakened eventually. It was that made Fatima Al-Fihria build a finally in 974 that the Umayyads of mosque that is now the world’s oldest Courdoue ended the dynasty with a fatal operating educational center? Fatima blow by defeating Al-Hassan ibn came from a devout Muslim family that Gannun, the last Idrissid. The Idrissid valued learning and she happened to dynasty left a strong imprint on the inherit a very large sum of money after history of Morocco. It is notably at the her father’s death. At the time, a lot of origin of certain large cities of the people were migrating to Fez as did Kingdom, such as Fez (herodote.net, Fatima’s family. The city quickly 2019) (hertz.ma, n.d). It is highly became a bustling cultural melting-pot, primordial to talk about the Idrissid where arts and sciences flourished dynasty. Because it is under the reign of alongside religious devotion. its kings and their acceptance that the Al Worshippers eventually outgrew the Quarawiyin University got to exist. The mosques that were available to them. So, mosque and the university were built Fatima decided to build a new mosque under the supervision of the committed, with all the money she inherited and compassionate and cultivated Muslim name it the Quarawiyine Mosque after
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the immigrants from her hometown of petitions signed only by the scholars of Qairawan. She made sure the Mosque the university (Arbaoui, 2012). was built under her supervision, and made sure to fast until the Mosque was Famous scholars who attended the completed (Sabah, 2020; Cherradi, university 2016; Ilham, 2020; Buttery, 2018). Fatima herself studied at Quarawiyyine, the place she founded. The subjects that were taught in the Her diploma is actually still on display at university the university’s library for everyone to After the Quarawiyyine mosque see. Brilliant and famous scholars had was completed in 859 AD, religious the chance to study in this university, studies were taught at the center, then it such as the well-known historian Ibn expanded to include other topics such as: Khaldun. Abd Al-Rahman ibn Astronomy, medicine, Sufism, Muhammad ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) is languages, grammar, mathematics and an Arab philosopher and historian who even music and eventually it became a was considered as one of the brilliant hub for symposiums and debates. Later thinkers and philosophers of the Middle on, Quarawiyyine transformed into a Ages. One of the famous writings of Ibn fully-fledged learning center and Khaldun is “Al-Muqqadimah” (The throughout the centuries it became a stop introduction). This well-known writing for many famous scholars, poets, jurists, deals with the philosophy of History, astronomers, mathematicians and political theory, economics, Islamic scientists. It welcomed students and theology, ecology and also teachers from all over the globe historiography. Ibn Khaldun is regardless of their country, religion and considered the father of Sociology and gender. Early Algebra is believed to have the Science of History. The library of Al- been developed within the walls of this Quarawiyyine university is one of the university. Its library is one of the oldest oldest and it has over 4000 manuscripts in the world housing thousands of and one of them is Ibn Khaldun’s 14th ancient manuscripts. Just like any century text Al-Muqqadimah (Snell, university of nowadays, Al- 2019). In addition to Ibn Khaldun, the Quarawiyyine also had a captivating Sufi philosopher Ibn Arabi also attended tradition named “The Caliph of One the university. Ibn Arabi gave the Hour”. In this tradition during spring, Islamic thought its very first full-fledged students of the university will have to philosophic expression. The most choose among themselves “The famous works of Ibn Arabi are: Al- Governor of the Week”. Any student Futuhat Al-Makkiyah (The Meccan who was finally selected as the chosen Revelations) and Fusus Al-Hikam (The one, had the honor to sit and meet with Bezels of Wisdom) (Izutsu). the king and discuss with him for an hour Furthermore, Abu Al-Walid Muhammad all political affairs and express his own ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd (1126-1198), also thoughts freely with no tyranny or known as Averroes was one of the oppression (Al-Atlas, 1980). “The Dark attenders of the university. At a very House” is the name that the French young age, Ibn Rushd studied “Fiqh” occupiers gave to the university. The (religious law) and “ilm” (religious colonial resistance, faithfulness, peace sciences). But he quickly became and war and all kinds of political interested in secular sciences (hikma): decision-making were made in sort of medicine, astronomy, physics and
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especially philosophy (falsafa). He learning Institution, Oldest University, studied with the best teachers: for that: “The oldest existing, and example, he learned medicine with continually operating educational Avenzoar, the great Arab doctor of Al- institution in the world is the University Andalus who served notably with Yusuf of Karueein, founded in 859 AD in Fez, Ibn Tashfin, the first Al-Moravid ruler. It Morocco. The university of Bologna, should be noted that Ibn Rushd will be Italy, was founded in 1088 and is the more of a theoretician of medicine than a oldest in Europe. The Sumerians had practitioner (Besson, 2013). Moreover, scribal schools or é-Dub-ba soon after the Jewish doctor Moise Maimonides 3500 BC.” (Gui). The Manchester was also one of the attenders. University Press was also one of the Maimonides exercised medicine with credible sources to confirm such great talent developing an experimental statement. Rebecca Mortimer, an author and clinical approach to medicine in at Manchester University Press wrote a which Ibn Sina’s key influence is blog about Fatima Al-Fihri as the recognized. Treating all faiths, he founder of the world’s first university. It advocates above all a rigorous lifestyle is undeniable that Al-Quarawiyyine and soon became famous for the good University was 100 years before Al- results he obtained (Besson, 2013). Azhar university in Egypt, 200 years Gerbert Aurillac who was also one of the before Oxford University and 400 years attenders who later on became Pope before Sorbonne University in France. Sylvester the second, is actually credited (Mortimer, 2018). as the person who introduced his knowledge of Arabic Numerals to the The funding of the University rest of Europe giving us eventually the The establishment of the mosque number system that we use nowadays. It and the university first started by Fatima is also reported that both Leo Africanus Al-Fihri’s large inheritance money. The (Hassan Al-Wazzan) who was educated Al-Quarawiyyine university had four at Fes-Morocco whose writings stayed major sources of funding which are: The for about 400 years one of Europe’s main individual fund, the collective Waqf sources of information about Islam and fund, the Sultan fund and the Alumni Mohammed Al-Idrissi who was the fund. First of all, the individual fund creator of Tabula Rogeriana one of the refers to a person’s donation. Fatima Al- most advanced medieval world maps, Fihri is considered one of the most have attended the university of influential Muslim women who put all Quarawiyyine (Tascı, 2020). her wealth and inheritance to serve her community and later on, enlighten the International recognition whole world with the idea of university. It is highly primordial to mention Second of all, we have the Sultan fund. that the Quarawiyyine University is The ruling king at that time Sultan actually recognized by the most credible Moulay Idriss the first has always sources. According to the UNESCO, The encouraged people to build pious places. United Nations, The Guinness World Eventually, he accepted Fatima’s offer to Records and The Manchester University build the mosque that soon became a Press, Al-Quarawiyyine University is the place of knowledge. During the reign of first and oldest university of the world Sultan Abu Yousuf, the university’s still in use today. The official website south wall got damaged and almost fell. stated under the title of Oldest Higher- So, Sultan Abu Yousuf provided enough
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money to fix it and make it better by CONCLUSION giving a five hundred Diner of Gold that Fatima Al-Fihria’s altruistic and belonged to his late mother. This shows considerate contribution in regards to the the pure intentions of the Sultan to intellectual development is one of the reconstruct and repair the university. many things that unquestionably highly Third of all, we have the collective Waqf deserves our recognition and fund. One of the special Waqf fund was acknowledgement. A dazzling, brilliant for the teachers (Shuyukh). Every woman like Fatima Al-Fihri whose teacher that would come and teach in the astonishing legacy of dedication and mosque, the responsible people of Al- empowerment almost 1200 years later is Quarawiyyine would build for him a still giving us a hand in brightening and house in where he can live. The society’s clarifying our world. Even though contribution is another form of the Fatima is the founder of the first collective Waqf fund. This money raised university, she still remains would usually be used to pay the costs of unrecognized in modern times. The very the administration, to buy materials for first large volumes of the books that were the institution and pay registration fees. translated and the scientifically proven The Waqf fund, is a form of donation. If discoveries were sent by Fatima to the a person wants to donate a certain newly opened famous European property as Waqf, that property can universities; yet, she is barely being never be transferred or given to someone taught about in modern European else, perpetuity is the core element of universities. Last but not least, the truth Waqf. In the western world, many about the reason behind the existence of universities such as Oxford university universities, Fatima’s life and have been influenced by the concept of contribution to her society and to the Waqf. According to the western concept whole world should be implanted and it is called “the endowment”. Most of the embedded in the current universities’ universities were made by the curricula. Fatima Al-Fihri passed away; endowment. Last but not least, we have However, her light never went off. It will the Alumni fund. Pope Sylvester the keep on enlightening the world and the second represents the Alumni fund, he humanity endlessly. used to collect and manage the funds of the university. A very interesting amount REFERENCES of Alumni fund came from the Abdullah, M. N. 2020. The World's Oldest Andalusian diplomat Leo Africanus and University and its Finance the Jewish philosopher Moses Experience: A study on Al- Maimonides. This fund was donated in Qarawiyyin University (859-990). order to start a groundwork of a complex Journal of Nusantara Studies. Al-Atlas, S. M.-N. (1980). the concept of that would combine the library, the education in islam: a framework for Quarawiyyine university and the an islamic philosophy of education: Quarawiyyine Mosque all together. Kuala Lampur: Muslim Youth These different types of funding reached movement. too many financial objectives that Arbaoui, L. 2012. Retrieved from worked in favor of the university moroccoworldnews.com. (Abdullah, 2020). Buttery, C. G. (2018, March 19). Retrieved from bbc.com
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