al-Din al-Muamala

al-Din al-Mu'amala: Safahat min Hady al-Uswa al-Hasana (Religion is Interpersonal Dealings: Pages from the Guidance of the Good Exemplar) is a work on prophetic ethics and interpersonal conduct by the Islamic researcher Munqidh al-Saqqar, a scholar and researcher at the Muslim World League al-Din al-Muamala.

Background and Purpose

The book addresses the social and moral dimensions of Islamic practice by focusing on the exemplary interpersonal conduct (mu'amala) of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ al-Din al-Muamala+1. In the introduction, the author argues that the historical flourishing of Islamic civilization was rooted in the holistic adherence to religion across creed, law, worship, and morals al-Din al-Muamala. He posits that religious commitment must extend beyond formal acts of worship toward God into practical human interactions, observing that while the rights of God are grounded in divine pardon (al-musamaha), the rights of human beings are grounded in mutual accountability (al-mushahha) al-Din al-Muamala.

The author outlines two primary objectives for the treatise: providing practical models of prophetic guidance to reform domestic and social ties, and articulating a proactive defense of the character of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ against polemical criticisms and misconceptions al-Din al-Muamala.

Structure and Content

The work organizes selected narratives and hadiths illustrating the Prophet's daily interactions into thematic chapters and subsections:

• Chapter One: The Prophet's Dealings and Guidance in His Home (Mu'amalat al-Nabi wa-Hadyuhu fi Baytih):
  • Section 1: The Prophet's Guidance in Living with Wives (Hady al-Nabi fi 'Ishrat al-Nisa'): Discusses marital dynamics, highlighting the Prophet's gentleness, cheerfulness, participation in domestic chores (such as mending garments, milking sheep, and serving himself), nighttime companionship (such as his attentive listening to the story of Umm Zar' from 'A'isha), lightheartedness (such as racing with 'A'isha), seeking counsel from women (including consulting Umm Salama during the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyya), patient handling of spousal jealousy, and his recurring exhortations—notably at the Farewell Pilgrimage—to treat women benevolently al-Din al-Muamala+6.
  • Section 2: The Prophet's Dealings with Children (Mu'amalat al-Nabi lil-Atfal) al-Din al-Muamala.
  • Section 3: The Prophet's Dealings with Servants and Subordinates (Mu'amalat al-Nabi ma'a al-Khadam wa-Sighar al-Muwazzafin): Details his kindness toward domestic servants and hired laborers, emphasizing the severe prohibition against withholding wages or exploiting vulnerable workers al-Din al-Muamala+1.
• Chapter Two: The Prophet's Dealings and Guidance in Situations of Error (Mu'amalat al-Nabi wa-Hadyuhu fi Hal al-Khata'):
  • Section 1: Allowing Retaliation/Accountability from Oneself (al-Qawad min al-Nafs) al-Din al-Muamala.
  • Section 2: Dealing with the Wrongdoer (al-Ta'amul ma'a al-Mukhti') al-Din al-Muamala.

Method

The author relies on canonical hadith collections (including Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and the Sunan compilations) and classical hadith commentaries, such as those of Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, al-Nawawi, Ibn Battal, and al-Munawi, applying prophetic reports to modern domestic, workplace, and social contexts al-Din al-Muamala+2.