University of al-Karaouine facts for kids

The University of al-Karaouine (or al-Qarawiyyin, Arabic: جامعة القرويين) is a university in Fes, Morocco. The mosque was founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859. It had a school, or madrasa, that taught students about Islam. It later became one of the most important centres of learning in the Muslim world. It was made a part of Morocco's modern university system in 1963. It is the oldest continually operating school in the world. It is sometimes also called the oldest university

Images for kids

• 

  View of the Qarawiyyin Mosque on the skyline of central Fes el-Bali: the green-tiled roofs of the prayer hall and the minaret (white tower on the left) are visible.

• 

  Reconstruction of the 14th-century water clock from the dar al-muwaqqit of the Qarawiyyin Mosque (on display at the Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam)

• 

  A document from the Qarawiyyin's library which is claimed by some scholars to be the world's oldest surviving medical degree, issued in 1207 CE

• 

  The main entrance to the library and other southern annexes of the mosque today, off Place Seffarine

• 

  Courtyard of the mosque with the 10th-century minaret, seen from inside one of the two Saadian-era pavilions (late 16th and early 17th century). The Dar al-Muwaqqit (14th century) is also visible to the left of the minaret, marked by a window just above the gallery of arches.

• 

  Arches in the prayer hall of the mosque.

• 

  The Marinid-era anaza or wooden screen on the southern side of the courtyard, at the entrance to the prayer hall's central nave.

• 

  The Marinid-era decorative cupola over the vestibule of Bab al-Ward, the mosque's central northern gate.

• 

  One of the Saadian pavilions (late 16th and early 17th century) in the courtyard, featuring carved wood and stucco decoration

• 

  Floor plan of the mosque and some of its annexes. (Based on an early 20th-century survey; since then the southern part of the complex, the library, has been modified.)

• 

  Detail of the Almoravid-era bronze overlays on the doors of Bab al-Gna'iz.

• 

  The central nave of the mosque, leading towards the mihrab. Some of the ornate chandeliers from the Almohad and Marinid eras are visible.

• 

  The courtyard (sahn) of the Qarawiyyin Mosque, including the central fountain and Saadian-era pavilions at either end

• 

  The minaret, seen from the south.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Qarawiyyin para niños