Biography- Prophetic Biography- Understanding the Prophet's Biography- (Lesson 47-57): The Treaty that the Prophet made for Al-Madina Inhabitants
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of Creations, and Peace and blessings be upon our prophet Muhammad, the faithful and the honest. Oh, Allah, w e know nothing but w hat You teach us. You are the All- Know er, the Wise. Oh Allah, teach us w hat is good for us, and benefit us from w hat You taught us, and increase our know ledge. Show us the righteous things as righteous and help us to do them, and show us the bad things as bad and help us to keep aw ay from them. O Allah our Lord, lead us out from the depths of darkness and illusion, unto the lights of erudition and know ledge, and from the muddy shallow s of lusts unto the heavens of Your Vicinity. Oh, dear brothers, in the previous lesson w e talked about the brotherliness that the prophet PBUH made betw een Al-Muhajereen ( the Immigrants) and Al-Ansar ( the Helpers).Today w e w ill move to the second stage of the administrative arrangements that the Prophet made to be as the strong base for the Islamic State.
The Social Structure of Al-Madinah at the Prophet’s Arrival
At the arrival of the prophet PBUH, Al-Madinah w as forming a various human mixture in terms of religion and faith, in terms of tribal belonging, and in terms of life style. There had been the Immigrants, Al-Aus and Al-Khazraj tribes, the pagans of Al-Aus and Al- Khazraj, the Jew s of Al-Aus and Al-khazraj, the three Jew ish tribes; Banu Qaynoqa’a, Banu Nazeer, Banu Quraiza, the Bedouins w ho w ere living w ith the people of Yathrib, non-Arab Muslims, the slaves and allies. They w ere earning their living by trade, agriculture, industry, shepherding, fishing and w oodcutting. Their housing distribution w as based either on villages, fortified houses or forts surrounded by fields and lands in w hich they enter after the falling of darkness, protecting their houses against invasions and raids. Their housing communities reached up to 59. Each tribe had a leadership that cared about its affairs and guaranteed its living and security. Wounds of Al-Aus and Al-Khazraj caused by Bu’ath w ar w ere not healed up yet. We can describe the general situation in Al- Madina by saying that it depended on the tribal system and on the tribes’ common traditions. In addition, illiteracy and ignorance w ere common among most Yathribans w hile the People of the Scripture w ere people of know ledge and religion. Never the less, they w ere practicing Riba (usury), exploiting trade and provoking disputes betw een Al-Aus and Al-Khazraj so that they could guarantee their superiority, interests and safety.
Administrative and Social Model of Islamic Madina
1. Islamic Constitution for Both Muslims and Non-Muslims
It’s certain that the Prophetic model applied by the Prophet in Al-Madina is divided into tw o harmonious directions; the first one is related to the Muslims w ho believed in Allah and His Prophet and w ho follow ed and adhered to Allah’s Shara’ (law s). The second one is related to the harmony and peaceful coexistence betw een Muslims ad non-Muslims w hether they w ere pagans or the People of the Scripture. The greatest mission carried out by the Prophet PBUH w as founding a general system and a comprehensive constitution that governed all al-Madinah Inhabitants, Muslims and non-Muslims O brothers, here is a detailed presentation of Al-madinah’s reality before the Prophet PBUH began organizing this society in order to transfer it to be a nation and a cohesive structure for establishing a state
2. Muslims Enjoy Administrative political social Civilization.
Non-Muslims believe that Muslims are naïve and backw ard, but you'll see an unbelievable thing manifested in how the Prophet PBUH could organise this society in accordance w ith the highest degree of citizenship, rights and duties. Thus, organising is civilization, religion and progress. Allah, Most Glorified, created this universe in accordance w ith a marvelous system and Man is the viceroy of Allah in the earth and, thus, he should found this marvelous system, w hich's the evidence of success in life, in his society.
3. Islam has Assigned Individual Responsibility for the Muslim.
Backw ardness means chaos and neglect in Islam. For example: The Porphet PBUH says:”If someone w orked as a doctor and w asn’t know n as a good doctor curing people, and if he caused harm or death for somebody, he w ould be responsible (pay blood money for death)”By Abu-Daw ud, Nasay, Ibn Majah and Alhakim So, he is responsible and w ill be held answ erable. The Prophet PBUH w as asserting that everyone is responsible for every task assigned to him. Allah, Most Glorified, says:
"Then, by thy lord, w e shall question, everyone (92) of w hat they used to do (93)”
[Al-Hijr Surah]
Any society that doesn’t call its individuals to account for their mistakes is a society moving tow ards destruction. There should be a precise calling to account and integrated concepts.
Islam is a religion of Coexistence 4.
You w ill see later on how coexistence betw een different parties, sections and belongingnesses is part of Islam. What's the matter w ith those w ho refuse the other w hile the other is accepted in the Islamic society under a very precise treaty that included the Immigrants, Al Aus and Al Khazraj, the pagans of Al Aus and Al Khazraj, the Jew s of Al Aus and Al Khazraj and the Jew ish tribes. How could this Document gather all these dissimilar parties?! The concept of citizenshipin Islam. Coexistenceis principal in Islam. Accepting the other is principal betw een different groups is a constituent of Islam. The claim w e hear from the enemies of Islam from time to time saying that Muslims don't accept the other is a false accusation. The Prophet PBUH made an agreement that included Qureish, bne A'of, Al Harith from Al Khazraj, bne Sa'eda, bne Jashim, bne Annajjar, bne Amr bin A'of, bne Nabeet and Al Aus. Eventhough these people are of different parties, sections, groups and ranks, they're included by an agreement that defines very clearly their rights and duties. Analysis of the Prophet's Treaty: Study and Summary.
First Analysis: Concept of One Nation
The articles of the Treaty are very long. Before tackling some of these articles, I w ould like to present a study about it. Article 1 in this study states that all inhabitants of Yathrib w hether Immigrants or Yathribans and all those w ho follow them and fight w ith them are one nation. This concept of one nation has a present dimension for w hosoever lives in Yathrib and a future dimension for the w hole nation w here this Treaty secures all these inhabitants and those w ho follow them and fight w ith them. The concept of nation appeared firstly in Al Madinah w hile in Mecca Allah- Most Glorified- says:
" Hast thou not seen those unto whom it w as said: Withhold your hands" (77)
[Al-Nissaa Surah]
The Prophet w as prevented to repel any irritation, any provocation, and even any crime because he w anted to establish conviction there. Also because there w as a Muslim and a disbeliever in every house and if he resisted, a civil w ar, w hich the Prophet has alw ays avoided, could have been w aged. So Allah - Most Glorified- says:
"Say: He is able to send punishment upon you from above you" (65)
[Al-Anaam Surah]
w hich is thunderbolts, now adays the missiles,
"or from beneath your feet" (65)
[Al-Anaam Surah]
w hich is earthquakes, now adays mines,
"or to bew ilder you w ith dissension and make you taste the tyranny one of another"(65)
[Al-Anaam Surah]
w hich is the civil w ar:
" make you taste the tyranny one of another".
[Al-Anaam Surah]
In Mecca the Prophet PBUH w as the most determined to turn aw ay from civil w ar due to the Quranic instruction:
" Hast thou not seen those unto whom it w as said: Withhold your hands and establish w orship" (77)
[Al-Nissaa Surah]
There must be a preparatory phase w here the believer is prepared for strong conviction, or w here the believer should prepare himself for strong conviction. But after a w hile there should be an Islamic entity, an Islamic character, an Islamic stand, an Islamic attitude, an Islamic response, an Islamic analysis and an Islamic movement. This exactly w hat happened in Al Madina, w here the Prophet PBUH established an Islamic State. He accepted, perceived and embraced the reality. He recognized special traits and variables. He and his Companions constitute one article w hile the other groups, tribes, Jew s, pagans and Muslims constitute the other many articles. In summary, the first characteristic of this Treaty is that it made all Yathrib inhabitants: Immigrants, Yathribans and w ho follow s and fights w ith them- as one nation. This concept of one nation has a present dimension for w hosoever lives in Yathrib and a future dimension for the w hole nation w here this Treaty secures all these inhabitants and w hoever follow them and fight w ith them.
Second Analysis: RecongnizingRecognizing Special Traits of Tribes, Clans and Sects
This Treaty recognized the special status of every group of inhabitants because every group has its traits and its structure. Recongnizing the special traits of every society is considered an act of w it, w isdom and sophistication.
One Problem of Modern Age: Not-RecongnizingRecognizing the Other Side
Our problem w ith the other side is that they don't recognize the poeples' special traits. They advocate globalization. They w ant to apply their system, values, pornography and moral looseness on all nations by force. All the w ars you're w atching are just one form of this oppression and coercion. The other side w ants to publicise his culture on all nations w hile ignoring their values, principles, cultures and religions. One characteristic of the latter time of the w orld is the appearance of Addajal (the one-eyed fraud). There is a modern model for this one-eyed fraud. He's one –eyed because he realises his ow n culture w ithout accepting the others' cultures, concerns for his interests w ithout recongnizing others' interests, realizes his dignity w hile hurting others' dignity, razes one country to the ground for the sake of tw o captives and arrests ten thousand captives including very prominent people such as ministers and representatives of the Legislative Council for the sake of tw o captives. Isn't this w hat you are w atching?! Who is the one-eyed? Who realizes his dignity w ithout realizing others' dignity, realizes and glorifies his culture w ithout accepting the others' cultures, and realizes his interests w hile ignoring others' interests. The other characteristic is being fraud and liar. He enters to an Iraqi house w ith his colleagues. They rape the girl, kill her w ith her father, mother and brother and then burn the house just for the sake of freedom and democracy!! Have you ever seen such fraud and deception? Countries are razed to the ground, w ealths are robbed, human beings are oppressed and sectarian disorders are provoked all in the name of freedom and democracy. The "one-eyed fraud" is a precise description for the strong man of the latter time of the w orld. O brothers, I have previously mentioned to you how Allah-Most Glorified- descried the tribe of A'ad as they w ere rebellious to Allah in these lands. He did not say they w ere rebellious to Allah in their land but in these lands, in all lands.
"And made therein much mischief" (12)
[Al-Fajr Surah]
Their fatal w eapons are firing and their films are demoralizing people. Tyranny, corruption and unbearable haughtiness: "Who's mightier than us in pow er?" (51)
[Fussilat Surah]
Accompanied w ith amazing superiority in construction:
"Build ye on every high place a monument for vain delight, And seek ye out strongholds that haply ye may last forever" (128,129)
[Assuaraa Surah]
Military superiority:
"And if ye seize by force, seize ye as tyrants?" (130)
[Assuaraa Surah]
And scientific superiority:
"they were keen observers" (38)
[Al-Ankabout Surah]
What else did they do?
"They w ere rebellious to Allah in these lands, And made therein much mischief " (11, 12)
[Al-Fajr Surah]
Whenever Allah destroys a tribe, He mentions that He had destroyed a mightier tribe before except for the case of A'ad.When He destroyed them, He says:
"Allah Who created them, He w as mightier than them in pow er" (51)
[Fussilat Surah]
What is their destiny? The destiny of this tyrant tribe w as that Allah destroyed them by:
" a fierce roaring w ind, Which He imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen lying overthrow n, as they w ere hollow trunks of palm trees" (6,7)
[Al-Haqqa Surah]
This description has a Quranic indication that the tyrant tribe of A'ad is just a model and they have counterparts at every time and the evidence is w hat Allah-Most Glorified- says:
"And that He destroyed the former (tribe of) A'ad"(50)
[AnNajm Surah]
This means that there is a latter A'ad.
"And (the tribe) of Thamud He spared not" (51)
[AnNajm Surah]
The important thing is that the Treaty betw een the Muslims and the other sides recognises the special traits of each group, their leadership, their problems, their traditions, their conventions and their religious beliefs. This is a civilized concept. You are a Muslim and you have your conviction, w orship, method, values and aims. But if you are in a country w hose people aren't Muslims, you should live peacefully w ith them, share w ith them, recognise their traits and realize their feelings. That is exactly w hat the prophet PBUH did.
Third Analysis: General Cooperation between Muslims
The Believers should cooperate in helping those in need such as the poor or those w ith many children especially in the case of ransom. This is similar to a solidarity fund. The poor are like time bombs contributing to the collapse of society unless w e concern for their needs and their miseries and care about their poverty. Ali; our master said:" Poverty is almost blasphemy" The Prophet PBUH says:
“ You gain victory for the sake of the weak among you”.
[Related by Muslim, Ahmad, Ibn- Habban, and Al-Hakem thru Abu-AlDardaa]
If w e stand by the w eak, the society classes w ill become more coherent. If this w eak person is poor, you should feed him, you should treat him if he is ill, you should find him a shelter if he's homeless, you should teach him if he's ignorant and you should treat him fairly if he's oppressed. If you stand by the w eak, the society w ill become coherent, fortified and impenetrable.
Fourth Analysis: Forbidding Excessive Connections of Loyalty
Excessive Loyalty Connections should be forbidden in order to maintain trust and cooperation in society. Hence, everybody shouldn't go too far or exceed the the limits and there are law s that govern all groups. If there are no strict rules follow ed by everybody and every group, the society w ill not rise.
Usama bin Zaid approached the Prophet on behalf of a w oman w ho had committed theft. The Prophet got very angry saying: "The people before you were destroyed because they used to inflict the legal punishments on the poor and forgive the rich. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is! If Fatima (daughter of the Prophet) stole, I w ould cut off her hand"
[Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
A prominent man from Qureish addressed unintendly Bilal w ith a harsh w ord saying: son of the black. The Prophet felt indescribable anger saying:
“O Thar, You are a man w ho still have Jahilyia (ignorance).”
As a result, Abu Thar put his head on the ground begging Bilal to stamp on his head. When our master Assedeeq saw Safw an torturing his slave Bilal, he bought him in liberty. Then, Safw an said: if you paid just one dirham, I w ould have sold him.Assedeeq replied: if you asked for ten thousand, I w ould have given you. This is my brother in Islam. Jabir bin Abdullah- may Allah be pleased w ith both of them-said: Omer used to say" Abu Bakir is our master and he liberated our master i.e. Bilal" Omer used to go to Al-Madinah to receive Bilal. This is Islam. In summary: this treaty forbade excessive loyal connections to maintain trust and cooperation in society.
Fifth Analysis: Cooperation in Resisting any Aggressor, Oppressor and Spoiler The Treaty emphasizes that everybody should cooperate in resisting any aggressor, oppressor or spoiler even if this aggressor, oppressor or spoiler is the son of any of the contracted parties. This implies the supremacy of law w hich ensures justice and equality w hich in turn ensure security and safety in society. All citizens are ruled by the same law s. All Treaty-initiators are equal. The position of the inferior is equal to the position of the superior in rights and duties. They are all one hand against their enemies. All people are equal in rights and duties in this society.The Jew s have the same rights as the other parties' rights in this treaty. The Jew s have their religion and Muslims have their religion. This implies coexistence and citizenship and indicates the deep understanding of the life of the w orld. You are a Muslim. You should obey Allah and accept the others w ithout sacrificing your religion. You should obey Allah leaving the others live their life w ith their progress, principles and values.
Sixth Analysis: Treaty of Mutual Defence
Muslims and non-Muslims defend each other in w ars. It's a Mutual defense treaty in the modern term. Anybody w ho breaches this treaty w ill be cursed by Allah and w ill be deprived by his general rights. This is legislation and obligation but at the same time every society has one reference and one influential decision. Allah- Most Glorified- ordered the Prophet PBUH to consult his Companions saying
"And consult them upon the conduct of affairs",
but
"And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah" (159)
[Al-Imran Surah]
Seventh Analysis: Whosoever Breaches the Treaty Has Neither Pact Nor Honor
One article of this Treaty is: if any Jew ish breaches this Treaty, he shall w rong himself and his family and he shall not have any pact or honor w ith the contracted parties. Every contracted party in this Treaty shall have his share in w ar, peace and spending, shall cooperate and participate and shall advise w ithout transgression. The most beautiful thing in this Treaty is tat nobody bears another's load as Allah- Most Glorified- says:
"and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. "(164)
[Al-Anaam Surah]
The most abominable act in society is retaliation; if somebody is killed, then all members of the killer's tribe w ill be vulnerable to killing w ithout a reason. Retaliation is a crying shame on our Nation and its remedy is
"and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. "
Tw o or three months ago a brother from the southern governorates called me saying that somebody of some tribes w as killed. As a result, the killer's tribe ran aw ay and disappeared out of fear. The victim's family, being religious, called me asking my opinion. I said in reply:" The head of your tribe should go to the killer's tribe ensuring that you w on't kill anybody because the killer w ill be judged by Allah and retaliation is a behaviour that doesn't please Allah. This treaty does not cancel any obligations on the contracted parties and does not relieve any oppressor from his punishment. In addition, this Treaty is for peace just as it's for w ar. This Treaty has rendered Al- Madinah a forbidden country. Finally, these w ere some articles of the Treaty made by the Prophet PBUH and it's considered- w ithout exaggeration- one of the most elevated civilized agreements.
Translation : Amena Al-Khaled Auditing : Maha Sulieman