In 1295, the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, was recognized as the oldest existing, continually operating higher educational institution in the world. Founded by Fatima al-Fihri, it became a significant center for Islamic scholarship and culture. This institution attracted scholars from across the Islamic world, fostering a rich intellectual environment that influenced various fields, including philosophy, astronomy, and literature.

The University of Al-Qarawiyyin played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of Arabic literature and poetry. Scholars such as Ibn Khaldun and Al-Ghazali, who were associated with such institutions, contributed to the development of literary forms and themes that would later influence poets across the Islamic world and beyond. The university's emphasis on education and knowledge laid the groundwork for future literary movements.