The Role and Activities of Women during the Abbasid Caliphate

Abstract

The era of the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE) represents a complex and paradoxical period in terms of the social and cultural status of women. This study adopts a historical–analytical approach to examine the roles and activities of women during this era. The findings indicate that, contrary to the common image of Abbasid women as being confined to royal harems, they played active roles in various scientific, literary, economic, and even political spheres. In the field of scholarship, women such as ʿAliyah bint al-Mahdi engaged in poetry and literature, while other women attained expertise in the transmission of hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. Economically, women played significant roles through commercial activities, charitable endowments (waqf), and the management of estates and properties. Within the Abbasid court, influential figures such as al-Khayzuran and Zubaydah exercised considerable political influence and took leading roles in philanthropic and public works, including the construction of caravanserais and hospitals. Nevertheless, these activities occurred within the constraints imposed by the harem system, mandatory veiling practices, and the gradual intensification of women’s social seclusion. In other words, the role of Abbasid women combined hidden influence with a limited yet undeniable presence in the public sphere. This article demonstrates that despite prevailing religious and social restrictions, women in Abbasid civilization were not merely passive subjects but rather influential actors across various layers of society.