STAGE 1 · BUILDING THE COMMUNITY
Chapter 19: The New Society in Madinah
Neighbours, agreements, guests of Islam — and a new qiblah
© 2026 Sheikh Mohamed Fawzy. All rights reserved. Version 1.7
Who lived in Madinah?
Madinah was not a city of one people. Tap each group:
Tap a group.
The Muhājirūn — the emigrants
The Muslims who left Makkah for the sake of Allah, leaving behind their homes and wealth.
The Anṣār — the helpers
The Muslims of Madinah, from the two tribes of al-Aws and al-Khazraj. Before Islam these two tribes fought long wars, the last of them the Day of Bu‘āth (al-Bukhari 3777). Islam made them brothers.
The Jewish tribes
Three Jewish tribes — Banū Qaynuqā‘, Banū al-Naḍīr and Banū Qurayẓah — lived in and around Madinah, with their own forts, farms and markets. The Prophet ﷺ made a written agreement with them soon after he arrived (Ar-Raḥīq al-Makhtūm); a report in Sunan Abī Dāwūd (3000) mentions a written agreement in 3 AH, after the killing of Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf. One of their scholars, ‘Abdullāh ibn Salām, accepted Islam soon after the Prophet ﷺ arrived (al-Bukhari 3938).
The hypocrites — al-munāfiqūn
Some people said they were Muslims but hid disbelief in their hearts. Their leader was ‘Abdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl (this appeared especially after Badr — al-Bukhari 4566). The Qur’an warns about their two faces.
Be fair and precise with students: the Jewish tribes are judged by their own choices in later events (Banū Qurayẓah in Chapter 22), not by their religion alone; the Prophet ﷺ first made peace with them.
Rules written down for everyone
To organise life in the city, the Prophet ﷺ wrote down rules for every clan.
The long text of the “Ṣaḥīfah” (the Madinah Charter) is given by Ibn Isḥāq without a chain, and its other chains are weak, so its detailed wording is not taught here — only what is confirmed: the Prophet ﷺ wrote down rules for the clans (Muslim 1507) and a written agreement with the Jews (Abū Dāwūd 3000). Abū Dāwūd’s report places that agreement after the killing of Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf (3 AH); some scholars see it as a renewal of an earlier pact.
“The guests of Islam”
The Masjid was also a home for the poor — and a school: many of the Ṣuffah, like Abū Hurayrah, became great teachers of the Sunnah.
One cup of milk for everyone
Abū Hurayrah was very hungry. The Prophet ﷺ had been given one cup of milk — and he sent Abū Hurayrah to invite all the people of the Ṣuffah first.
Notice his manners: he served his guests first and drank last; and he praised Allah and said “Bismillāh” before drinking.
Turning towards the Ka‘bah
“So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām”
The people of Qubā’, too, turned round in the middle of the Fajr prayer as soon as the news reached them (al-Bukhari 403, from Ibn ‘Umar) — an example of obeying Allah immediately.
New acts of worship
Fasting Ramaḍān
The fast of Ramaḍān was made obligatory in the second year of the Hijrah.
Zakāt al-Fiṭr
The charity paid at the end of Ramaḍān was made obligatory in the same year.
What we learn
Living together
Clear, written rules helped different people live side by side in peace.
Care for the poor
The Masjid sheltered and taught those who had nothing.
Obey at once
When the qiblah changed, the believers turned immediately — even in the middle of a prayer.
Quick quiz
A community built on faith, brotherhood and justice
ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam ﷺ