The brotherhood between the Muhajiroun and the Ansar
The brotherhood between the Muhajiroun and the Ansar is one of the essential positive steps taken by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in Medina. These encounters fostered mutual attention and understanding, bringing their hearts closer together and removing any animosity. The bond among Muslims was so strong that they were willing to share their possessions with their brothers.
As stated in Sahih Bukhari, Hazrat Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf recounted, “When we arrived in Medina, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) established a bond between me and Sa’d ibn Rabi’, may Allah be pleased with him. He said, ‘I have the most wealth among the Ansar; I will halve my property with you. Choose any of my wives; I will divorce her, and you can marry her once her waiting period is over.'” However, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf replied, “I don’t need it. Just show me the way to the market.”
When people in a society love one another as brothers, they are unlikely to commit acts of insecurity or destruction, as their actions ultimately affect themselves. Therefore, after entering Medina, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) established a bond between the emigrants and the Ansar, ensuring they were aware of each other’s issues and could come together to address problems effectively.
The use of the terms “Muhajireen” and “Ansar” was also a significant action by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). These terms emphasized a sense of community and distinguished individuals from one another, helping to foster unity. By examining the history of Medina prior to the Prophet’s migration (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we find that the people faced numerous problems and hardships. Daily, they endured wars, clashes, killings, looting, and theft—activities that were, in fact, a source of pride and a manifestation of courage for the tribes involved. Security had vanished, and peace had eluded them.
Tribal conflicts often resulted in violence, with each tribe poised against the other. Yet, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) immigrated to Medina, he recognized the need to eliminate these conflicts and restore security. By using specific terms to identify each group, he sought to prevent further discord and discrimination. The terms “Muhajireen” for the emigrants from Mecca and “Ansar” for the residents of Medina were both important in eliminating ethnic and tribal prejudices.
This action of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had numerous positive effects on Muslim unity, particularly as many of them belonged to the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who had been enmeshed in ethnic conflicts for over a century prior to embracing Islam. This initiative fostered a spirit of brotherhood, equality, and friendship, enabling them to unite in jihad, ensure the region’s security, worship their Allah, and obey the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). May Allah Almighty be pleased with all of them.
