The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 22
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 22 whilst wandering about in Syria. 1 Brotherhood of the Anṣār and Muhājirīn In that era, the Muslims of Madīnah were divided into two groups. One was of those who were not residents of Madīnah, rather, they had migrated from Makkah or another place and settled in Madīnah. On account of their migration, these people were referred to as Muhājirīn. The second group was of those who were residents of Madīnah. Since these people had afforded protection to the Holy Prophet sa as well as to other Muhājirīn , and since they had taken it upon themselves to assist them, for this reason they were referred to as the Anṣār. The Muhājirīn in Madīnah were generally in a state of complete destitution, because the indigent were of course in a difficult state, but even the wealthy Muhājirīn migrated, generally leaving all of their wealth and property behind. The Anṣār treated them with even greater kindness than blood brothers. Nevertheless, in order to further strengthen this relationship of brotherhood, the Holy Prophet sa proposed that all of the Anṣār and Muhājirīn gather at the home of Anas bin Mālik ra. Taking mutual suitability in to account, the Holy Prophet sa established a formal bond of brotherhood between ninety people, more or less. The love, sincerity and loyalty with which both parties acted upon this brotherhood puts to shame even the blood brotherhood of today. What to talk of brotherhood, these Anṣār and Muhājirīn were as if two figures of the same being. Presenting themselves before the Holy Prophet sa , the first request made by these Anṣār after this relationship of brotherhood had been formed was that, “The Holy Prophet sa should divide our orchards between our brothers and us. ” However, the Muhājirīn were generally merchants by profession, and they were completely inexperienced in agriculture. As a matter of fact, the people of Makkah did not even like this work. Therefore, the Anṣār themselves proposed that, “We shall manage and work on these orchards, 1 * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 2, pp. 407-408, Ghazwatu Uḥud, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 29, Dhikru Khabari Abī ‘Āmir Ar-Rāhib, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān, Beirut * The Life of Mahomet, By William Muir, Chapter IX (‘Helpers’ or Converts of Medîna), Abu Aámir and followers go off to Mecca, p. 189, Published by Smith, Elder & Co. London (1878) * Mohammed and The Rise of Islām, By David Samuel Margoliouth, The Migration, p. 233, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York & London, The Knickerbocker Press, Third Edition (1905)