This week's guest blogger is Lucy Bell. She evaluates how far Madinah can be seen as the perfect Islamic State. Madinah, in the time of Muhammad, is often heralded as the ideal model of Muslims states but was it as amazing as it seems?
You can expect to debate this issue in Ao2 questions.
Many scholars have different interpretations on whether Madinah in this time period was seen as the ‘perfect’ Muslim state and whether Islamic states in today’s society can use Yathrib as a role model. Here are some ideas…
Madinah wasn’t the perfect Muslim state:
- Muslim feminists points to Muhammad’s time in Madinah to suggest that Islam should try to improve the status, treatment of women at this time. Muhammad tried to make some moral reforms regarding women such as banning female infanticide to improve equality and the concept of ummah. He also limited polygamy; however none of these reforms had a significant impact on the lives of women. Traditionalists may say that the treatment of women in Madinah is how women should still be living and treated today. This argument rejects the progression of Muslim women.
- There was a considerable amount of conflict demonstrated between Muslims and Jews. Muhammad faced problems with Jewish clans, this is because Judaism was already well established in Madinah two centuries before the birth of Muhammad and Jews followed the fundamental precepts of the Torah but there is a suggestion in the Qur’an that they may have embraced unorthodox beliefs. Jews intended on putting Muhammad to the test as they knew little about monotheism. Muhammad arrived in Madinah in 622 expecting the Jewish tribes to welcome him but contrary to his expectations, his relations with several Jewish tribes were uneasy from the start. This highlights the improvements needed in Madinah at this time as there was underlying issues as the two tribes couldn’t seem to make good social connections. This proves that the tension between the religions suggests that Muslims and Jews will never be able to achieve peace, which isn’t a role model for today’s society.
- There was still violence and fighting, for example the battles which took place such as the battle of Badr, Uhud and Azhab.
- There were bad people around, hypocrites who accepted Muhammad but not really Islam. This shows that people supported Muhammad himself but didn’t agree with what he believed therefore people still lived with the same beliefs that Muhammad had seen previously in Makah such as polytheism, female infanticide, drunkenness etc. , all of which went against Islamic teachings. This was greatly showed at the events at the death of Muhammad which suggests that Madinah wasn’t the perfect Muslim state. For example Ali was shunned from the talks about who should succeed Muhammad as a leader, Ali and Aisha ending up having a battle against each other, this shows that still there was a considerable amount of violence.
Madinah was the perfect state:
- For many Muslims Madinah was know as the Golden Era of Islam. Muhammad led in Madinah which was supposedly to many a role model for all Islamic leaders. He was a good leader and worked accordingly with his companions to ensure he was making good decisions.
- Muhammad made sure to make the place less materialistic, less emphasis on money and more importantly gearing towards morals. He shunned wealth and luxuries and a new economic law was introduced called the ‘Zakah’ which was tithe payment. This was geared towards the less fortunate people in society, and members had to distribute their excess wealth with poorer members of the ummah. This was one major reform Muhammad made economically which was charitable and generous. In today’s society, this shows Madinah was a role model because it places emphasis on giving to others and not being greedy.
- Muhammad also tried to improve the rights of women at this time in Madinah, he allowed them to divorce, inherits and limited polygamy to only 4 wives per man. This was an improvement to the treatment of women, as they slowly gained more rights.
- Many bold political decisions were made, for instance he declared Madinah a sanctuary city (Haram). This included monotheism, all forms of idol worship and polytheism was banned, Zakah and concern for poor and abandonment of usury, no more gambling or alcohol and raised status of women. All of which made Madinah an overall better place.