The New Horizons of Islam

 Yathrib was a town in an oasis about 250 miles in the north of Makkah. In A.D. 620, six Yathribites visited Makkah for pilgrimage. A fortuitous meeting with Muhammad led to their conversion to Islam. They told him that they had left Yathrib in a state of simmer and that it could erupt anytime into warfare. But they expressed the hope that God would restore peace to their city through His Messenger. They also promised to return to Makkah and to meet him in the following year. This was the beginning of Islam in Yathrib. When these six new Muslims returned to Yathrib, they talked with their folks and friends about Islam, and found them willing, even eager to listen. A year later, when the season of pilgrimage arrived, twelve citizens of Yathrib, including the original six, visited Makkah. Among them there were two women also. They met the Apostle of God at Aqaba. He briefed them on the Articles of Faith in Islam, and all of them accepted Islam. At the same time, they also gave him their pledge of loyalty. This is called the First Pledge of Aqaba. These Muslims solemnly assured the Apostle of God that: they would never associate partners with Allah, they would not worship anyone except Him; they would never rob or steal; they would never kill their female infants; they would never revile others; they would never defame women; they would always be chaste and pure; they would obey Allah and His Apostle; and they would be faithful to him at all times. The neophytes requested the Apostle of God to send some teacher with them to Yathrib to teach them Qur’an and the precepts of Islam. He sent Mas'ab ibn Umayr, one of his uncles (Mas'ab was the cousin of his father), with the group to propagate Islam in Yathrib. Mas'ab's mission was successful, and many families in Yathrib accepted Islam. This was the first time that Muhammad Mustafa had chosen an official. Professor Margoliouth says that Mas'ab ibn Umayr was the first choice of an official in Islam. The Second Pledge of Aqaba In A.D. 622, seventy-five citizens of Yathrib came to Makkah in the season of the pilgrimage. The Apostle gave them audience at the same spot at Aqaba where he had met the group of twelve the year before. These 75 men and women also accepted Islam. They gave him their pledge of loyalty, and invited him to Yathrib. The Apostle's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, was with him on this occasion. He is reported to have said to the “hosts” from Yathrib: “Muhammad is held in high esteem by his own people. If you can stand by him through thick and thin, take him with you to Yathrib; if not, then abandon the whole idea.” One of the leaders of the Yathribites was Bera'a ibn Ma'roor. He said: “When we were children, our favorite toys were swords and spears.” Another chief, Abul Haithum, interrupted him, and said: “O Messenger of God! What will happen when Islam becomes great and strong? Will you then leave Yathrib and return to Makkah?” Muhammad Mustafa smiled and said: “No. Your blood is my blood and my blood is your blood. From this day you are mine and I am yours, and I shall never part company with you.” The Yathribite Muslims were satisfied by the assurance given to them by Muhammad Mustafa, and they returned to Yathrib to spread Islam among their folks. Islam began to make steady progress in Yathrib. When it appeared that the new faith had found a haven in that city, the Apostle suggested to the victims of persecution in Makkah to emigrate there. Following his suggestion, Muslims began to leave Makkah, in small groups, and to settle in their new homes in Yathrib. The Second Pledge of Aqaba is a landmark in the history of Islam. It was the “anchor” on which the frail vessel of Islam came to rest at last, after being buffeted for thirteen years in the turbulent seas of paganism in Arabia. 

 Map key: Trade Routes

THE FIVE PILLARS HAVE MANY DIMENSIONS 

Pillar	Meaning	Spiritual	Worldly	Individual	Communal	Cultural Influences
SHAHADA	Profession of the creed: There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God (Allah)	Acknowledges that there is One Creator, and that He has sent messengers and revelation to humankind	Islam forbids worship of idols or images, which also means bowing to false gods or humans; places limits on materialism	Focuses on the individual’s direct relationship with God, without any intermediaries	One simple message universal to time and place; reverence for the prophets and earlier scriptures like Bible & Torah; acceptance of earlier religions	-There is no central religious authority in Islam, no theocracy since no one can claim knowledge of God over others -Limitation on the power of worldly authority over Muslim societies; Islamic jurisprudence = Islamic law system developed -Arabic language of Qur’an spread
SALAT	Five obligatory prayers at the time and in the way taught by Muhammad	Obedience to God’s command to worship; Regular purification during each day	Physical act and spiritual act joined; healthful exercise and mental relaxation	--Self-dsicipline and self-renewal woven into life pattern --Opportunity to seek forgiveness and ask God for help	--Binds society together in regular worship and contact -- Established regular pattern to daily and weekly social life	--Establishment of masjids (mosques) everywhere groups of Muslims went; architecture, decoration and sacred art --need to set prayer times led to study of astronomy, math, geography to set prayer times and direction--rise of colleges & universities for science and religion
ZAKAT	Giving to the poor and those in need a percentage of wealth beyond basic needs	Purification of wealth by giving a portion away--"a loan to God"	Constant and dependable stream of charity available to Muslim society	Limitation on greed and accumulation of wealth Stimulated both required and voluntary additional charity	Early development of charitable institutions and foundations; collective public works free from state control, tax exempt	(WAQF) charitable foundations developed as permanent source of funding for mosques, schools & colleges, universities, hospitals, wells and travelers’ accommodations, institutionalized help for the poor
SIYAM	Fasting from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan (9th lunar month	Fasting is a tradition of prophets; purpose is coming near to God; annual renewal of spirit	Fasting is said to contribute to health, rid the body of poisons	Self-discipline & sense of achievement; breaking up bad eating habits; God-consciousness	Whole community participates, visits, shares food, renews contact --Additional prayers & Quran readings	--Ramadan is an international celebration all over Muslim world --Stimulated math & astronomy for setting lunar calendar
HAJJ	Making the journey to Makkah to perform the rites during the pilgrimage season	"Dress rehearsal for Judgment Day" Standing before God; recalls obedience of Abraham	Orients Muslims even in remote places toward a world community; encourages travel and communication	--Developed sense of individual being accountable to God --Gave people the desire to travel, think beyond own backyard	--Brought people together to trade and exchange knowledge --Organized huge pilgrim caravans from each city; established roads, wells, ports for better travel	--Contributed to the mobility & connectedness of Muslim society over 14 centuries -- Renewed common beliefs and practices, overcoming local traditions --Increased trade & scholarship