Al-Qalam 
In contemporary times when religious extremism, bigotry and sectarianism is rampant among certain groups of Muslims, this critical lesson of the hijrah – coexistence with all – is extremely important, writes Imam Dr. A. Rashied Omar
As we welcome the first lunar month of Muharram this weekend, an important lesson we must embrace is the establishment of a “just and interfaith polity” exemplified in the Constitution of Madina, says SA Islamic scholar Imam Dr. A. Rashied Omar
“We welcome the onset of the Muslim lunar month of Muharram and the New Hijri year 1444 and pray that Allah, in his infinite Compassion will bless us and our families with good health, protect us from calamities, and grant us a just peace and prosperity in the New Year, insha-Allah,” he said.
He told Al-Qalam the commencement of the New Muslim Lunar Year 1444 was a useful time for Muslims to reflect more deeply upon the historical significance, and the many life lessons we can learn from the hijrah.
“There are numerous lessons from the hijrah that Muslim scholars over the centuries have identified and expounded upon. Here I would like to reflect on only one of these lessons which in my view is one of the most salient and prescient for our times; namely; the critical importance of establishing a just and interfaith polity.
“Shortly after the Prophet (pbuh) and some of his companions were welcomed to the oasis city of Yathrib, he was asked by the people of Madina to become their leader. They did so because they desperately needed someone who could arbitrate their deadly tribal conflicts and because of Prophet Muhammad’s reputation as a just and trustworthy leader. The Prophet (pbuh) accepted this trust (amanah) by formulating a social contract between all of the diverse tribal and religious communities in Madina. The document came to be known as Sahifah al-Madina, which can be translated as the Charter or Constitution of Madina.
“This historic document embraced interfaith harmony by affirming the full dignity, citizenship and freedom of religion of Jews, Christians and other tribes living in the city-state of Madina. Sahifah al-Madina contained a set of clear guidelines that regulated intertribal and interreligious relations between the various religious communities and tribes in Madina and was instrumental in bringing an end to persistent conflicts and enhancing interfaith harmony. For example, Sahifah al-Madina called for mutual cooperation (ta`awun) between the Jews of Madina and the Muslims by affirming that wa inna baynahum al-nush wa la-nasihah (indeed, mutual advice and consultation should exist between them i.e. Muslims and Jews).
“Inspired by the above critical lesson from the hijrah as well as other evidences it is instructive to note that the famous fourteenth century Muslim scholar, Taqiyuddin ibn Taymiya (d.1328), believed that Islam calls not for the establishment of a religiously sectarian state but an interfaith state founded on justice. Central to his definition of an Islamically inspired state is a just economic order.
Economic justice
Imam Rashid pointed out that, according to ibn Taymiya, a just Islamic state is one in which workers are paid a just wage and the hoarding of wealth, monopolies and manipulation of prices are eradicated. Ibn Taymiya is so concerned with socio-economic justice that he argues that a state committed to economic justice, even if it has certain moral failings, is superior to a regime of what he calls “pious tyranny”. In support of his view, Ibn Taymiya asserts that: “Allah upholds the just state even if it is unbelieving (i.e. not ruled by Muslims), but does not uphold the unjust state even if is Muslim (i.e. ruled by Muslims).”
Imam Rashied emphasized that over the past fourteen hundred years, Muslims have tried to live up to and have striven to emulate this noble example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), exemplified in Sahifah al-Madina by treating Jews, Christians, as well as people of other faiths and worldviews, with kindness and justice.
“At various epochs in our history, however, Muslims have been more successful than at other times in creating interfaith harmony. In contemporary times when religious extremism, bigotry and sectarianism has become rampant among certain groups of Muslims, this critical lesson of the hijrah; namely that of establishing a state wherein coexistence, just peace and interfaith harmony have become salient and prescient,” he added.
“At this time of the dawning of a new Muslim hijri year I would like to encourage us to reflect more deeply on the many lessons of the hijrah and its relevance to our contemporary lives. I pray that Allah, the Lord of all Humankind and of all Cultures, will guide us to fully appreciate and embrace the critical lesson from the hijrah, namely that of the critical importance of establishing a just and interfaith polity exemplified in the Constitution of Madina”, Imam Rashied concluded.
