This document provides an introduction and definition of terms related to Fiqh al-Sirah, which is the study of applying lessons from the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to address contemporary issues. It discusses the significance of learning Fiqh al-Sirah, including gaining insight into the Prophet's life to improve one's own, developing love and respect for him, addressing misunderstandings of Islam, and strengthening one's faith. The document also explains why the Arabian Peninsula was a strategically important birthplace for Islam due to its neutral political position, inaccessibility, and location at the crossroads of continents and trade routes. Additionally, the qualities of the local Arab
1. REFLECTION OF PROPHETIC HISTORY (FIQH AL-SIRAH)
INTRODUCTION
1) DEFINITION OF THE TERMONOLOGIES
Fiqh al-Sirah is a combination term from two words and thereby, seven terminologies
need to be defined in order to precisely define the Fiqh al-Sirah and differ it from
other similar terms.
1.1. Fiqh : L) Understanding
T) Islamic jurisprudent covering the aspect of halal (lawful)
and haram (unlawful), wajib (obligated), mustahab
(recommended), ja’iz (permissible), makruh (reprehensible)
and mahzur (forbidden).
1.2. As-Sirah: L) Path, Sequence, one’s life history
T) The history of the life of Prophet Muhammad (pubuh).
The technical definition also apply as al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah
1.3. As-Sunnah: L) Way or practice in general
T) Every verbatim, custom and acknowledgement narrated
from Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
The technical definition also apply as al-Sunnah al-
Nabawiyyah
2. 1.4. Fiqh al-Sirah: A discipline of study which deals with issues concerning the
life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and apply
them as guidance in fronting contemporary issues
1.5. Fiqh al-Sunnah: A discipline of study which deals with every narration of the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and apply them as guidance in
every dimension of life.
2) SIGNIFICANT OF LEARNING FIQH AL-SIRAH
2.1. General significances
1. To get a deep insight into the life and mission of Prophet (pbuh) and apply
them as reference to improve the quality of our current life and plan for a
better future. Qur’an says,
Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) you have a good
example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and
the Last Day and remembers Allâh much. [al-Ahzab: 21].
2. To develop love and respect towards him as he said,
None of you is a true believer till I am dearer to him than his child, his
father and the whole of mankind. [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim],
and people won’t be able to sincerely love other without understanding them.
3. To be able to clear the misunderstandings and refute the defamations thrown
upon him and Islam by the haters. Qur’an says,
3. So those who believe in him (Muhammad SAW), honour him, help
him, and follow the light (the Qur’ân) which has been sent down with
him, it is they who will be successful. [al-A’raf: 157].
4. To amplify the testament of faith, “I witness Muhammad as the Messenger of
Allah,” which require love and subjugation.
2.2. Particular Significances (according to the 12 topics to be covered)
1. By learning the reason behind the selection of Arabian peninsula and its
people as Islam’s birth play teaches about the criteria need to be put into
account in selecting a place and followers to initiate the reformation agenda.
2. By learning and comprehending the symptoms of classical Jahiliyyah, we
should be able to identify the same symptoms that are taking place in our
current rea and further prevent ourselves from repeating the same mistakes.
3. By learning the contribution of prophets, we should able to determine our own
reason of why we should appreciate the prophethood, and learn the direction
of divine guidance.
4. By learning the various dimensions of Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w.) life, we
should be able to know his legacy for each individual, husband, father, leader
of community, general in warfare, economic planner, etc.
5. By learning the difficulties faced by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and earliest
Muslims in Makkan period, it should make us able to appreciate their
4. contributions, and later expect what may await those who want to sincerely
follow this path.
6. By learning about Hijrah, we should able to know when the migration became
a necessity for survival and what kind preparation and information need to be
acquired before the migration.
7. By learning about Madinah society, we should know what are the main
characteristics of Islamic society, and the terms and conditions need to
surfaced in order to sustain the harmonicas of multi-racial, multi-religion and
multi-attitudes people.
8. By learning about jihad, we should able to understand the true meaning of
jihad, its stages, and how to protect our society and country in situations
despite of our position as the weak or strong party. It also teaches us about the
strategy of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) handling various type of war and
battle, including simultaneous attack from external and internal foes, and
finally, able to clear the misunderstanding about jihad.
9. By learning the farewell sermon, we should able to learn what are the never
ending problems humankind is facing against and how Islam offer the
solution.
5. 10. By learning the history of Jews and how Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) handled
them, we should know how to handle the groups of similar attitude who live
within our community.
11. By learning about the characteristics of the hypocrites (two faces/ munafiqun)
and how Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) handled them, we should able to
understand their classical and modern modus operandi and how to handle
them efficiently.
12. By learning about the orientalists, we will be able to understand the colonial
power try to enslave the intellectuality, history and values of the conquered
nations, and here specifically on Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) and Islam.
3) SIGNIFICANT OF ARABIAN PENINSULA AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF
ISLAM
The significant of Arabian Peninsula as the birthplace of Islam returns to two major
elements:
3.1. The strategic location of Arabian Peninsula during the time of Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.):
1. Arabian peninsula was a neutral region in politic (which means neither a part
of Roman nor Sassanid as the super imperials power during the time). This
6. significant quality allowed Islam, as a new religion to buy more time and
make a better preparation before confronting those super powers.
Arabian peninsula was neither under the Byzantine nor Sassanid occupation
2. Being a barren land and lack of natural resources made the region received
less interest to be consumed by those super powers or meddling with its affairs
this quality benefited Islam as mentioned above.
This kind of plant density is already considered very fertilize in Arabian
Peninsula
7. 3. The strategic location of Arabian Peninsula as the centre of the world and
continents meeting point which make it very accessible and later, make it easy
to expand especially during the time where the air transportation and internet
were yet to be available.
The centrality of Arabian Peninsula in the world
4. Even though the Arabian peninsula was lack of resources, but they still have
the Kaabah as a powerful gathering attraction. This help Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.) and companions to preach more people from various races, tribes and
clan with minimum expenditure in budget and time.
Nothing can compete Kaabah in its power to attract visitors
8. 3.2. Locals’ qualities:
1. The difficult geography of Arabian peninsula in general strengthened the
locals’ qualities, made them people who are fortitude, forbearance, brave.
2. As a merchant tribe, the Quraishites possessed:
a) high diplomatic skill which contributed to the success of da’wah,
b) business skill which contribute in prospering the Madinah’s economy
and overcome the Jews control over it for centuries.
3. As farmers, the Ansar in general:
a) Were kind-hearted people. This can be seen when they willingly
sacrifice many of their preciouses for their brethren Muhajirun.
b) Moreover, the history of Ansar who lived under exploitation and
suppression of Jews with their own leaders inclined more towards Jews
than their own people made the Ansar really valued and obeyed the
leadership of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).
4. In general, the Arabs were the nation who able to value the literature and it is
the main key for knowledge which this made them able to value the
miraculous of the Qur’an. In addition, they also possessed gigantic power of
memory.
9. 5. The unity of language among various Arabs tribes who were large mass in
population made it easier to unite them under the same banner especially when
Islam started to spread across to border of Arabian Peninsula.