Morocco Travel Blog | University of Al-Karaouine - Fes
University of Al-Karaouine is the oldest university in the world and located right in the heart of the Medina. It also serves as a mosque so feel free to head your way there to pray.
When: Muslim prayer times
Cost: there is a small high suggested donation/sadaqah expected
Who: Muslims only - Also someone there will notice you're foreign and will run to help you and direct you where to pray and where to do wudu
Duration: to pray in jamaat go right when the athan happens or you can pray on your own
Tips: girls cover your head as soon as you start approaching the mosque. Also, do wudu in the fountain (if you're male it's the beautiful one outside and for females its inside, but still pretty)
My personal experience: we had a sweet elderly man run up to us and greet us. He directed me to where females go and slowly as I asked them all saying wudu and the gestures they all pointed to downstairs to a fountain. I was confused because in America fountains are for decor right, no one actually washes their face in them. Not in Morocco, after I did wudu I caught my husband doing wudu as well, but the men get to use the beautiful one that's outdoor. These fountains are gorgeous and really make you feel clean and refreshed. After I prayed, a couple of ladies were watching me and one of them started making conversation with me in Arabic. I was used to at it this point, but we both tried our best to convey messages in my half ass Arabic and French, and her understanding my hand gestures. It worked for the basics and then we laughed when it got complicated as nothing could be conveyed, but that's the fun part just two people talking with a huge language barrier and all you have are the humanity basics.