Mouood Mouood English Edition
5. Moral virtues
The fifth characteristic is moral and behavioral virtues. The government of the Holy Prophet (S) built moral and pious individuals.
“And teaches them the Book and the Wisdom.” 4
6. Power
Piety is one of the main bases of moral virtues. The Holy Prophet (S) taught each and every individual to behave in a moral and humane manner. The sixth characteristic is power and dignity. The society and the government which the Holy Prophet (S) built were not submissive and dependent. It did not follow anybody and it did not beg anybody for help. It was a powerful and determined government.
Once it realized what was right for it, it tried to achieve it and it moved things forward.
7. Constant efforts and progress
The seventh characteristic is showing diligence, moving forward and making constant progress. There was no stagnation in the government of the Holy Prophet (S). There was constant movement, diligence and progress. They never said: “Our work is over. Let us sit down and rest.” Such a thing did not happen. Of course, the kind of work which they did was fascinating and enjoyable. It was not boring, tiring and tedious work. It was the kind of work which gives one energy and enthusiasm.
The Holy Prophet (S) entered Medina to help this government stand on its own feet, make it complete and leave it as a permanent model for future generations. He did this so that everybody no matter in which era they live, namely from the demise of the Holy Prophet (S) to Judgment Day tries to create a similar government and generate enthusiasm in the hearts of people to make them move towards such a society. Of course, creating such a society requires ideological and humane foundations. First, there should be accurate beliefs and ideas on the basis of which this government can be built. The Holy Prophet (S) put forward these ideas by focusing on monotheism, human dignity and other Islamic teachings during his thirteen year stay in Mecca.
Then in Medina he taught these ideas and these noble teachings which formed the foundation of such government to everybody. He did this every day until the end of his life. Second, there should be competent people who can build the foundations of this government. After all, Islamic government is not centered around one individual. The Holy Prophet (S) had built many of these foundations in Mecca. One group of such people comprised of the great companions of the Holy Prophet (S). These people were the products of the efforts which had been made during the difficult times in Mecca. Another group was comprised of the people who emerged in Yathrib thanks to his call to Islam before the migration of the Holy Prophet (S) to Medina. This group was comprised of people like Sa’d ibn Mu’aadh and Abu Ayyub.
From the time the Holy Prophet (S) entered Medina, he began educating people. Competent managers and great, courageous, self- sacrificing, religious, strong and wise individuals who formed the solid foundation for such a lofty government entered Medina on a daily basis. The migration of the Holy Prophet (S) to Medina which was called Yathrib before the Holy Prophet (S) migrated to it and it was called Madinat an-Nabi after his migration was like a pleasant breeze in the entire city.
Everybody felt that this was a great solution to their problems. Therefore, their hearts were awakened. When the people heard that the Holy Prophet (S) has entered Quba, their hearts became more eager to visit him on a daily basis. Quba is near Medina and the Holy Prophet (S) stayed there for fifteen days. A group of people went to Quba to visit him and then they returned to Medina. And a group of them waited in Medina until the Holy Prophet (S) came to their city.
When the Holy Prophet (S) entered Medina, this gentle breeze turned into a storm of enthusiasm in the people’s hearts and it changed them. The people suddenly felt that their tribal beliefs, emotions and prejudices had vanished thanks to the presence, behavior and words of the Holy Prophet (S). They felt that they have found a new door to the truths about the world and about moral virtues. It was this storm of enthusiasm which first, fomented a revolution in the hearts of the people and then, spread to two great empires and countries of those times. Wherever it went, it stirred and fomented a revolution in the hearts of the people. During the early Islamic era, Muslims conquered Iran and Rome with the power of faith.
As soon as the nations who were under attack saw Muslims, their hearts were filled with such faith. The war was waged to overcome obstacles and overthrow oppressive leaders who were preoccupied with wealth only. The people, everywhere, were influenced by the same storm. The heart of the two great empires of that time that is to say, Rome and Iran had become part of the Islamic system. All of these things took place in forty years: the last ten years of the Holy Prophet’s (S) life and thirty years after his demise.
The existence of numerous lessons in the lifestyle of the Holy Prophet (S) and in the ten years of his rule over Medina
As soon as the Holy Prophet (S) entered Medina, he started to do his work. One of the surprising facts about his life is that he never missed a moment during these ten years. It was never witnessed that the Holy Prophet (S) neglects to spread the light of spirituality and guide and educate people. His wakeful hours, his sleep, his going to the mosque, his staying at home, his decision to go to war, his walking on the street, his paying a visit to his family and his entire existence wherever he was were lessons. What a great blessing exists in such a lifetime.
He was a person who dominated and influenced the whole history with his thoughts. As I have said many times, it was because of the influence of the Holy Prophet (S) that many concepts such as the concept of impartiality, brotherhood, justice and democracy would be considered sacred in the following centuries. Such things did not exist in the teachings of other religions or at least, they were not implemented. His rule and his political and communal work lasted for only ten years. What a blessed life.
From the time he entered Medina, he clearly stated what his position was. The camel the Holy Prophet (S) was riding entered the city of Yathrib and the people gathered around it. At that time, the city of Medina had different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood had its own houses, streets, walls and outstanding personalities and each belonged to a certain tribe such as tribes affiliated to Aws and Khazraj. When the Holy Prophet’s (S) camel entered Medina, the outstanding personalities of these tribes came out and stopped the camel as she was going past their fortifications. They said to the Holy Prophet (S), “O Messenger of Allah, come here.
Our comfortable houses and our wealth are at your service.” The Holy Prophet (S) said, “Clear the way of this camel. She is an agent. Let her go.” They cleared the way of the camel and she arrived in the next neighborhood. Again, the great personalities, the nobility, the old men and the youth stopped the camel and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, stop here. Here is your house. We will provide you with whatever you want. All of us are at your service.” He said, “Step aside. Let the camel continue her way. She is an agent.” The camel passed through different neighborhoods until she arrived in the neighborhood of Banu Najjar.
The Holy Prophet’s (S) mother came from this family. The men of Banu Najjar were the Holy Prophet’s (S) uncles. So, they stepped forward and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, we are your relatives. Everything we have is at your service. Stay at our house.” He said, “No, she is an agent. Step aside.” They cleared the way. The camel arrived in the poorest neighborhood in Medina and she sat somewhere. Everybody looked there to see whose house it was. They saw that it was the house of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. He was the poorest or one of the poorest men in Medina. He himself and his poor family went and took the Holy Prophet’s (S) luggage to their house. And the Holy Prophet (S) entered their house as a guest.
He turned down the offer of the wealthy people, the nobility, the influential personalities of these tribes and other such people. That is to say, he clearly stated what his position was. It became clear that the Holy Prophet (S) was not and would not rely on the money and reputation of tribe leaders, his own relatives, insolent and deceitful individuals and other such people. From the first moment and the first hour he entered Medina, he made it obvious which group of people he would support in social interactions and which group of people would benefit from him. Everybody benefited from the Holy Prophet (S) and his teachings, but those people who were oppressed naturally benefited more because the oppression they had suffered had to be made up for. There was a piece of land in front of the house of Abu Ayyub. He asked whose house it was. They said that it belonged to two orphan children.
• 1.Supreme Leader’s speech delivered on June 20, 2000 in a meeting with government officials of the Islamic Republic on the occasion of the 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal
• 2.Sura al-Ahzab, Ayah 43
• 3.Supreme Leader’s speech delivered on October 25, 2000 in a meeting with government officials of the Islamic Republic and ambassadors of Islamic countries on the occasion of the Holy Prophet’s Be’that
• 4.Sura al-Jumua, Ayah 2
