OCR Specification focus:
‘The impact of Revelation and the hijra; the Medinan period c.622–632.’
The emergence of Islam was shaped profoundly by the Prophet Muhammad’s revelations, the pivotal migration (hijra), and the Medinan period, which transformed Islam from private faith to organised community.
The Impact of Revelation
The foundation of Islam lies in the Revelations received by Muhammad beginning in 610 CE, believed to be delivered by the Angel Jibril (Gabriel). These messages, later compiled into the Qur’an, defined the central tenets of the new faith and provided moral, spiritual, and social guidance.
Seventh-century folios of the Birmingham Qur’an manuscript (Hijazi script). While not from Medina itself, the manuscript illustrates the early recording of Revelations that shaped the Medinan community’s beliefs and practices. Source
Nature of the Revelations
The revelations emphasised the oneness of God (tawhid), rejecting polytheism and idolatry.
They stressed the need for moral accountability, social justice, and charity.
The Qur’anic verses challenged existing Meccan traditions, particularly the tribal elite’s wealth and power.
Tawhid: The Islamic doctrine of the absolute oneness and unity of God, rejecting all forms of polytheism.
The spiritual authority gained from these revelations gave Muhammad legitimacy as God’s messenger (rasul Allah), yet also provoked hostility from the Quraysh elite, who saw Islam as a threat to their social and economic dominance.
Social Consequences
The revelations appealed to marginalised groups in Mecca — the poor, enslaved, and disenfranchised — by advocating equality before God and communal responsibility. However, they simultaneously deepened divisions, as many elites opposed changes that undermined their authority and wealth.
The Hijra (Migration) of 622
The growing opposition in Mecca culminated in hostility and persecution. To preserve the community, Muhammad and his followers undertook the hijra, the migration to Yathrib (later renamed Medina) in 622. This event marked a turning point in Islamic history.
Causes of the Hijra
Increasing persecution of Muslims in Mecca.
Invitation from leaders in Yathrib to resolve tribal disputes, recognising Muhammad’s leadership qualities.
Strategic necessity to safeguard the survival of the Muslim community.
Significance of the Hijra
It represented the foundation of the Muslim ummah (community of believers), transforming Islam from a private faith into a socio-political force.
It marked the start of the Islamic calendar (AH – Anno Hegirae), reflecting its centrality to Muslim identity.
It provided Muhammad with the political and religious authority necessary to implement the teachings of Islam within a functioning society.
Ummah: The collective community of Muslims bound together by faith, transcending tribal and ethnic divisions.
The Medinan Period (c.622–632)
The years following the hijra established Islam as both a spiritual and political system. In Medina, Muhammad acted not only as prophet but also as statesman, arbitrator, and military leader.
Political Developments
The Constitution of Medina was drawn up to regulate relations between Muslims, Jews, and other groups. It acknowledged Muhammad as the community’s leader and established principles of mutual defence and cooperation.
Tribal divisions were bridged under the overarching identity of the ummah, creating unity that had not existed under pre-Islamic tribalism.
Religious and Social Transformation
Daily prayers, fasting, almsgiving, and other religious obligations were consolidated during this period.
The sense of collective religious duty fostered loyalty to the new faith rather than to tribes.
Zakat (almsgiving) became an institutionalised practice, strengthening social cohesion and aiding the poor.
Zakat: A form of obligatory almsgiving in Islam, considered one of the Five Pillars, aimed at redistributing wealth to assist those in need.
Military and Strategic Aspects
As opposition from Mecca continued, conflict became inevitable:
Early confrontations such as the Battle of Badr (624) bolstered Muslim confidence and were interpreted as divine favour.
Defeats, including the Battle of Uhud (625), tested the community’s resilience but reinforced the belief in perseverance under God’s guidance.
The Battle of the Trench (627) demonstrated the Muslims’ defensive capabilities and further cemented Muhammad’s leadership.
Cartographic representation of the Battle of the Trench (627 CE) around Medina, indicating the trench, defending forces, and attacking confederates.
Through these military experiences, Islam gained both credibility and expansion, reinforcing the idea of divine support for the ummah. Source
Consolidation of Power
By the end of the Medinan period, Muhammad had successfully:
United a previously divided population under the religious and political structure of Islam.
Established Medina as the centre of the Islamic community.
Expanded Islam’s influence beyond Medina through alliances, treaties, and military success.
Significance of the Period 622–632
The impact of Revelation, the hijra, and the Medinan period was transformative. Islam developed from a persecuted minority movement into a cohesive faith community with political, social, and military strength. The foundations laid in this decade ensured that Islam could survive beyond Muhammad’s death in 632, setting the stage for the rapid expansion of the faith in the subsequent caliphal period.
FAQ
In Mecca, Muslims were a persecuted minority defined by religious belief alone. After the hijra, they became members of an organised ummah, with shared legal, political, and social responsibilities.
This shift replaced tribal loyalties with religious solidarity, embedding Islam within daily governance and community life.
The Constitution of Medina included Jews and other groups, granting them protection and rights under Muhammad’s leadership.
They were considered allies in mutual defence, though distinct in religious practice. This arrangement demonstrated Islam’s early adaptability in managing a pluralistic society, though later tensions emerged as alliances broke down.
Initially, zakat was encouraged as voluntary charity, but in Medina it became a formal, obligatory system.
Funds supported the poor, widows, and orphans.
It also strengthened communal loyalty by redistributing wealth.
The institutionalisation of zakat marked one of the first examples of Islam shaping economic policy.
The successful defence of Medina in 627 demonstrated the strength of communal unity and strategic innovation.
The trench tactic, borrowed from Persian practice, neutralised Meccan cavalry and symbolised Medina’s resilience. After the siege failed, Muhammad’s authority as both a political and military leader was solidified, reducing opposition within Arabia.
Medina (then Yathrib) invited Muhammad to act as an impartial arbiter in long-running tribal disputes between the Aws and Khazraj clans.
The city’s openness contrasted with Mecca’s hostility, and its location on caravan routes made it strategically suitable. Unlike other towns, Medina provided both political opportunity and security for the Muslim community.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
What does the term hijra refer to in early Islamic history?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for recognising that it means the migration from Mecca to Medina.
1 additional mark for correctly stating the date (622 CE) or explaining its significance (marking the start of the Islamic calendar).
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain how the Medinan period (622–632) helped to transform Islam from a private faith into a political and social system.
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for reference to the Constitution of Medina establishing Muhammad’s authority.
1 mark for explaining the creation of the ummah as a unified faith community.
1 mark for mentioning the institutionalisation of zakat or other religious obligations.
1 mark for reference to early military confrontations (e.g., Battle of Badr) increasing Muslim confidence and authority.
1 mark for explaining how treaties, alliances, or conflict consolidated political and social leadership.
1 mark for identifying the significance of Medina becoming the centre of the Islamic community.
