Appendix 1

Sample Sijills from the Aleppo Court Records

DOCUMENT 1

Aleppo-shari‘a court record: SMH 1:185:1913 2 Safar 962 A.H./December 1554

Example of early court records from the first register in which ‘Abd al-Salam ibn Shams al-din the doorkeeper (al-bawab) was accused of drinking in the company of women. Courtesy of the Syrian National Archives (Dar al-Watha’iq al-Tarikhiyya), Damascus, Syria.

DOCUMENT 2

Shari‘a court record: SMH 45:154:372 19 Dhu’l Hijja 1130 A.H./November 1718

Zina case resulting in pregnancy and expulsion from the quarter of al-Qasila. Courtesy of the Syrian National Archives (Dar al-Watha’iq al-Tarikhiyya), Damascus, Syria.

DOCUMENT 3

Aleppo-shari‘a court record: SMH 36:182:517 18 Dhu’l Hijja 1098 A.H./October 1687

Two women are brought to court for “gathering strangers” in their home and being “off the straight path.” They are expelled from the neighborhood of Shukr Agha. Courtesy of the Syrian National Archives (Dar al-Watha’iq al-Tarikhiyya), Damascus, Syria.

DOCUMENT 4

Aleppo-shari‘a court record: SMH 55:53:175 4 Rajab 1147 A.H./November 1734.

Hajj Hijazi bin ‘Abd al-Qadir, accused of being an evildoer, spreading harm, and harassing women in front of a coffehouse in Bab al-Nasr. Courtesy of the Syrian National Archives (Dar al-Watha’iq al-Tarikhiyya), Damascus, Syria.

DOCUMENT 5

Aleppo-shari‘a court record: SMH 34:97:533 17 Shawwal 1089 A.H./August 1687

Example of spousal abuse (darar). Case with colloquialisms and first-person narrative. Courtesy of the Syrian National Archives (Dar al-Watha’iq al-Tarikhiyya), Damascus, Syria.

DOCUMENT 6

Aleppo-shari‘a court record: SMH 113:178:460 29 Rabi‘ al-Thani 1190 A.H./June 1776

Testimonial of Zamzam bint Sulayman from Hama, documenting her repentance for the sins she committed in the past. Courtesy of the Syrian National Archives (Dar al-Watha’iq al-Tarikhiyya), Damascus, Syria.