2. The Prophet & Islamic Brotherhood
The issue of Islamic brotherhood and fraternity was so important in
IslamthatsoonaftermigratingtoMedina,the firstimportantsocialde-
cree of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was on the issue of brotherhood.
TheMuslimcommunityofMedinawasdividedintotwogroups:the
AnsārandtheMuhājirin.“Ansār”(Helpers)wasatitleusedforthenat-
ivesofMedina, whereas“Muhājirin”(Immigrants)wasatitle usedfor
those Muslims, mostly Meccans, who had migrated to Medina.
Amongthe Ansār,thereweretwotribesknown asthe Awsandthe
Khazraj who were bitter enemiesand hadfought each other formore
thanacentury.TheProphethadresolvedthisconflictevenbeforehemi-
gratedtoMedina.WiththeadventofIslam,theAwsandtheKhazrajput
their pastanimositybehind andaccepted the bond of Islamic brother-
hood. Referring to this blessing of Islam, Allah says:
“Andremember the favour of Allahupon you—you indeed wereen-
emies(ofeachother)andthenHecreatedfraternitybetweenyourhearts
and thus you became brethren by His blessing... ”(3:103)
The Prophet found that there was cultural and economic disparity
amongthe AnsārandtheMuhājirin.SowiththeguidanceofAllah,the
Prophetannouncedone daythathewasgoingtoestablish thebondof
brotherhoodbetweentheAnsārandtheMuhājirin.Hegatheredthetwo
groups at the mosque and then started calling out the name of one
MuhājirandoneAnsār,anddeclaredthemtobebrothersofeachother.
Referring to this bond of brotherhood, Allah says:
“Thosewho believed,migratedand foughtin the wayof Allah[i.e.,
the Muhājirin], and those who gave shelter and helped [i.e., the An-
sār]—they are the true believers, for them is forgiveness and a noble
sustenance... ”(8:75)
SomeoftheAnsārwentbeyondthecallofdutyinfulfillingtherights
ofbrotherhood:theydividedtheirentirewealthintotwoandgaveone-
halftotheirimmigrantbrother-in-faith.Someeven specifiedasubstan-
tialportionintheirestatetobeinheritedbytheirimmigrantbrother-in-
faith. Then Allah revealed the following verse