held positions - they were not seen as mere possessions. The queen often had considerable wealth. Ibn Battuta says that wealth flowed to the queen in the land of Al-Abwab, and that she was the empress. It is mentioned that in the empire of Al-Sinn, where an Islamic state flourished, the queen or empress had no absolute power.

Below the class of princes and vassal kings was the class of scholars, whose influence depended on the piety of the king or his politics. Their influence increased in the era of the Sinnite kings, while sorcerers occupied their place in pagan states. Below the scholars were the merchants and the heads of sects. The heads of sects were officials appointed by the court, despite the low salaries. Some of them had a large number of slaves, who were used as domestic servants or laborers in workshops. Although they rarely engaged in politics, and their social role was limited, they played an important role in economic affairs.

Far below these were the vast majority of the population in all African societies, and their numbers often exceeded half the population. They were generally in a much worse condition than the slaves of the rulers and princes. While these slaves could rise to financial positions, the free peasants were often burdened by taxes, the constant wars around them, and were captured in slave raids. They had to be constantly wary not only of their rulers but also of the Tuareg and Berber bandits.

And among the free people were those who were descendants of slaves. These, although they returned to slavery,