Insights from the Prophet’s Social and Economic Reforms

In the course of reforming society, after emigration and founding the new nation, the Prophet (PBUH) depends on the following points: 1. The Divine revelation was in the right time i.e. it fits the need of society. For example, Zakat (religious duty like taxes) was imposed when the society was in need for money and funds.

2. The Divine methodology of social morals is not theoretical; it is an educational one, with events and situations. A problem happens, Allah (SWT) leaves people deal with it the way they want, then finally He (SWT) sends Quranic ayahs to tell them where right is.
3. The Prophet (PBUH) represented a role model for the people in society. For instance, people were very poor, and when one of them went to the Prophet (PBUH) to complain of hunger, he found him in the same state too .The Prophet (PBUH) never ate except after the people ate. Being such an example, the Prophet (PBUH) helped the people to be patient; he (PBUH) was an example in everything.
4. The most important factor at large which helped the Prophet ( PBUH ) to plant good morals and to reform society was Al-Jannah ( paradise ). But how? He (PBUH) made it concrete in the minds of people, and used it as a stimulus to encourage people to do well. Our Prophet (PBUH) managed to find solutions for many problems with this stimulus. For example, to solve the problem of orphans and poverty he promised those who help those categories of poor people and orphans to be his companions in Paradise .Not only this , but even in the economical field he ( PBUH) preached that those who accurate their works are rewarded with paradise . He also used the reverse i.e. Jahanam (Hell ) to prevent bad manners . Modern psychologists are trying nowadays many theories such as "the reward- punishment" theory that has existed 14 centuries ago.
On the economical level, the society was very poor, but they moved towards developing all aspects of life . At that time, the role of businessmen started. Othman Ibn Affan, who was very rich, bought a water well from the Jews and offered it to the Muslims as a gift. The Prophet (PBUH) also set up a new market in Medina as the Jews were controlling the trade. There were also 70 youths from the companions who established a group to teach Ahlul – Saffa some handcrafts (small projects), to practise by day like turnery . Creativity found an outlet as well; using the minbar (pulbit) was the idea of a woman from the companions. She told the Prophet (PBUH) that to achieve better communication, he should stand on a high place to see the people and to be seen by them while delivering his speeches.

Do you miss him *P.B.U.H* , as he did

A short time before his death, the Prophet (PBUH) visited the martyrs of Uhud (one battle of Muslims), then he cried. The companions asked him "why are you crying?" he said: "I missed my brothers and sisters."

They said: "are we not your brothers and sisters?" he said "no, you are my companions; my brothers and sisters are those who come after my death, and believe in me without seeing me, I missed them so I cried." This is how the Prophet (PBUH) missed his Ummah (the people of his nation), loved them and wished to see them even if they were centuries to come after him. Nevertheless, the people of our nation may also say that they really miss their master and the savior of humanity in his lifetime. They may say that the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) succeeded because he was with them, which is not the case for us now. But let us see what Allah says in the ayah which can be translated as "And know that among you is the messenger of Allah" (TMQ)

We all know that Quran is valid in any time, and Allah says that his messenger is among us; so, is he among us? Of course he is, with his sunnah, with his legacy and the great heritage of knowledge and experiments in life which are yet to be all explored in the present days.

By revealing the path of the beloved (PBUH) and showing how the Prophet reformed in different fields of life, by exploring the life of the Prophet ( PBUH) and deriving various lessons , we do believe now that the idea of revival is not a dream: It is a reality which can work in our nation, but with one condition : following the footsteps of the Prophet (PBUH) and applying the lessons and meaning of his experiment as his model was the most successful one in all the human history.