The “Al-Rāḥimūn” Strategy: The Impact of the Prophet’s Compassion-Centered Governance on the Formation of Economic and Legal Institutions in Madinah

Alamdari, Mina; Garavand, Mojtaba; Nazari, Dariush

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Volume 1, Issue 59 (autumn 2025)

islamhistory 2025, 1(59): 44-47

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The “Al-Rāḥimūn” Strategy: The Impact of the Prophet’s Compassion-Centered Governance on the Formation of Economic and Legal Institutions in Madinah

Mina Alamdari ^*

, Mojtaba Garavand

, Dariush Nazari

Abstract: (33 Views)

This study aims to investigate the historical position of mercy and compassion as a governance strategy in the Prophetic Sunnah and to analyze its tangible consequences in the establishment of enduring institutions. The central question is how the discourse of al-rāḥimūn (“the compassionate”) was manifested in the governance of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and how this manifestation influenced the design and functioning of the emerging economic and legal institutions in Madinah. The findings indicate that Prophetic mercy was not merely an individual moral virtue; rather, it evolved into a foundational organizing principle of governance. In the economic sphere, this principle was reflected in institutions such as the Bayt al-Māl as an institution of equitable distribution, the prohibition of ribā (usury) and the regulations governing muḍārabah partnerships aimed at protecting the weaker contracting party, and the emphasis on charitable giving (infaq) and social solidarity. In the legal sphere, it was manifested through the establishment of a judicial system centered on due process rather than retaliation, the facilitation of the implementation of legal penalties with priority given to public welfare, and the declaration of general amnesty during the Conquest of Mecca as the foundation of a new legal order. Ultimately, it can be argued that compassion, as a governance strategy, was a key factor in transforming the fragmented Arab society into a cohesive and sustainable community.

Keywords: Prophetic governance, strategy of mercy, Madinah, Islamic legal system, economic institutions.

Full-Text [PDF 560 kb] (11 Downloads)

Type of Study: case report | Subject: Special
Received: 2025/06/8 | Accepted: 2025/08/16

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Alamdari M, Garavand M, Nazari D. The “Al-Rāḥimūn” Strategy: The Impact of the Prophet’s Compassion-Centered Governance on the Formation of Economic and Legal Institutions in Madinah. islamhistory 2025; 1 (59) :44-47
URL: http://journal.isihistory.ir/article-1-1571-en.html

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Volume 1, Issue 59 (autumn 2025)

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