Approaching the West — Page 40
A pproaching the West—40 4. Teaching wisdom ( ḥ ikmah) to increase human knowledge concerning natural and social laws. In the footsteps of the Prophet, these four objectives related to spiritual, moral, social and intellectual enhancement of mankind continued to be the main functions of the rightly guided Khil ā fat. The Rightly Guided Khil ā fat Towards the end of his life, Prophet Mu ḥ ammad was also given political authority as the head of the newly emerging Muslim State, with its capital in the town of Yathrib—later known as Mad ī nat-un-Nab ī (City of the Prophet)—where he had settled in AD 622 after emigrating from his hometown, Mecca. To be a statesman was an added responsibility to his moral and spiritual authority over the believers, and he conducted brilliantly the administrative affairs of the nascent Muslim community utilizing mutual consultation (Mush ā warat) with his competent and close companions. The Prophet has been acknowledged as one of the most successful and influential statesman in the world history. However, it is clear that the main objective of his mission as the Messenger of God was moral and spiritual reformation. After leading his followers for 23 years on ‘the straight path’ of Isl ā m, the Prophet (peace and blessings of All ā h be on him) passed away in AD 632. His companions elected Ḥ a ḍ rat Ab ū Bakr (All ā h be pleased with him) as his first Khal ī fah. Ḥ a ḍ rat Ab ū Bakr continued to uphold the unity among the Muslims, leading them in following the principles of Isl ā mic teachings in full obedience to All ā h and His