Exploring the Role of Suffah in Social Governance in Medina: A Historical and Analytical Study

Abstract

After thirteen years of struggle in Makkah, Muslims reached Medina. A group of Muslims always stayed with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They lived in veranda of Masjid e Nabvī, where they were taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These pious people were known as Ahl al Suffah in Medina. Although the specific word of “Ahl al Suffah” is not mentioned in Quran, but it is symbolically demonstrated in numerous verses throughout Quran. For instance in surah al Mujādilah, it is stated: “Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.” This statement describes the people of Suffah who gained knowledge from Prophet (peace is upon him) and who became the authority in Hadith sciences. One of the most prominent names from Ahl al Suffah is Hazrat Abu Hurraira, from him only a great number of hadith has been narrated. Those companions of Suffah who had spent most of the time with Prophet (peace be upon him), were given most of the administrative posts in Medina and in other parts of the world as well. This is how the institution of Suffah played a significant role in social governance in Medina. The people of Suffah were not cut out from the society; they participated in making decisions, settling conflicts, and giving counsel to the Muslim society. This paper emphasizes the contributions of Ahl e Suffah to social governance by focusing on their participation in moral reasoning, community involvement and decision-making processes.