Fatima al-Fihri was a pioneering Muslim woman born in 800 CE in Tunisia. She is best known for founding the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco in 859 CE, which is recognized by UNESCO and the Guinness World Records as the oldest existing, continually operating higher educational institution in the world. Al-Fihri was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and used her inheritance to establish the university. Her vision was to create a place of learning that would promote knowledge and education, particularly in Islamic studies, grammar, and logic. Her contributions have had a lasting impact on education and women's roles in academia.