The Prophet's Migration and the Civilizational Foundations of the Muslim Nation
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, came with a religion that calls for the guidance, righteousness, and happiness for the people in this world and the Hereafter. Accordingly, achieving these goals requires living in a civilized, righteous and secure environment. This is what the Prophet, peace be upon him, sought to achieve from the very beginning of his mission, which was based on one of the most important pillars of civilization: knowledge. The first verse revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, was: "Read in the name of your Lord who created" (Al-Alaq: 1).
Within the framework of this great principle: "Read," from which the Prophet, peace be upon him, embarked on his mission, he began teaching people the religion of Allah the Almighty and spreading goodness, truth, and knowledge. This is to establish a society that rests on the foundations of human civilization: land, people, knowledge, values, ethics, worship, and spreading brotherhood and love among its members. A strong society capable of withstanding the challenges and crises it faces. A society that fulfills the divine will for this nation to be a pioneering leader through the message it carries in spreading goodness, love, and peace among nations.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, remained in Mecca calling people to this great religion for thirteen years. During these years, he endured pain, harm, and persecution. After that, he arrived at the conclusion that Mecca was not suitable for establishing this religion, as deviant and misguided ideas had prevailed over the years. Thus, the Prophet, peace be upon him, began searching for a new land suitable for building a civilized homeland where Islam could flourish and thrive. Eventually, Medina became that blessed land that welcomed the Prophet, peace be upon him, and embraced the great idea that changed not only the course of the Arab but also the human history altogether. Indeed, the Prophet, peace be upon him, changed hearts and minds, illuminating the lamp of intellect and rectifying souls. Among the emigrants (Muhajirun) and supporters (Ansar), only the physical forms remained, as the Prophet, peace be upon him, engaged in the craft of molding humanity and thereby shaping life itself.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, migrated to fulfill the concept of Istikhlaf (succession or vicegerency) on Earth and to achieve worship in its comprehensive and inclusive sense, encompassing all aspects of life. Islam came to craft life, preserve it, and nurture it, not to bring about death, fear, and corruption on the earth. Thus, we understand the meaning of worship in the verse: "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me" (Adh-Dhariyat: 56) within the general framework of this verse, and in Allah's saying: "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority" (Al-Baqarah: 30). The meaning of worship that Allah intended is realized through fulfilling the trust of Istikhlaf and performing it faithfully. This is what the Prophet, peace be upon him, intended through his concern for human culture, advancement, and the enhancement of their actual and creative capabilities to elevate society to the highest levels of civilization and progress.
The migration teaches us that life is managed through careful planning, balanced principles, and steadfast foundations upon which a strong society rises. There is no improvisation, confusion, or randomness. It also teaches us how divine decree aligns with human commitment and preparation to achieve the will of Allah Almighty and that success has causes, specifications, characteristics, messages, and tools. Among the most important factors, after relying on Allah, is meticulous planning and taking the necessary steps towards success, equipping oneself with the tools and means that lead to safety. This is evident in the meticulous planning of the Prophet's migration and taking material means while relying on Allah the Almighty. Who would say that a man escaping from a team of assassins waiting for him in a humble room or emerging from a small cave surrounded by armed men is victorious? This victory stems from the belief that "Allah is with us." This belief is based on obedience to Allah, sincerity to Him, and taking material means. It's a divine support present in every time and place for those who follow the prophetic method, the method of the prophets in victory and empowerment. The Messenger of Allah, Mohammad, peace be upon him, said in the cave, "Allah is with us," and Moses, peace be upon him, said before the sea, "No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me."
After the migration and the establishment of the state, the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not change the attire, appearances, or customs and traditions of the people of Medina except for what explicitly contradicted the rulings of the religion. Instead, he changed minds and souls to ascend to the heights of purity, creativity, and progress.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, established a methodology in building nations and civilizations, and it was based on three fundamental pillars:
First: The construction of mosques to connect the nation with its creed and religion, and to teach the concept of worship in its broadest sense. This serves as a starting point for a civilizational radiance, spreading Islamic values and human ethics to the entire world. Mosques become centers where men, scholars, and thinkers emerge. The Prophet's Mosque, peace be upon him, was the place of worship, congregation, and education, where men were nurtured. As Allah says: "Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer" (An-Nur: 37).
Second: The Constitution of Medina, which served as a covenant establishing the greatness of Islam in dealing with people based on coexistence among the members of society, regardless of their religion, race, or culture. In the state, it brought people together based on good citizenship, founded on the principle of equality in rights and duties without regard to religious, racial, sectarian, or any other affiliations. This historic document was the first constitution of a civil state in the world, outlining the features of the new state through the cooperation of its citizens and mutual support without any threat to their society. It emphasized assistance and mutual advice, promoted the spirit of equality and justice, thus instilling in their hearts the love of their homeland and contributing to the advancement of society.
Third: The brotherhood between the Emigrants (Muhajirun) and the Helpers (Ansar). The fraternity among the members of one society has the greatest impact on the stability of the community, the spread of affection and mercy, and the dissemination of an atmosphere of closeness, love, and compassion. This atmosphere has borne the fruits of cultural advancement in Islamic society. Allah Almighty immortalized the incident of brotherhood in the Quran to serve as a witness to this important foundation of human civilization. Allah says {What means}: "And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful." (Al-Hashr: 9). The spread of the spirit of affection and love among the members of the community is one of the most important reasons for the progress, prosperity, and development of society. This is as confirmed by modern theories in the field of management, which see the spread of affection and teamwork as the most important factors for the success and prosperity of an institution.
It was not a coincidence that Umar ibn al-Khattab chose the day of the Hijra to mark the beginning of Islamic history. The Prophet's migration signaled the birth of a nation based on principles of justice, ethics, and good interaction with others on the basis of mutual coexistence. In our time, these valuable meanings of the Prophet's migration have been absent from our Islamic communities. The commemoration of the Prophet's migration is renewed year after year, yet the nation suffers from confusion in methodology and behavior. We have not yet been able to achieve the true meaning of the migration as the Prophet, peace be upon him, did. His migration was not merely a physical move from one place to another; rather, it was a profound transition from one state to another. It is incumbent upon the nation to emulate this in our contemporary reality.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, migrated to establish a new community in the midst of a vast cultural gap between the Arabs and others in various aspects of life. The greatest challenge was to catch up with and even surpass the procession of human civilization within the framework of the principles and values of this religion. He achieved what he sought, and the city became a center of global cultural radiance, through which Muslims transferred a global civilization that was acknowledged by enemies before friends. Today, we wake up to a huge gap between Muslims and others in various aspects of life, which requires us to carefully consider, contemplate, and use our intellects to plan for new meanings of migration. Through this, we can catch up with the human civilization that preceded us by centuries. This cannot be achieved by wishful thinking alone but requires precise planning, deep thinking, and taking practical steps while putting our trust in Allah the Almighty.
We ask Allah the Almighty to make the new Hijri year one of goodness and blessings for our blessed country and for the Dean of the Hashemite Family, His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, to grant him protection and good health.
