From Hilful Fuzul to the Charter of Madinah: 10 steps the Prophet (PBUH) took to establish peace
Photo: Collected
Our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) came to bring a cool breeze of peace to a troubled world. From birth to death, he travelled from one end to the other carrying the message of peace. All his life, his struggle and devotion to establishing peace and security were unceasing. In childhood, in a restless adolescence, in a spirited youth and in the last days of his life, his aim and purpose were always one and the same.
On this, Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran, ‘And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.’ (Surah Al-Anbiya: 107)
From the very beginning he was peace-loving, gentle-hearted, principled, honest and trustworthy. Even as an adolescent he was given the titles ‘Al-Amin’ (the trustworthy) and ‘Sadiq’ (the truthful). As a young man he joined a peace league called ‘Hilful Fuzul’ to maintain law and order and harmony among the tribes. After receiving prophethood, too, he created a serene atmosphere of peace in the heart of the desert through a series of epoch-making steps. Ten notable aspects of his peacemaking are highlighted here:
The peace league ‘Hilful Fuzul’ was formed to bring order to society by curbing selfishness, violence, treachery and the urge for revenge. The beloved Prophet (PBUH) joined it as a young man and played a very important role in making its work a success. (Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: 2/355; Sirat Ibn Hisham: 1/87)
Rooting out all superstition from an Arab society steeped in the darkness of idolatry, he built an ideal society of tawhid founded on belief in one Allah. In the early days of Islam, his proclamation at the ‘Dhul-Majaz’ market was: ‘O people, say there is no god but Allah, and you will be successful.’ (Musnad Ahmad: 19004)
Showing the path of light to the Arabs, who were sunk in sin and ignorance, he introduced an advanced social order based on equality, genuine brotherhood and universal humanity. Ending the pride of lineage and discrimination of the age of ignorance, he established justice. In that society, neither skin colour nor tribe but ‘taqwa’, or the fear of Allah, was the only measure of honour. (Hilyat al-Awliya: 3/10; Bayhaqi, Shu’ab al-Iman: 5137)
In the Arab society of the time, women were seen as objects of pleasure and as slaves. The birth of a daughter was considered shameful, and there was a custom of burying baby girls alive; women had no right to the property of their fathers or husbands either. The beloved Prophet (PBUH) strongly protested against this cruel custom and secured women’s social dignity, rights and safety in Islam. (Sunan an-Nasa’i: 3232; Mishkat al-Masabih: 3083)
Disputes over trivial matters were constant among the tribes of ancient Arabia. Long wars broke out on the slightest pretext; bloodshed and plunder were their everyday trade. Ending these bloody tribal feuds, the beloved Prophet (PBUH) built a society of peaceful brotherhood.
In that era, drinking alcohol was a symbol of nobility among the Arabs. Getting drunk in the company of dancing girls, they indulged in vile obscenity. Gambling was also a common habit, often leading to deadly violence. The Prophet (PBUH) strictly banned alcohol and gambling, freeing society of crime. (Musnad Ahmad: 4/218)
Ancient Arabia was full of cruelty. The powerful inflicted inhuman torture on the weak and on slaves. By establishing justice and equality in society, the beloved Prophet (PBUH) removed all forms of barbarity and cruelty from among the people.
After the migration to Madinah, the epoch-making agreement or constitution the beloved Prophet (PBUH) drew up to end sectarian hatred among the various tribes there and establish harmony and good governance is known in history as the ‘Charter of Madinah’. Ensuring the coexistence of people of different faiths and tribes, this document is described as the world’s first written constitution.
To remove economic inequality and lay the foundation of equality and brotherhood in society, he introduced the rule of zakat in Islam. This eased the way to ending poverty and created an excellent economic framework for narrowing the gap between rich and poor. (Surah At-Tawbah: 103)
He declared it completely haram to kill anyone unjustly or to seize anyone’s property by force. By declaring every person’s life and property a sacred trust, he ensured complete peace and security in society. (Sahih Bukhari: 1741)
If today’s world wants to be free of all conflict, strife and unrest and feel the gentle breeze of true peace, there is no alternative to following the great ideals of the beloved Prophet (PBUH) in every sphere of the individual, family, society and state.
Sources
Original report: Ajker Patrika
