ENGLISH-THE MIGRATION (HIJRAH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH): ITS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

This paper reviews the foreign policy of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) towards the two leading powers of the 7th century- the Byzantine and the Sassanian (Persian) Empires. Placing the Prophet and his diplomatic overture into the context of late antiquity geopolitics, the paper examines the integration of spiritual universalism with political pragmatism in his methods. The article examines the text, message and the reception of the letters of the Prophet to Emperor Heraclius and Shah Khosrow II, based on primary Islamic sources (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Ibn Isaq Sirat Rasul Allah and Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l-Muluk by al-Tabari), and modern scholarship. The results show some dramatic differences: Byzantium reacted with reserved interest, acknowledging the indicators of prophethood but avoiding political affiliation, and Persia arrogantly refused to accept the message, which is symbolized by the tearing of the letter with the Prophet by Khosrow. The effects of these opposite reactions were far-reaching: Byzantium continued to be a long-term interlocutor - sometimes hostile, sometimes friendly - whereas Persia immediately disintegrated due to the internal instability and the external Islamic invasion, which corresponded to the prophecy of the Prophet who predicted its demise. The article claims that diplomacy of the Prophet was a manifestation of patience, prospect and compliance with Quranic policies of wisdom and invitation through peace. In addition to direct political effects, such endeavours provided a pattern of an Islamic statecraft that was subsequently used in the Umayyad and Abbasid empires. To sum up, the paper emphasizes the historical importance of prophetic diplomacy in the global rise of Islam, as well as its topicality in today's world in the form of a respectful dialogue within the framework of the modern political power game.