Exploring the Social and Religious Roles of Women in Ḥijāz during the Umayyad Period

Abstract

This paper examines the social and religious roles of women in the Hijaz under Umayyad rule (661-750 CE), a period marked by significant political consolidation and change in the early Islamic world. Using historical accounts, biographical records and Islamic jurisprudence, the study explains how women in cities, such as Mecca and Medina, had local power of influence both in religious, educational and social contexts. It looks at their involvement in religious learning, philanthropic activities and family systems, which are interconnected with political and religious power. The paper also takes into consideration how changing Umayyad administrative systems and urbanization had effects on the public visibility and agency of women. Placing the experiences of Hijazi women in the context of the larger framework of the early Islamic society, the paper attempts to shed light on their role in preserving and transmitting religious knowledge and their influence on the formation of community life during the Umayyad rule.