السجون في الحجاز في صدر الإسلام

Abstract

This research deals with  the issue of prisons at Al- Hijaz during the early Islamic era, (1-132 A.H) in terms of the origins, evolution, the reasons of imprisonment , the treatment of prisoners and the reasons for their release.

Arabs in Hijaz had Known prison before Islam, and the word (prison) was mentioned in the Qur'an and Prophetic Tradition, but the allocation of buildings for prisons has been delayed until the second half of Omar’s Caliphate, where prisons were in Mecca, Medina and other cities of Hijaz. It was built from plaster and stones with secure Iron Gate. More prisons were established during the Umayyad period and each had its own administration .The reasons for imprisonment are varied:  political, criminal, and the disability, or abstaining paying debts and bailment .

The state provided the prisoners with food, water and clothing, also allowed them to practice their worship-affairs, and allowed their relatives and friends to visit them. But during the time of Umayyads, the state practiced torture over some security and political prisoners. The prisoners were released for several reasons including the failure to indict them and guarantee their rights, favoritism, escape from prison, and when rebellions and tribes free their prisoners by force, as well as the death of the prisoner.