Traditions of Alliances (Ḥilf) and Protection (Jiwār) and the Social Protection of Migrants in the Prophetic Era ﷺ: An Analytical Study

عہدِ نبوی ﷺ میں حلف و جوار کی روایات اور مہاجرین کا سماجی تحفظ: تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Abstract

The “Jawar” (Aman, Pannah) system was a fundamental customary law in pre-Islamic and early Islamic Arabia that provided protection to an outsider, individual, or tribe who lacked the protection of a local clan. The protector was obligated to defend the life and property of the protected person, effectively bringing them under the same protection as their own tribe. However, social security during Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) era was a comprehensive, state-supported system rooted in Islamic principles (Quran and Sunnah) that provided social protection to all citizens, regardless of religion. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took practical initiatives like Mawakhat (brotherhood) and Meesaq-e-Madina (Charter of Medina) to ensure the benefits of social security to each individual of society. This article analyzes social protection through Jawar in the Makki period of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) life and later in Madinah. The study examines the pre-Islamic tribal system, the concept of ‘Asabiyyah (tribal solidarity), the role of Jawar in protecting vulnerable Muslims in Makkah, and the transformative initiatives of the Prophet in Madinah including the establishment of brotherhood between Muhajireen and Ansar and the constitutional framework of the Charter of Medina. The research further explores contemporary challenges faced by refugees and migrants worldwide, drawing lessons from the Prophetic model to propose practical solutions for modern refugee crises, including social integration, economic self-sufficiency, legal protection, and interfaith harmony.