01History

From 116 AH to today

The oldest university in the world stopped teaching only by force, and was restored by court order.

02History

  1. 116 AH / 736 CE

    Founding of the Zitouna

    The Great Mosque of Tunis is built and becomes, from its first centuries, a centre of teaching, fatwa and ijaza.

  2. Middle Ages

    Beacon of the Muslim West

    Ibn Arafa, Ibn Khaldun, Tahar Ben Achour… its branches grow to twenty-five, as far as Constantine.

  3. 1954 – 1964

    Abolition

    The campaign against Zaytouna education begins in 1956-1957 under the banner of unified education, until it stops entirely in 1964.

  4. 19 March 2012

    Judicial restoration

    The Tunis court orders the return of the scientific committee's headquarters and the resumption of its mission.

  5. 12 May 2012

    Charter of independence

    The official document confirming the university's independence as a religious and scientific institution is signed.

  6. 1448 AH / 2026

    Branches everywhere, one platform

    A network covering the Republic, remote registration, and a digital platform linking students, teachers, branches and the Mashyakha.