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Features of Unity in the Civilization of the Islamic World
The story of Islamic civilization begins with the most honoured apostle Mohammed Ibn Abdulla be blessed by God receiving verses of the Glorious Quran the eternal constitution for Islam and Muslims:
"(This is) a Scripture we have revealed unto thee that thereby thou mayst bring forth mankind from darkness into light, by the permission of their Lord, unto the path of the Mighty, the owner of Praise". (14:1).
"Allah took upon Himself that He will safeguard the Quran being the First Source For Legislation: "Lo! We, even we reveal the reminder, and Lo! We verily are its guardian". (15:9) The Prophet's tradition (Sunna) is the second source of legislation for Muslims in all that relates to religious and earthly affairs.
Islam is a religion first and foremost and a state in the second place; it is also a civilization, a culture and a reforming message, with science and knowledge represented therein. Mohammed, blessed by God, is a kind messenger and a great reformer entrusted with a sublime mission which he should execute. Naturally, this mission encountered fierce opposition as it calls for quitting old habits and beliefs inherited from fathers and forefathers. Man is conservative by nature and resists innovations unless he is forced to do so. Civilizations did not emerge spontaneously but as a result of great sacrifices. Hence the opposition to the Prophet's message in all its religious, moral and social aspects was natural.
Opponents chose to challenge the Prophet, to ridicule him and to accuse him of insanity, magic, love of power and authority; later on this developed into desire to get rid of him.
This forced the Messenger to unwillingly leave his dear birth place, Mecca (Al Mukarrama), in complete sadness, and to go to Yathrib/Medina. On his way at a place called "Al Jahfa", he received consolations that he will return in dignity:
"Lo! He who hath given thee the Ouran for a Law will surely bring thee home again". (28:85).
Eight days later, the Prophet settled in Yathrib on 16 Rabi (20 Sept. 622 A.D.). This is called Hijra which is viewed as a great event in the history of Islam as it is the beginning of consolidation and strength of Islam. To mark this significance, Omar Ibn al Khatab made it the beginning of history for Muslims.
The Prophet found Yathrib badly divided with the Jews on one side and the Aws and Khazraj Arabs on the other. Jews also managed to ally themselves with the Aws and engage the Khazraj in fierce wars, the most well-known battle was "Youm Bua'ath" that broke out five years before Hijra. A large number of notables from both parties died thus enabling the Jews to emerge as the dominating power, controlling the lands, estate and economy of Yathrib. The victor and the vanquished perceived the outcome of their ill-doing and yearned for tranquility and peace. The evidence is the initial actions of the Prophet (Moh.) in order to unite ranks and harmonize hearts.
Here begins a new stage of the Prophet's political life in which he displayed outstanding skill and prudence that enabled him to lead Yathrib/Medina into a political unity that had never been known in the Hijaz.
The following principles represent the bases for this pioneering Islamic community in Medina:
1. Building the mosque to be a centre of worship and a place for study and consultations on public affairs.
2. Spiritual fraternization between AI Muhajireen (those who left Mecca) and AI Ansar (the supporters) Yathrib
natives providing for mutual support, co-operation and solidarity.
3. Laying down a constitution known as'' Al-Kitab or Al-Sahifa" to organize this first Islamic Group into one united and coherent nation and to organize relations between Muslims and the Jews of Yathrib whose religion and funds were recognized by "Al-Sahifa" as long as they remained with the Muslims.
With his extremely able political skill, the Prophet (Moh.) managed to unite this complicated and divided nation and to define the form of the Islamic State or the Islamic city, as a city-state at the same time, inhabited bya homogeneous group of people, organizing its affairs through a written constitution.
The realm of this Islamic Group or the Prophet's State in AI Medina expanded in the form of an Arab-Islamic state covering Hijaz, Tehama and all of Arabia by the death of the Prophet Moh. on 12 Rabi , 11 A.H. (June 632 A.D.).
This young Arab-Islamic state accomplished extensive military and cultural achievements during the reign of the Orthodox caliphs and the Umayyad Caliphs (11-132 A.H./632-749 A.D.) the most significant of which was the major conquest movement which increased its area substantially.