The Social Features of Medina as Depicted in the Book History of Medina by Ibn Shabbah (D. 262 AH)

Abstract

Islam introduced many changes to the civil society in Medina, and these changes are attributed to the distinctive characteristics of Islam.The transformation occurred during the Islamic era, as civil society in the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ acquired many features and characteristics that reflected the Arab-Islamic identity under this honorable leadership. This uniqueness and those traits were comprehensive and encompassed all aspects of life.This study sheds light on the social aspect of society during the early Islamic period, based on the book History of Medina (Tārīkh al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah) by one of the most prominent historians of the Prophet’s biography, Ibn Shabbah. This book is considered one of the oldest historical sources available to us. In it, the author provides details about social life, including the demographic composition, social ties, as well as some information related to family matters such as marriage, clothing, types of food and drink, holidays, hospitality, markets, and the nature of relationships among Medina's residents in terms of good neighborliness, solidarity, and prevalent customs and traditions in that era. The civil society opened up to the world, leading to transformations in life, and the depiction of Medina’s society through the book History of Medina helps us understand the methodology Ibn Shabbah used in gathering his information about the city.