The Middle East: 700–711 CE

Public Health and Welfare under Al-Walid I

Foundations of Medical Care and Quarantine

The early eighth century sees notable advancements in public health and medical care within the Umayyad Caliphate. Between 706 and 707, the sixth Umayyad caliph, Al-Walid I, establishes the first documented Islamic hospital in Damascus. Significantly, Al-Walid mandates the quarantine of patients suffering from leprosy, ordering their isolation within dedicated hospital wards to prevent the spread of disease.

This pioneering practice of compulsory hospital quarantine for leprosy patients sets an enduring precedent. Similar practices will persist in the Muslim world until at least the fifteenth century, notably until the Ottomans construct a dedicated leprosy hospital in Edirne in 1431.

Extensive Public Works and Social Welfare

Caliph Al-Walid’s reign (705–715) is also distinguished by unprecedented public works and welfare programs, financed largely by revenues derived from the expansive Umayyad conquests and effective taxation. Throughout this era, Al-Walid, supported by his brothers and sons, embarks on extensive infrastructure projects:

• Construction of way-stations and wells along vital roads across Syria, improving trade and travel.

• Implementation of street lighting in major cities, enhancing urban life.

• Major land reclamation initiatives, including extensive irrigation networks and canal systems, significantly boosting agricultural productivity.

These efforts are accompanied by innovative social welfare measures, such as financial assistance programs for impoverished citizens and the provision of specialized servants to aid the handicapped. While these welfare programs are primarily concentrated in Syria, they nonetheless set a precedent for state responsibility towards vulnerable populations within the Caliphate.

Thus, the period from 700 to 711 CE under Caliph Al-Walid I marks a significant evolution in public health and social welfare, reflecting the growing sophistication and administrative capacity of the Umayyad state.