The Al‑Qarawiyyin Library, established in 859 AD by Fatima al‑Fihriya, is recognized as the oldest continually operating library in the world. It forms part of a broader mosque and university complex that became a major intellectual hub in medieval North Africa, attracting influential scholars such as Ibn Khaldun and Ibn al-‘Arabi.
Architecturally, the library reflects the elegance and craftsmanship of Islamic art through its carved cedar woodwork, zellij tilework, stucco ornamentation, and arched ceilings. The original structure underwent significant expansions during the 13th and 14th centuries under Marinid rule, and again during the Alaouite period. The library is now located atop Place Seffarine in the heart of the Fez medina.
By the early 2000s, the structure had suffered from serious deterioration. A major restoration led by Canadian-Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni brought the library back to life and culminated in its reopening in 2017. Modern additions include humidity control, solar energy systems, climate regulation, a manuscript conservation lab, and a public reading room.
Today, the library houses approximately 4,000 precious manuscripts, among them a 9th-century Qur’an on camel skin, writings by Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah, and the world’s oldest known ijazah—an academic diploma issued in 1207 for a doctor of medicine. Al-Qarawiyyin remains not only a beacon of Islamic scholarship but also a symbol of the enduring legacy of women in education and architecture.
Source: UNESCO, Smithsonian Magazine, History of Information, World Monuments Fund, Guinness World Records, The Guardian.
