173 JOURNAL OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI, ISSN: 0972-0766, Vol. XCVI, No.21, 2023 SOCIO-CULTURAL ROLE OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN THE SULTANATE PERIOD Rafia Ashraf Bhat Research Scholar, Department of History, School of Social Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. Email: rafiabhat9@gmail.com Dr Amita Gupta Assistant Professor, Centre for Comparative Religion and Civilization, Central University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir ABSTRACT: Women have always played an essential role in the socio-cultural life of society. Women of the Sultanate period not only centred their activities around household chores but also on socio-cultural and religious development. Women get negligible attention in historical work, especially in the socio- cultural development in the Sultanate period. The paper aims to discuss their role in uplifting society and women in particular. Various primary and secondary sources, as well as paintings, show women's socio-culture and political role in the Sultanate period. They took keen interest in the propagation of education and developing various skills like weaving, pottery etc. Besides this, they were also trained in using swords, shields, wrestling, musical instrument etc. They also took keen interest in religious activities and were known for their religious and spiritual positions. Women of royal families also participate in the state's political affairs and assume important positions. Keywords: Household activities, Purdah (veil), Sultanate period women, religious activities, means of amusement, political status. INTRODUCTION: Women are always considered as an essential pillar of society. From ancient times till now, she occupied a pious and honourable place. Women played an important role in every aspect of society. They contributed to education, learning, and other cultural activities. Amir Khusrau placed mother on the highest rank by proclaiming that no child is born without a mother and that a child's first lesson starts from a mother's lap.1 As a mother, she plays a vital role in building up the character and morals of her children. She is the first teacher and if she inherits good values, she will incorporate these values into her children.2 Women in the Sultanate period play an important role in various fields, like polity, society, religion as well as the economic field. During the Sultanate period, many women pursue education and most of them belong to upper-class families. Private and highly learned teachers taught women of the royal families. Amir Khusrau said that women of royal background should also be well trained in using swords and other martial activities along with primary education. 3 Razia Sultan was one of the examples of woman who possessed both education and arms training. She patronized many scholars, poets and Madarsa-i-Nasiriya at Delhi and became the centre of great learning during her reign.4 Mah Malik, popularly known as Jalal-ud-Duniya Din, the granddaughter of Alauddin Jahan Saz, created a place for himself in the literature because of her excellent writings. Bibi Razi, one of the queens in Jaunpur and wife of Sultan Mahmud Sharqi contributed alot in this field. She opened a number of Madrasas and colleges. Jaunpur became an important centre of learning during her lifetime. Separate institutions were established (Maktab) for girl's education.5 Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din Khilji of Malwa took keen interest in the education of royal ladies. During his reign about seventy women of his harem were well-versed in the Holy Quran and hadiths.6 Ibn-i-Battuta gave references to the girl's madrasa in the coastal area of Hinwar. The girls were educated by a private tutor. Another evidence of (Qanun-i- Islam) by Jafar Shareef also gave references of female maktab. A ceremony was laid down when girls started their schooling or before attending the Maktab. Idi, a type of blessing (well wishes) for the students on coloured papers called Zarfishne were inscribed. The activities of women mainly centred on household chores. They took keen interest in cooking, sewing, spinning and weaving. Isami has stressed that place of women should be at home. Instead of wearing crowns and participating in political activities, she should be interested in spinning, weaving and other household chores.7 Even