Some Details on Life in Moorish Spain (ca 850 AD)

I've been researching the region of al-Andalus for a new story. Despite reading two books and looking through a few scholarly articles online, I'm unable to find information on a specific facet of life in this society and time.

The scenario I envisioned is this: a young girl is abandoned by her parents at the steps of a brothel where she is adopted by a mysterious man who raises her. He is not Umayyad, Berber, or any of the other major ethnic groups. Everywhere he goes, he is known as "the burning man" because his skin never seems to cool (plot detail revealed later). He has gained enough esteem with the authorities to be appointed a qadi (judge) of a local area. The MC's reflections focus on her life with this man, her "father," and her attempts to uncover his secret while pondering the various lessons he had taught her.

I have an idea of what was going on in Spain at this time: the Visigoths overthrown by the incoming Umayyads, an uneasy peace settling between Muslims, Christians, and Jews (not always holding), and al-Andalus, Cordoba specifically, becoming the cultural center of the world where science and literature flourished. Yet I can't find any particulars which would help build verisimilitude. Not going for 100% accuracy, but I don't think I've learned enough.

How would anything I described above be legally done? Were there a lot of brothels in Andalusia? Would it be unusual for a father to teach his own daughter or was it expected to send children to a formalized school? Since this is an Islamic culture, how would father/daughter relations carry on? What kind of clothing would they wear? Since this MC is an orphan of unknown birth, what are some examples of things she could/couldn't do in her daily life, places she was allowed/not allowed to go? As far as the father character, was a qadi's jurisdiction restricted to a geographic area or specific aspect of the law?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Siri Kirpal said:

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

I am not an expert on the era, but my understanding is that girls would have been taught at home, preferably by their mothers, grandmothers or aunts. However, I don't think learning from the father would have been forbidden.

I'm bothered by the detail that she's left at a brothel. Wouldn't it have been more common to leave her near a church or mosque or synagogue? Or they may have had orphanages or hospitals. All those things seem more likely.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

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Your second point is duly noted. I only included that because there have been times in history when desperate people have sold their children. It can be amended. But now can you tell me if the said church/mosque would care for her at all? Educate her?

autumnleaf said:

When you say the child was "abandoned by her parents at the steps of a brothel", did her parents receive payment for her? If they were paid, why would the brothel owner hand over the child to the mysterious man? If they weren't paid, why would they leave her at a brothel rather than a mosque or church or just the most convenient place?

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The original idea was to have him buy her. I’m reworking it.

autumnleaf said:

That could make sense. The brothel owner might be willing to forego future earnings in favour of an immediate payment. I presume the mysterious man has his own reasons for adopting the girl.

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Yes. As an act of kindness but also because his own family is dead.