The role of women in the conflict between the opposition factions and the Abbasid authority (132-232 AH)

During the Abbasid reign, compared to the previous eras, women had more freedom and came forward in many fields. As a result of that, they were able to play their roles politically. One of the movements which were in strong conflict with Abbasid authority was the Kharijites movement. On both eastern and western Islamic sides, women carried out their activities publicly and secretly and supported the movement considerably. Due to their easy comings and goings and lack of censuring on them, they had the task of transferring political and military messages. The Alawites, as an opposition movement of the Abbasid authority, since the beginning of the establishment of the state stood against the authority and considered themselves worthy of the Caliphate. In this arena, Alawite women had a remarkable role in politics and in delivering political messages among Alawite leaders, and consequently, they encountered imprisonment and violence. Another opponent group of the Abbasids was the Barmakids. Although they were initially supporters of the Abbasid authority and held high positions, eventually, due to a lot of interference and some wrong steps, for instance; secret marriages with girls in the Abbasid family, their relations deteriorated, and this is known as the disaster of the Barmakids fall. Regarding the Zandiqs, after their leader’smurder, some Zandiqi women were threatened by the Abbasids, and even the sources have talked about how some relatives of Zandiq leaders died as a result of their intimidation. Another prominent role of women in the conflicts between the authorities and the opposition was the action of spying by women. Even during the reign of Caliph Al-Ma'mun, about 1,700 old women were used for being aware of people’s conditions. Despite that, women were sent, in the guise of business people, employers, and doctors, to areas where opposition parties had hegemony to be aware of the movements and activities of the Abbasid opposition movements.