The Role of Prophet Muhammad in Conflict Resolution What were some characteristics of the prophet that made him a different leader regarding the conflicts? According to Affan & Thohir, “there were at least eleven principles of conflict resolution of the Prophet Muhammad which included nonviolence, love, justice, trustworthiness, benefit, brotherhood, patience, peace, forgiveness, freedom, and impartiality.” (Affan & Thohir, 2018) Affan, M., Thohir, A. (2018). Conflict Resolution in the Mecca-Medina War: Sirah Nabawiyah Study, Al-Tahrir, Vol. 18, No. 2 November 2018: 323-346 Was Prophet Muhammad the starter of wars? During the period of his invitation and governance, he didn’t start a war with any groups of people. With research about the conflicts that happened during his ruling time, we find out that these conflicts were either in the form of self-defense, or in response to treason of some allies. He was a divine prophet and he acted based on the revelations of his book. “When violence does emerge in the Quran, it is almost exclusively as self-defense or in response to treason, and when war becomes necessity, it is always conducted in a way that is minimalist” (Mitiche,2019) Mitiche, Z. A. (2018). Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires by Cole, J. The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 36:2, p. 93 What were the causes of Mecca-Medina Wars (the battles of Badr, Uhud, and Trench)? The beginning of Mecca- Medina conflict was at the same time that the prophet started his invitation in Mecca. As more people accepted his invitation, the pressure of his opponents on his companions and him increased until some of them got killed due to the hard torturing. This condition was so unbearable that he had to send a group of his companions to Ethiopia. They boycotted the prophet and his family and tribe for three years in a very hard situation. Beside all the pressures, they attempted to assassinate the prophet Muhammad and made the situation so difficult for Muslims that he ordered them to migrate to Medina for saving their lives. “If it rests on history, the conflict between Quraysh and the Muslims is basically initiated by Quraysh. Intimidation, persecution, boycott, and assassination attempt on the Prophet were actions that eventually forced the Prophet and the Muslims to migrate to Medina.” (Affan & Thohir, 2018) Following the Muslim’s migration to Medina, the opponents of the prophet not even didn’t stop persecution of them, but they also distrained the properties of Muslims and attempted to sell them in the commercial markets. “After the migration of the Muslims to Madinah, the Quraysh actually declared war to the Prophet…Intimidation and persecution of the Quraysh can be seen as primordial violence, their hatred, and hostility to the Muslims.” (Affan & Thohir, 2018) Affan, M., Thohir, A. (2018). Conflict Resolution in the Mecca-Medina War: Sirah Nabawiyah Study, Al-Tahrir, Vol. 18, No. 2 November 2018: 323-346 What are some forms of conflict resolution of the prophet Muhammad in Mecca- Medina Wars? However, during all these periods, the prophet’s aim was resolving the conflicts through communication and minimalist warfare. “The Prophet always sincerely tried to promote communication and constructive efforts to the Quraysh figures even though they always opposed the Prophet and the teachings of Islam…Dialogue, hijrah, peace agreements, ceasefire and amnesty is a form of conflict resolution of the Prophet in the Mecca-Medina War.” (Affan & Thohir, 2018) Affan, M., Thohir, A. (2018). Conflict Resolution in the Mecca-Medina War: Sirah Nabawiyah Study, Al-Tahrir, Vol. 18, No. 2 November 2018: 323-346 What is some evidence of the peaceful treating of the prophet with figures of Quraysh? Evidence of the peaceful treating of the prophet is seen in the Hudaybiyah ceasefire agreement and the conquest of Mecca without any bloodshed. With Hudaybiah ceasefire diplomacy “The Prophet brought the Quraysh of Mecca to the negotiating table and negotiated the articles regarding the termination of the war for ten years.” (Affan & Thohir, 2018) The above conflicts are the best examples to show that the prophet not only didn’t start the war, but also, eagerly tried to solve them using ways other than war. “The Prophet conquered Mecca without violence.” (Ash-Shallabi, 2017) “Mecca was conquered without bloodshed. After Mecca was defeated, the next step taken by the Prophet was to free Mecca by giving general amnesty to the Quraysh of Mecca who had opposed them before. With this event, the Mecca-Medina War was finally ended.” (Affan & Thohir, 2018) Affan, M., Thohir, A. (2018). Conflict Resolution in the Mecca-Medina War: Sirah Nabawiyah Study, Al-Tahrir, Vol. 18, No. 2 November 2018: 323-346 Ash-Shallabi, A. M. (2017). Peperangan Rasulullah SAW, trans. Arbi, Nila Noer Fajariyah (Jakarta: Ummul Qura), 579. What was the reason for the Battle of Khaybar? / What are some examples of the Jewish tribe’s actions against Muslims that caused the Battle of Khaybar? The battle of Khaybar was a disputable battle that happened during the governance of the prophet and was between Muslims and the Jews tribe around Medina. In the fourth year after Hijrah, when the Jews of Medina have expelled from the city due to their treason, they settled at the Khaybar area aside with other Jewish tribes. However, they didn’t stop their activities against Muslims and continuously encouraged other Arab tribes to attack them. They also joined Meccan and actively participated in besieging Medina during the battle of Trench. Vaglieri also concurs that “one reason for attack was that the Jews of Khaybar were responsible for the Confederates that attacked Muslims during the Battle of the Trench.” Shibli Nomani also sees Khaybar’s actions during the Battle of the Trench, and draws particular attention to Banu Nadir’s leader Huyayy ibn Akhtab, who had gone to the Banu Qurayza during the battle to instigate them to attack Muhammad. (Nomani, 1979) The total activities of Jewish tribes of Khaybar, such as Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza against Muslims of Medina during those years, compelled Muslims for reacting to them in the different stages. Nomani (1979), vol. II, p. 156 Veccia Vaglieri, L. “Khaybar”, Encyclopaedia of Islam What was the role of the Prophet Muhammad in the Islamic Conquest? Although sometimes it is said that Islam has conquered the lands using sword, but with carefully looking at the history of the governance of prophet we find that he always tried to resolve the conflicts with minimal warfare. Different examples from his time proves that his trying was to remove the conflicts by means other than war, such as communication or treaties. “Cole’s central thesis is that within the geo-politics of warring empires, the Prophet’s movement reflected regional vocabularies and traditions to synthesize a new vision of society and human conduct that emphasized sanctuary, relative inclusivity, preferential nonviolence, and, when necessary, minimalist warfare.” (Mitiche, 2018) Moreover, the Islamic conquest as we know at this time, didn’t happen during the time of his prophethood (610 CE- 632 CE), and none of his infallible successors took part in them. He was the prophet of Mercy and kindness, and the life and salvation of people was the most important issue in his eyes. Mitiche, Z. A. (2018). Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires by Cole, J. The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 36:2, p. 93
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