By Rumki Chowdhury
While Muslim women, especially hijabi women, are painted by media as “oppressed,” we must wake up to the reality of the Islamic rights that they have. For one, there’s the pursuit of knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, “How splendid were the women of the Ansar; shame did not prevent them from becoming learned in the faith.” Moreover, according to the Prophet صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, seeking knowledge is a duty of every Muslim and it is also a path toward Paradise. Who better to have embodied this than Fatima Al-Fihri, who was dubbed by UNESCO as the founder of the world’s first-ever, degree-granting University, which also enlightened some of the world’s leading theorists, writers and scholars!
Due to a fire that damaged many historical documents which contained detailed information about Fatima Al-Fihri’s biography, we know little about her upbringing. What we do know comes from what was recorded by Ibn Abi-Zaraa, a 14th-century historian. To begin with, she was born around 800. We also know that her father, Muhammad Al-Fihri, was a successful and wealthy merchant. Not long after she got married did she lose her husband, father and brother. All she had left of her family was her sister, Maryam, with whom she shared a large inheritance. After having suffered so much loss in their lives, instead of folding into themselves, both Fatima and Maryam decided to use their inheritance money to give back to the society in which they lived, Fez. They had immigrated with their family from Tunisia to Morocco under the rule of Moroccan King Idriss II. Little did they know then that they would, some day, buy land, on which they would build two mosques, a library and a University!
As Fatima’s family was among 2000 families called the “Qarawiyyin,” from Qayrawan, Tunisia, Fatima’s University was called the University of Qarawiyyin. Mind you, Fatima and Maryam were well-learned in Islamic jurisprudence and religious studies. Consequently, they not only built a University, but also two mosques: Fatima founded Al-Qarawiyyin and Maryam founded Al-Andalus. These mosques, the University and library were built over a period of eleven to eighteen years, depending on the source of information. Pious as she was, she began the construction in Ramadan and did so while fasting.
Evidently, there was nothing to stop Muslim women from achieving such dreams; in fact, they were and are still encouraged by Islam to do so. Think about it, Fatima Al-Fihri lived about 1200 years ago! And today, Muslim women, especially hijabi women, are considered “oppressed” when it is really Islamophobia and hijabophobia preventing them from pursuing and accomplishing their endeavors; take India’s current educational system in some cities, for example, where hijabi women are prohibited from attending schools, colleges and universities.
It was approximately 1200 years ago that Fatima Al-Fihri set out to educate children, teens and adults at her school (maktab in Arabic) and University (madrasa in Arabic), earning her the title of “Mother of Children.” While the University was the first of its kind in the world, Masjid Al-Qarawiyyin is considered one of the largest mosques in North Africa. In addition, the Al-Qarawiyyin University is known for educating students whom we know today as some of the greatest thinkers, theorists and writers: Muhammad Al-Fasi (jurist), Ibn al-Arabi (jurist), Leo Africanus (author and traveler), Ibn Khaldun (historian) and al-Bitruji, a.k.a. Alpetragius (astronomer).
This was greatly thanks to the incredible platform the University provided for such scholars, including organized symposiums and debates. There were also chairs and desks for the students.
Fatima Al-Fihri died around the age of 80. If only she could see how her one University was a gift to the world and humanity as we know it, today! Her name is honored in the form of a scholarship and academic program given to students from Europe and North Africa. In 2017, a prize was created in Tunisia in her honor, a prize that rewards women who initiate professional opportunities and training for women.
Fatima Al-Fihri, together with her sister, Maryam, created an environment that was professional for women as well as for men; they provided an educational institution and system, growing roots that would stem into dreams blooming in the heads of both boys and girls; they are legendary proof of what women are capable of achieving when driven, passionate and dedicated to a cause that matters to both themselves and to the society in which they live.
Sources:
http://www.kvinnofronten.nu/Formodrar/fatima-al-fihri.htm
https://muslimheritage.com/people/scholars/fatima-al-fihriya-2/
https://www.dw.com/en/fatima-al-fihri-founder-of-the-worlds-oldest-university/a-53371150
https://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/muslim-woman/fatima-al-fihri-6/
https://www.thesciencefaith.com/fatima-al-fihri-founder-of-worlds-very-first-university/
About the Author
Rumki Chowdhury is Editor of World Hijab Day Organization. Moreover, she has her own editing services. She is an award-winning published author. She has an MA in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London, a BA in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey and an English Subject Teaching Degree from Gävle Högskolan in Stockholm, Sweden. She speaks Bengali and Swedish fluently! She has years of experience in the media and publishing worlds. Rumki lives with her husband and their three daughters.
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