| Emigration To MADINAH |
| The conclusion of the second covenant of Al-Aqabah
was another turning-point in the history of the Islamic movement. The
Muslims now had a place in which to take shelter, an ally in time of war
and danger. Madinah (Yathrib) provided the Muslims with fresh, receptive ground in which to sow the seed of Islam and Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) planned to use this opportunity. He commanded the Muslims of Makkah to start emigrating to Madinah. The Muslims of Madinah are known as Ansar (Helpers) and those of Makkah as Muhajirun (Emigrants) in Islamic history. The Hijrah of the Prophet Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) remained in Makkah waiting for permission from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala) allowing Him to emigrate to Madinah. Abu Bakr, his closest friend and the Prophets cousin Ali remained in Madinah to later accompany the Messenger of Allah. The unbelievers now plotted to kill Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam). Permission for the Prophet to migrate to Madinah had also come. Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) accompanied by Abu Bakr left for Madinah one night in 622CE. A group of unbelievers lay in wait around the Prophet’s house to kill him. Ali was left behind to sleep in the Prophet’s bed, this made the unbelievers look very foolish when they realised what had happened. The Prophet and his companion Abu Bakr had left just before dawn and proceeded to a cave called Thawr, to the south of Makkah. They stayed in the cave for three days. After a tiresome, exhausting and very difficult journey they reached Quba, a place near Madinah. They stayed there for two weeks, Ali joined them in Quba. The people of Yathrib received with enthusiasm the Prophet and his followers, who had abandoned their homes for the sake of their new faith. To mark the occasion, the ancient name of the city was changed to Madinah al-Nabi (the City of the Prophet). The Hijrah of the Prophet started a new chapter in the history of the Islamic movement. The Islamic calender starts from the day of the Hijrah of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) from Makkah to Madinah. Hijrah was the beginning of a new role for the Prophet as a statesman and a ruler. With this ended his fifty three years of life in Makkah, of which he had spent thirteen eventful years as the Prophet of Allah. Madinatun Nabi - The Prophet’s city later became known simply as Madinah - The City. With the arrival of Makkan migrants it added a new dimension to the life in Madinah. The city now had three communities: the Ansar, from the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, the Jews from the tribes of Qainuqa, Nadir and Quraizah and the Makkan migrants. The Prophet’s First Task Once in Madinah the prophet’s first task was to form a solid bond of faith and brotherhood between the Ansar and the Muhajirun. Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) called the both communities together in a meeting, he asked them to become brothers of each other. He also suggested that they share their property and belonging’s. This was a rare event in human history; such was the powerful influence of Islam. Madinah was now the capital of the Islamic community, the first Islamic State. The state knew no distinction between the ruler and his subjects. Every citizen belonged to Allah and enjoyed equal rights. Islam does not recognise any preference of one over another except on the basis of piety (Taqwa). In the Islamic state of Madinah there was no discrimination on the basis of colour, class or descent. Now that the foundations of the Islamic state had been established the Prophet decided to build a mosque. Soon work began at a place purchased from its orphan owners. Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) took part in the construction of the mosque with ordinary labourers. The new mosque built in Madinah was named Masjidun Nabi (The Prophet’s Mosque) Dynamic Leadership Madinah, began to thrive under the dynamic leadership of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam). It however, required more guidance and training for its development, welfare and prosperity. During the second and third years of Hijrah other training programmes were introduced, such as Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan), Zakah (Welfare contribution) and the prohibition of wine and transactions involving interest (Riba). Also during this period, laws regarding inheritance, orphans, marriage and the rights of married women were revealed. The society was growing and the task of making it strong, solid and dynamic also continued. But this was not the only concern for the Prophet, he was also virtually fighting on four other fronts : 1 - to maintain cohesion and discipline among the rank and file of the Islamic society; 2 - to guard against the intrigues and conspiracies of the Hypocrites (Munafiqun). 3 - to remain alert to the dangers from the Quraish of Makkah, and 4 - to remain vigilant about the sinister motives of the Jews of Madinah. History shows how wonderfully Allah’s messenger faced all these dangers and led the Islamic state towards more and more success. |
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