HAMDITABLIGH.NET - Prophet Muhammad(S.A,S.) as a Political Leader

Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - was both a Prophet of God and a statesman. His leadership was most comprehensive and dynamic. He was the paragon of virtues and spirituality. He was a noble and compassionate teacher, guide and reformer. He was a family man. Indeed, he was also a political leader. The political leadership of the Prophet - peace be upon him - was not only that he unified the Arabian peninsula, established a great state whose capital was Madinah, defeated his enemies and had most successful military expeditions. His real political leadership was in the moral and spiritual ways in which he conducted himself in the situation of weakness as well as strength. His way in Makkah and his way in Madinah, both indicate his great political leadership.

He was always willing to help others. Allah gave him a special gift to resolve the conflicts and disputes. Even before he became the Prophet of Allah, he was able to resolve a major dispute among the people of Makkah. It is reported that the People of Makkah were repairing the walls of Ka’bah. When the time came to place the Black Stone in its space in the southeast corner wall of the Ka’bah, each tribe wanted to have this honor. Muhammad was asked to be the judge and decide the matter in a fair manner. He resolved this dispute with great wisdom in an amicable way. He spread his own cloak on the ground and placed the Stone upon it. He then asked representatives of each tribe to lift the cloak together. When the Black Stone reached the required height from the ground he set it in its place.

He always wanted to make peace among people. In his early age it is reported that when some people of Makkah wanted to establish a committee to suppress violence in their society, he immediately joined them. This committee took a pledge of virtues known as the Hilf al-Fudul. Later during his prophetic life he recalled this pledge and highly praised it and said, “Even now if I am called upon in the name of this pledge, I shall not refuse.”

Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - was the man of ideals but he was also a practical man. He preached the message to all, but he did not isolate himself from his society. He used whatever good traditions and customs they had and took benefit of them. Although his uncle Abu Talib did not accept his message of Tawhid, he was willing to give him all support and help in his Islamic work. The Prophet appreciated his uncle’s help. After his uncle’s death he went to Taif to seek alliances with some other tribes there. He did not succeed in that, but what is important to note is that he was trying to seek alliances for his work.

The Hijrah to Habasha is also an example of his political skill in seeking alliances with others. When the persecution increased in Makkah and some of his followers found it difficult to live in that environment, he allowed them to migrate to Habasha and seek the help of its Christian King. In Habasha Muslims found peace and they reciprocated the King’s hospitality with prayers and support for the king and his party. Muslims’ relations were so good with the monarch that he loved Islam and before his death he became a Muslim.

Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - was a skillful and courageous political leader. His enemies could not scare him or intimidate him. He never succumbed to any temptations. People of Makkah tried to turn him away from his message and mission by offering him a lot of money or anything that he wanted for himself but with one condition that he should give up his mission. The Prophet - peace be upon him - very firmly yet politely turned away all their offers.

In Madinah he established a state where all people were equal, where matters were decided through consultation, where all people had to follow the same law. It was the state of laws without any favoritism to any family or group. Even a non-Muslim was not to be mistreated under his rule. The story of Tu’mah ibn Abraq is an excellent example of equal justice and human rights of all people under his authority. Tu’mah stole a person’s armor in Madinah and then he blamed a Jew. Allah sent a special revelation to warn people against such injustice (see al-Nisa 110-112). The Jewish citizen of Madinah was declared innocent and the Muslim Tu’mah was judged guilty.

The Prophet - peace be upon him - took good care of his people’s religious as well as economic needs. He did not only preach, but he was also concerned about their economic well-being. He made treaties and alliances with many tribes. He had great diplomatic skills. He taught the world moral and honest diplomacy. He fulfilled all his treaties. He defended his people. He was aware of what was going on around them and made them ready and alert. He never initiated a battle or a war, but when he was attacked he was vigorous.. He always emphasized peace and peaceful relations

Prophet Muhammad was a man of great patience and resolution. There are many lessons for us to learn from his life. The most important aspect of his leadership was that he was honest and truthful always. Even his enemies could not point to any flaw in his honesty and truthfulness. The most beautiful example of this we find in the conversation of Heraclius, the Emperor of Byzantium with Abu Sufian who was a bitter enemy of the Prophet at that time. This conversation took place in the year 628 CE when Heraclius received a letter of the Prophet - peace be upon him. Heraclius was on his pilgrimage to Jerusalem when he received Prophet Muhammad’s letter. The Emperor after receiving the message sent for his chief of police and told him to search the country for the man of the same tribe as the claimant to the prophethood. Abu Sufyan, a leader of the Quraysh who was a bitter enemy of the Prophet at that time, happened to be trading in Gaza with some of his companions from Makkah. The Emperor’s search party found them here and they were immediately taken to Jerusalem.

Heraclius called them in the court and he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator who, translating Heraclius’ question said to them, “Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?” Abu Sufyan replied, “I am the nearest relative (amongst the group) to him.”

Heraclius said, “Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stay behind him.” Abu Sufyan added, “Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to put some questions to me regarding that man (The Prophet) and that if I told a lie they (my companions) should contradict me.” Abu Sufyan added, “By Allah! Had I not been afraid of my companions labeling me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about the Prophet.

The first question Heraclius asked me about was: “What is his family status among you?” I replied, “He belongs to a good (noble) family amongst us.” Heraclius further asked, “Has anybody else amongst you ever claimed the same (i.e., to be a Prophet) before him?” I replied, “No.” He said, “Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?” I replied, “No.” Heraclius asked, “Do the nobles or the poor follow him?” I replied, “It is the poor who follow him.” He said, “Are his followers increasing or decreasing (day by day)?” I replied, “They are increasing.” He then asked, “Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and renounce the religion afterwards?” I replied, “No.” Heraclius said, “Have you ever accused him of telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)? I replied, “No.” Heraclius said, “Does he break his promises?” I replied, “No. We are in a truce with him but we do not know what he will do in it.” I could not find opportunity to say anything against him except that. Heraclius asked, “Have you ever had a war with him?” I replied, “Yes.” Then he said, “What were the outcome of the battles?” I replied, “Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we.” Heraclius said, “What does he order you to do?” I said, “He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to be chaste and to keep good relations with our kith and kin.”

After this conversation it is reported that Heraclius said:

“I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact, all the Apostles come from noble families amongst their respective peoples. I questioned you whether anybody amongst you ever claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If your reply had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man’s statement. Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he said what he said, and your reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about God. I then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact all the Apostles have been followed by the poor in the beginning. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects. I further asked whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. Your reply was in the negative, and in fact this is (the sign of) true faith, when its light enters the hearts and mixes with them completely. I asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied in the negative and likewise Apostles never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him and forbade you to worship idols and ordered you to pray, to speak truth and to be chaste.

If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.