Islamiyat · Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Question 5

Write about the brotherhood in Madina that developed between the Helpers (Ansar) and the Emigrants (Muhajirun).

Candidates may include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.

The residents of Makka, who had to leave all their belongings behind and migrate to Madina, due to the persecutions of Makkans, are called Emigrants while their hosts, residents of Madina known as Yathrib at that time, are called Ansars or Helpers (mainly from the Aws and Khazraj tribes).

Ansars had started to accept Islam as a result of Pledges of Aqaba and had invited the Prophet (pbuh) to their city. They welcomed Emigrants open- heartedly.

To unite the two groups, the Prophet (pbuh) made them brothers, pairing each of the Ansar with the Muhajirun. This was to help each other materially and spiritually. The Ansar had already been eager to help their migrating brothers and sisters with accommodation and food.

The Prophet (pbuh) gathered the two groups and started calling out the name of one Ansar and one Muhajir. The Prophet (pbuh) took ‘Ali as his brother. Better answers will name some prominent pairs.

Sa’d bin ar-Rabi and Abdur Rahman bin Awf were made brothers and Sa’d was willing to share half his property and divorce one of his wives for Abdur Rahman to marry. He refused, saying ‘direct me to the nearest market place so that I may make my fortune with my own hands.’

The Ansar wanted to share their date palms with the Muhajirun but the Muhajirun refused, so the Ansar offered them to work in their orchards and in return they were given dates. In this way the Madinans gave protection and material assistance to their Makkan brothers and the Makkans came with their faith to share and spread in Madina.

The virtue of these two groups has also been mentioned in the Qur’an: ‘Those who believed and emigrated and carried out jihad in the way of Allah with their wealth and lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah, and it is they who are the successful.’ [9.20]

Some candidates may also refer to the fact that Emigrants and Helpers also inherited from each other till the practice was prohibited by the Quran 8:75.

How can Muslims today show their brotherhood and sisterhood towards each other?

Muslims can show their brother/sisterhood in various ways – by visiting each other and looking to see how they can help each other. This may be food, their time, or company if they are on their own. They can offer to share their belongings with others, especially if they do not have much of their own.

Candidates can offer other answers but they should elaborate on their answers and give specific examples to show how brotherhood can be practised today.

Candidates can talk about brotherhood at local, national and international level.