 The use of "al-Widaya" () instead of "al"-"Awdāya" has become popular.In the 10th century the Umayyads of Cordoba, or their Zenata Berber allies in the region, founded a "ribat" or fortified monastery/outpost in this area, to defend against the Barghawata Berbers who had established a Kharijite state to the south.This ribat was most likely on the same site as the current Kasbah of the Udayas but its location has not been confirmed by historians.