Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) laid the milestone of the first Just and Civilized human society. Since the commencement of his mission as a Prophet, he displayed one popular human quality that’s cornerstone to a sound Muslim leader, it is Shoora, or Consultation.
 

The time that witnessed the commencement of Prophet Muhammad’s mission was especially critical for all sects and cults living in Arabia, where division was at all levels of the society, and authority lied only in the hands of the most oppressive and powerful.

Power in itself depended largely on biased standards that differentiated between the poor and the wealthy, those who belonged to the elites of the society, and those of humble origin.

Trade was the nation's chief concern and the focal point of influence around which, people’s fate, interest, and well being was shaped.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) laid the milestone of the first Just and Civilized human society. Since the commencement of his mission as a Prophet, he displayed one popular human quality that’s cornerstone to a sound Muslim leader, it is Shoora, or Consultation.

= Wise Shoora

The noble Prophet (PBUH) gave great recognition and importance to Shoora, which was in its originality ordained by Allah (SWT);

“And consult them in the affairs.”- {Quran 3:159}

Allah has commanded Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to engage his companions in decision making. And that was after the battle of Uhud, when the Prophet consulted them and indeed executed their opinion and preferred it over his own. Regardless of the fact that the Companions’ decision proved faulty and cost the ummah the loss of 70 of the elites of them, it laid some sort of a constitution between the Prophet and his companions, something that had far-reaching impact, such as creating mutual respect, harmony, love, and peace among other positive sentiments that earn the leader the respect of his followers.

Shoora stood as a foremost element of peacemaking, particularly amongst members of a single community, or nation. Ever since the Prophet’s time, Shoora became a cornerstone of Islamic Shariah Law. A Muslim leader or ruler must refer to a body of political specialists of considerable political expertise and knowledge of people’s affairs, that is the Shoora Council. Such council represents the nation, and its task is to look into and research matters concerning the nation, mutually making decisions and following the practice of Ijtihad (deciding on matters that do not have direct divine revelation pertaining to them) within the boundaries of the prime Shariah Law as laid in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

So Islamic Shoora laid the milestone for refined standards guarding the relation between a nation and its leader some 1500 years ago. And comparing the 'Modern' kind of political systems prevailing nowadays to the original Islamic Shoora, the latter would prove quite effective in sowing harmony and peace within each nation and by analogy throughout the whole world.

= Community of Peace and Brotherhood

First thing the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did upon settling in Medinah and forming the first Muslim society, was to build a mosque, to be the first community center where members of the community meet and discuss their common affairs. It was an essential institution to sow peace and brotherhood amongst the community, thereby plant the seed of peace and harmony amongst them that led to the fulfillment of short and long-term progress in the society, and laid the standards of community leadership for future generations to follow.

In Islam, Muslims are brothers, they stand in support of one another, and their affairs of each depend on the well-being of the entire community.

“The believers are brothers”- {Quran 49:10}

And this is one crucial social quality the noble prophet propagated and strengthened amongst the Muslim nation, a seed of peace he sowed and the fruits of which kept blossoming for years, even after he had died and till date, particularly amongst Muslim communities and nations that still abide by the Islamic Law and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).

Indeed, as soon as the banner of Quran was raised and the Prophet proclaimed brotherhood amongst Muslims, the Muslim nation became as harmonious and united as a single human body.

“The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, compassion and emotions is that of the body, if one part of it is afflicted, the rest of the body joins it in suffering fever and staying awake at night.”

The importance of harmony and unity amongst members of the community is strictly emphasized in the Quran;

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.”—{Quran 3:103}

The Prophet (PBUH) proclaimed exemplary brotherhood and harmony amongst Muslims, striking the historical peace accord between the Muhajireen (those who migrated from Mecca to Medinah with him) and the Ansar (inhabitants of Medinah who gave asylum to their Muhajireen brethren in their own homes and provided with with comforted and even gave them some of their wealth.)

“The relationship between believers is like a building, part of which support the other parts.”- Related by Imams Bukhari and Muslim.

Stay tuned for Part II and Part III of the series where I shall shed light on more qualities of a peacemaker that the Prophet imbibed and perfectly displayed, including how he dealt with the minorities and how he warded off aggression without reverting to armed offence as the only and first political choice.
 

Wassalaam,
Maha Youssuf
maha@muslimtribune.org

Posted on: December 19, 2011