The Religious Brotherhood: Evolutionary relevance, causes and socio-economic impact

Abstract

All the Muslims are brethren in the light of the immortal laws of Islam. One of the important and exemplary reflections of Muslim brotherhood is muwākhāt; the Prophet’s (SAW) formal establishment of brotherhood among the Muslims. The establishment of religious brotherhood happened twice, once in Makkah and then in Madīnah after hijrah (migration). In Makkah, it was made among the people residing in Makkah and also those coming from areas like Abbyssenia (Ḥabshah), Persia, etc. It was aimed at making every Muslim extend social and financial support to his religious brother and defend him against his enemies in case of danger. The second spiritual brotherhood was established among the immigrants (the Makkans) and the helpers (the ansār), some five months after migration to Madīnah. The process started from the house of Anas bin Malik (R.A). Initially, this brotherhood was made among the people present on the occasion while it continued afterward. Islamic brotherhood played an important role in the psychological and intellectual uplift of the freed slaves (mawālī). It also brought political stability to the newly born Muslim state and also solved a great economic problem of the immigrants. The same sort of causes and effects of this great event are addressed in this article.

Keywords

• muwākhāt, mawālī, the immigrants, ansār, intellectual, political stability