Kairouan

Kairouan (Tunisian Arabic: قيروان‎  Qirwān, Hebrew: קירואן‎), also known as Kirwan or al-Qayrawan, is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670. In the period of Caliph Mu'awiya (reigned 661-680), it became an important centre for Sunni Islamic scholarship and Quranic learning, and thus attracting a large number of Muslims from various parts of the world, next only to Mecca and Medina. The holy Mosque of Uqba is situated in the city.

In 2014, the city had about 186,653 inhabitants.

Etymology

The name قيروان kairuwân is an Arabic corruption, of the Persian کاروان kârvân, meaning "military/civilian camp" (kâr [war/military] (akin to Latin guer, + vân [outpost]), "caravan", or "resting place" (see caravanserai).

Geography

Kairouan, the capital of Kairouan Governorate, lies south of Sousse, 50 km (31 mi) from the east coast, 75 km (47 mi) from Monastir and 184 km (114 mi) from Tunis.

History