أثر الحِرف اليدوية على الحياة الاجتماعية في مكـة خـلال القرنـين الأول والثـاني للهجـرة

Abstract

This study, "The Impact of Handicrafts on Social Life in Mecca During the First and Second Hijri Centuries," examines their influence on economic, social, and religious aspects. It analyzes the role of handicrafts in the local economy, stimulating trade, and providing goods for pilgrims and Meccan residents, establishing Mecca as an important economic center.

The study also discusses how handicrafts contributed to strengthening social cohesion among Meccan society's classes, supporting social solidarity, and influencing social stratification and the status of artisans within the commercial and upper classes.

From a religious perspective, the study highlights the connection between certain crafts and religious practices, such as the production of the Kaaba’s covering (Kiswah), its embroidery with sacred verses, the crafting of tools used in worship, and the intellectual gatherings and debates held in markets during pilgrimage and trade seasons.

The study concludes that handicrafts were not merely an economic activity but a fundamental element in shaping Mecca’s social, economic, and religious structure. They played a key role in reinforcing Mecca’s status as a religious and commercial center in the Islamic world.

The study adopts a historical-analytical approach by examining historical sources and heritage texts. Data collection involved reviewing historical sources such as books on geography, travel literature, Islamic history, and classical Arabic literature, while classifying