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Morocco is taking center stage as the guest of honor at this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair, with the event showcasing the North African country’s rich heritage as reflected by the impressive legacy of the world-renowned Al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez.
Established as a mosque and a prominent seat of learning, Al-Qarawiyyin has stood for centuries as a unique institution — it has simultaneously served as a mosque, university, library, and a vibrant hub for knowledge exchange. With centuries-old manuscripts across various fields and stunning Moroccan-Andalusian architecture, Al-Qarawiyyin embodies Morocco’s enduring academic and cultural legacy.
Participants at the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which opened on November 6 and runs until November 17, will be taken on a virtual journey through Al-Qarawiyyin, organizers said in a statement. The aim of this rich, immersive experience will be to engage with the university’s historic manuscripts and explore stories from its illustrious past, the statement added.
The “House of Wisdom” pavilion features a meticulously designed space reminiscent of Al-Qarawiyyin’s architecture, offering attendees an immersive experience of the ancient center of learning. Here, augmented reality technology allows visitors to explore digitized manuscripts and gain insight into this cornerstone of Islamic intellectual history.
The pavilion includes a replica of the “Qarawiyyin Library” from the heart of Fez, home to invaluable manuscripts, including the commentaries of Ibn Rushd on an Arabic translation of Aristotle. Among its treasures are Ibn Khaldun’s signed copy of his “Muqaddimah,” the only known poetic medical guide by philosopher Ibn Tufayl, and an autograph manuscript of Ibn Arabi’s “Meccan Revelations.” The library preserves significant works across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including literature, mathematics, history, religious studies, astronomy, philosophy, and medicine.
Read also: Morocco Named Guest of Honor at Sharjah International Book Fair 2024
In Sharjah, visitors can witness the Qarawiyyin Library’s historical role as a knowledge repository. Dating back to the 14th century, the library stands as one of the oldest in the Islamic world, housing rare manuscripts that underscore its scholarly prestige. Among its invaluable items are a 9th-century Quran and an 11th-century Arabic Bible, treasured artifacts representing centuries of intellectual exchange.
The pavilion also enables virtual access to the Qarawiyyin Library Manuscript Index, where visitors can browse digital facsimiles of foundational works, from an ancient Quran to Ibn Ishaq’s “Book of Expeditions” and the Moroccan-script edition of Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics.” The exhibit also celebrates UNESCO-designated world heritage pieces, such as Ibn Khaldun’s “Muqaddimah,” a seminal work in history and sociology.
Al-Qarawiyyin itself is an architectural marvel, boasting features like a precision water clock once used to mark prayer times in Fez. Founded in the 9th century, the university quickly rose as a center of intellectual life, attracting scholars from across the Muslim world during Islam’s golden age.
With a curriculum spanning religious sciences to practical disciplines like engineering, astronomy, medicine, and mathematics, Al-Qarawiyyin solidified its place as a beacon of knowledge and learning.
