The Role of the Islamic Currency in the Commercial Movement in Bilād al-Shām during the Umayyad Era 41-132 AH / 661-749 AD

This research aims to examine the role of Islamic currency in commercial activity in Bilād al-Shām (Greater Syria) during the Umayyad period, by tracing the origin and development of Islamic coinage and analyzing its impact on the growth of trade and the unification of the Islamic market. The study adopts a historical-analytical approach that combines descriptive and critical analysis of classical sources and modern studies to explore the relationship between monetary reform and economic policies in that era. The research finds that Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān implemented a fundamental transformation in the Islamic financial system when he issued the first purely Islamic coin in 77 AH / 696 CE, inscribed with the testimony of faith and Qur’anic verses, symbolizing sovereignty and independence. This monetary reform contributed to economic unification and financial stability, eliminating dependence on Byzantine and Sassanian systems, and making Bilād al-Shām the financial and commercial center of the Islamic world. The study further reveals that Umayyad monetary policies represented one of the most mature economic systems in Islamic history, characterized by precision, transparency, and stability in currency standards. These policies ensured social justice and prosperity, laying the foundations for an Islamic monetary system that successfully integrated religious principles with financial organization, influencing Islamic economic thought for centuries.