Context of Ancient Arabia (1700s):

In the 1700s, the region comprising present-day Saudi Arabia and the broader Arabian Peninsula was politically fragmented, religiously weak, and socially unstable. Below is a breakdown of these aspects:

1. Political Situation:

The Arabian Peninsula lacked a central government. The region was divided among various tribes, clans, and local rulers. Specific areas like Najd, Hejaz, Asir, and Yemen each had their own independent leaders. Mecca and Medina were nominally under the Ottoman Caliphate, but they were not directly governed; instead, local Sharifs administered these cities. In essence, the region was divided and weak, with no sense of unity.

2. Religious Condition:

Although Islam was widespread, it had become diluted with numerous superstitions, innovations (bid’ah), and acts of shirk (polytheism). Common practices included:

Worship and vows around graves

Circumnavigating tombs

Observing festivals (urs) for saints and shrine-worship

Amulets, exorcism, jinn-worship, fortune-telling, and magic spells

The pure Tawheed-based Islamic creed and authentic Sunnah were nearly lost. Many scholars and thinkers of the time were deeply concerned and felt the urgent need for reform.

3. Social Condition:

The society was mainly tribal. Tribal conflicts and wars were frequent. The rights of women and children were highly restricted. Literacy was very low, and ignorance in Islamic knowledge was widespread in many areas.

4. Economic Condition:

The economy relied primarily on agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade. While trade thrived in urban areas, rural regions remained poor and underdeveloped. The pilgrimage (Hajj) season served as a major source of economic activity.

Summary Table:

 Aspect                             Condition    

Politics                             Fragmented, tribal, weak governance    

Religion                             Filled with shirk and bid’ah, Tawheed lost    

Society                             Superstitious, plagued by tribal conflicts    

Economy                             Trade-based, poor general population  

Status of Women in Arabian Society (1700s):

In the 1700s, women in the Arabian Peninsula had very limited social, political, and religious roles. Although Islamic teachings honored and granted rights to women, these ideals were largely lost in practice.

Social Status:

Women were mostly confined to household duties and child-rearing. Their status depended heavily on their family and tribal affiliations. Child marriage was common. Polygamy and disinheritance of women were widespread. Their freedom of movement, veiling (purdah), and participation in social gatherings were strictly controlled by men.

Religious and Cultural Role:

While Islam encourages education for women, this era saw minimal implementation. Only a few women from wealthy or noble families received basic religious education, like Qur’an recitation. There was no participation for women in mosques or religious leadership.

Education System (For Both Men and Women):

General Picture:

Education was primarily centered around madrasas, and limited to religious knowledge. The majority of people were illiterate. Those who studied focused on Qur’an memorization, Fiqh, Hadith, and some Arabic language and literature.

Education for Women:

There were no formal educational institutions for girls. Some privileged families arranged home-based Qur’an and basic religious learning for their daughters. Female scholars or teachers were extremely rare.

Barriers to Women’s Education:

Social mindset: The belief that “girls don’t need education” was widespread.

Economic hardship: Poor families prioritized boys' education.

Misinterpretation of religion: Religion was misused to block women’s educational rights.

Exceptions:

In early Islamic history, there were female scholars like Aisha (RA) and Umm Salama (RA). But such examples were absent in the 1700s.

In urban centers like Mecca and Medina, a small number of women gained education—mostly limited to Qur’an recitation and knowledge about hijab.

Conclusion Table:

 Aspect                     Status of Women    

Family life             Male-dominated, mostly confined at home    

Education             Very limited, restricted to religious basics    

Social role             Negligible or secondary    

Religious status     Rights existed in Islam, but poorly implemented in society  

It was in this context that Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (rahimahullah) emerged. He began his Islamic reform movement to restore pure Tawheed and revive Islamic values. The House of Saud politically supported his call, laying the foundation of a new state power. This launched an 18th-century Islamic reform movement, aimed at purifying religion and society from corruption and superstitions.

However, women’s education and social participation remained largely neglected.