4. Establishing an Islamic Community
ThepeopleofYathrib,whoseleadershadalreadyacceptedthemessage
of theProphet andsworn allegianceto him,welcomed himwithopen
armsandplacedtheirlivesandpropertyathisdisposal.InYathrib,for
thefirsttime,theProphetformedasmallIslamiccommunityandsigned
treatieswiththeJewishtribesinandaroundthecityaswellaswiththe
powerfulArabtribesoftheregion.Heunderstoodthetaskofpropagat-
ing the Islamic message andYathrib became famousas “Madinatu ‘r-
Rasūl” (the city of the Prophet).
Islambegantogrowandexpandfromdaytoday.TheMuslims,who
in Mecca werecaught in the mesh of the injustice and inequityof the
Quraysh,graduallylefttheirhomesandpropertyandmigratedtoMed-
ina, revolving around the Prophet like moths around a candle. This
groupbecameknownasthe“immigrants”(muhājirin)inthesameway
that those who aided the Prophet in Yathrib gained the name of
“helpers” (ansār).
TheProphetformulatedthesocietyonthebasisofjusticeandequality
among the believers. Brotherhood —not just in words butin action—
wasestablishedamongthemuhājirinandtheansār.Thesocialsystemof
Islamevenextendeditsjusticeandprotectiontothenon-Muslimsunder
its rule.