How the Prophet ﷺ brought unity
The unity that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ achieved among his people stands as one of the most extraordinary social transformations in human history.
Before Islam, Arabia was a land scarred by vengeance, tribal wars, and moral decay. Entire generations perished in feuds that began over pride or pastures. Class, lineage, and bloodline determined worth; women and the poor were often oppressed, and the weak had no voice.
Into this fractured world came Muhammad ﷺ, who brought the divine revelation, and in doing so, united a broken society.
His mission was to reconcile people with their Creator, and through that, to reconcile them with one another. Within a generation, he transformed a divided and hostile society into a unified ummah. Allah states in the Quran:
“And remember the favour of Allah upon you — when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together, and you became, by His favour, brothers.” (Ale Imran 3:103)
United through faith
The foundation of this unity was tawheed, believing in the oneness of Allah, and accepting His Messenger ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ replaced pride of ancestry with humility, teaching that true honour lies not in bloodline or wealth but in righteousness.
The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy. (Surat Al Hujarat 49:10)
When a man once boasted about his tribe, the Prophet ﷺ corrected him, saying:
“Leave it, for it is a foul thing.” (Bukhari)
He eradicated ʿaṣabiyyah, blind tribal loyalty and replaced it with adherence to a shared moral purpose. Moreover, he established justice in every facet of life and society, binding people together, who had never been united.
Confronting racism and class divides
Usually, a society is divided across lines of race and class, however, the Prophet ﷺ confronted racism and classism directly. When Abu Dharr al-Ghifari once mocked Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) by calling him “the son of a black woman,” the Prophet ﷺ rebuked him:
“You are a man who still has ignorance in you.” (Muslim)
Humbled, Abu Dharr placed his face on the ground and insisted that Bilal place his foot upon it until Bilal forgave him.
The Prophet ﷺ honoured Bilal, a formerly enslaved Ethiopian, by appointing him as Islam’s first mu’adhdhin, the one to call believers to prayer. He further broke social barriers by marrying his cousin Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) to Zayd ibn Haritha (may Allah be pleased with him), a freed servant, establishing that piety, not status, determines worth.
The Constitution of Madinah
Upon migrating to Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ established the Sahiffah of Madinah, a written constitution that united the city’s Muslims, Jews, and other tribes under one political community bound by justice and mutual protection. Each group retained its religious freedom while agreeing to collective peace and responsibility.
This was one of history’s earliest pluralistic covenants. It created unity through justice rather than uniformity. It laid the foundation for coexistence and civic harmony between diverse communities.
Opening speech in Madinah and the call to spread the Salam
When the Prophet ﷺ first arrived in Madinah, his opening words to the new community were not about politics, wealth, or power, but about peace and compassion. It set the tone of the society he wished to establish, built on mutual care across all divides. In his inaugural address, he said:
“O people, spread salam among yourselves, feed one another, strengthen the ties of kinship, and pray at night while others sleep — you will enter Paradise in peace.” (ibn Majah and Musnad Ahmad)
With just a few lines, he delivered the essence of his vision for the new society. The command to “spread Salam” – the greeting of peace, was a declaration of brotherhood and equality, reminding every believer that their first duty to one another is peace, safety, and goodwill. The Prophet ﷺ linked the salam with genuine care. It is not an empty greeting, such a “hello”, neither is it lipservice. This is why he said:
“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I tell you something that will cause you to love one another? Spread salam among yourselves.” (Muslim)
By encouraging the open exchange of peace, the Prophet ﷺ dissolved social hierarchies and re-wove the fabric of Madinan life. Each greeting of as-salami ʿalaykum is a reiteration of solidarity. Through such simple practices, he laid the emotional and spiritual groundwork for the unified community that would soon change the course of history.
The Brotherhood (Mu’ākhah)
Going even further, the most powerful expression of unity was the mu’akhah – the Prophet’s ﷺ establishment of bonds of brotherhood between the Muhajirun (the migrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (helpers of Madinah). Each pair became family to one another. It is a unique episode in history, where migrants have been met with the most generous and hospitable reception imaginable. Despite their different cultures, the Ansar opened their homes, and shared their livelihoods, while the migrants shared their knowledge and love of Islam. Helping embed the concepts of Islam within society with great speed.
One of the most memorable pairings was Abd al-Rahman ibn ʿAwf (may Allah be pleased with him), who had left behind his considerable wealth, with Saʿd ibn al-Rabi (may Allah be pleased with him), who offered him half of his wealth; ʿAbd al-Raḥman declined, saying, “Show me the market,” demonstrating dignity and mutual respect.
A model of multicultural unity
Contrasting to the society of his birth, where the Qurasyh prided themselves on their superiority, the Prophet ﷺ created a society that transcended ethnicity, language, and culture. Islam was embraced by Arabs, Persians, Africans, Romans of varied social backgrounds. Thus, in Madinah’s mosque, there was no segregation by colour or nationality. This multicultural harmony was revolutionary in a world divided by race and empire. It proved that Islam’s vision of unity is not one of uniformity but of diversity and justice, every believer contributing uniquely to the strength of the ummah.
Among the believers, Salman al-Farisi (may Allah be pleased with him), a Persian who had journeyed across empires in search of truth, was not treated as a foreigner but embraced as family. The Prophet ﷺ said of him,
“Salman is from us — the People of the House.” (Ibn Saʿd, Tabaqat al-Kubra)
Likewise, Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) the Abyssinian, Suhaib al-Ruki (may Allah be pleased with him) the Roman, and ʿAmman ibn Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him) of Yemeni origin stood side by side in prayer, equal in honour and responsibility.
This brotherhood was not symbolic. It dissolved racial, national, and economic boundaries. Believers united in sincerity, sacrifice, and shared purpose.
Justice and equality
In his Farewell Sermon, delivered to over a hundred thousand believers, the Prophet ﷺ declared the universal principle of human equality:
“O people, your Lord is One and your father is one. No Arab has superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; no white over a black, nor a black over a white — except by piety.” (Musnad Ahmad)
This statement struck at the roots of racism and privilege. The only measure of greatness, he ﷺ taught, is taqwa, obedience to Allah.
Compassion for the vulnerable and the marginalised
True unity cannot exist without compassion. No society is homogeneous, it comprises all sorts of individuals. Therefore, real unity can only exist when society treats its weakest members with care and compassion. Thus in his opening speech in Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ emphasised the need to look after the poor. He ﷺ said:
“Feed the hungry, spread peace, and pray at night when others sleep — you will enter Paradise in peace.” (Ibn Hibban)
He regularly shared his food with the poor, never ate alone, and encouraged generosity:
“You are given help and provision only because of your weak ones.” (Bukhari)
When a hungry man came to him, and his own home had no food, he asked his companions who would host him. One man from the Ansar took him home and gave up his own meal for the guest. Allah revealed in praise of such generosity:
“They give preference to others over themselves, even though they are in need.” (Surat Al Hashr 59:9)
Through such acts, the Prophet ﷺ built unity through compassion, teaching that believers are like one body:
“If one limb suffers, the whole body responds with fever and sleeplessness.” (Muslim)
Honour women
Unity cannot just be for men. Unity has to embrace the men and women within a society. Among the most transformative aspects of the Prophet’s ﷺ mission was the restoration of women’s dignity. Pre-Islamic Arabia had denied women inheritance, autonomy, and even life itself. Through revelation and example, he elevated their status to one of honour, partnership, and spiritual equality.
“The most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” (Surat Al Hujarat 49:13)
He declared:
“Women are the twin halves of men.” (Susan Abi Dawood)
He sought their counsel, honoured their intellect, and displayed tenderness towards his family. When his daughter Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) entered, he would rise to greet her and seat her beside him. In his final sermon, he emphasised:
“Treat women kindly, for they are your partners and committed companions.” (Tirmidhi)
He ensured women’s right to inheritance, consent in marriage, and education, and condemned those who mistreated them. By giving women dignity, he built harmony within families.
Sharing creates social cohesion
The Prophet ﷺ also taught that unity grows from daily acts of generosity. He said ﷺ:
“He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbour goes hungry.” (Al Bayhaqi)
He encouraged the sharing of meals, greetings of peace, and visiting of the sick, acts that kept hearts connected.
During Eid, he mandated that food and charity be distributed so that the entire community rejoiced together. The mosque became not just a place of worship but a hub of social care, reflection, and mercy.
A vision of a just and united society
The Prophet ﷺ built unity through revelation, justice, and compassion. He broke barriers of race, tribe, gender, and wealth, reminding humanity that all are servants of the same Lord. His society was one in which the ruler and the labourer stood shoulder-to-shoulder in prayer, and where the weak were protected, not exploited.
“He it is who supported you with His help and with the believers. And He brought their hearts together. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together.”(Qur’an 8:62–63)
This was the miracle of his leadership: to turn enemies into brothers, oppressors into protectors, and strangers into companions in faith. The unity he built stemmed from belief in one God, which in turn brought the concepts of humility, justice and compassion, without which unity cannot last.
Unity through worship and shared rituals
The Prophet ﷺ cultivated unity not only through moral teaching but through the shared rhythms of worship. The acts of ṣalah, zakah, fasting and Hajj are not merely acts of individual devotion, but social equalisers that forge a shared experience. This is evident in Ramadan when the personal experience of fasting, is shared across the globe. It is evident in salah, not just when worshippers pray in congregation, but the fact they include each other in their prayers.
Nowhere was this unity more vividly displayed than during the Hajj, where people of every race, language, and status wear the same simple garments, proclaiming: “Labbayk Allāhumma labbayk.”
Through collective worship, unity is not confined to belief but enacted in daily practice.
Unity through forgiveness and reconciliation
The Prophet ﷺ also achieved unity by healing divisions through mercy rather than revenge. When wronged, he forgave; when opposed, he prayed for guidance for his enemies. His greatest act of reconciliation came during the Conquest of Makkah, when he returned victorious to the city that had once driven him out. Facing the very people who had persecuted him, he asked, “What do you think I will do to you?” They replied, “You are a noble brother, the son of a noble brother.” He said,
“Go, for you are free.” (Ibn Hisham)
This act of pardon transformed adversaries into allies and earned their gratitude rather than fear. Likewise, when the hypocrites of Madinah spread slander or dissent, he responded with patience and prayer, never allowing bitterness to break the moral fabric of his community. Though he could have had the hypocrites killed, he not only let them live, but prayed funeral prayers over him. His unity, achieved through gentleness and good character won over hearts.
Allah reminded him:
“It was by mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them; if you had been harsh or hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.” (Ale Imran 3:159)
Through forgiveness, the Prophet ﷺ taught that lasting unity cannot be built on coercion or triumph, but only on the healing of hearts.
Unity through justice towards all humanity
Another overlooked dimension of the Prophet’s ﷺ unity was his insistence on justice and kindness towards all, not only Muslims. He taught that fairness and mercy were the bedrock of social peace. Under the Constitution of Madinah, non-Muslims were given security, freedom of religion, and equal protection under the law. The Prophet ﷺ upheld treaties even when others broke theirs, reminding believers that their integrity was part of their faith.
He said:
“Beware! Whoever oppresses a non-Muslim citizen, cheats him, or burdens him beyond his capacity — I will be his opponent on the Day of Judgement.” (Sunan Abi Dawud)
By uniting people through fairness and moral example, the Prophet ﷺ built a community not of exclusion, but of moral responsibility toward all creation.
How prophetic unity differs from other forms of unity in history
Across the ages, countless leaders, empires, and ideologies have sought to unite areas of land, but they have not managed to unite people. The unity achieved by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stands utterly distinct in nature, depth, and endurance.
Empires such as those of Alexander the Great, the Romans, or later the British and Mongol empires brought vast territories under a single rule. Their unities were political and geographical, held together by power, military conquest, and administrative efficiency. While they created moments of order and expansion, their foundations were built upon human ambition, and thus they fractured when authority weakened or rulers died. Their unity depended on the sword and the throne, not the heart and the conscience.
The superiority complex within colonial unity
Most other forms of historical unity were founded on hierarchy and domination rather than equality and compassion. Empires that claimed to “unite” people often did so under the banner of cultural or racial superiority. The Roman Empire called its expansion the spread of “civilisation,” yet enslaved millions and crushed those who resisted. Centuries later, European colonial powers repeated the same pattern. They invoked unity, progress, or Christianity while exploiting lands, resources, and peoples.
Their unity was a unity of control, not conscience: they united territories but divided hearts.
Even modern nationalism, though seemingly inclusive, has often thrived on exclusion, defining who belongs and who does not. By contrast, the unity of Islam under the Prophet ﷺ was radically egalitarian. It erased distinctions of race, colour, and class, elevating the downtrodden and honouring the oppressed.
Islamic unity did not erase diversity but sanctified it. The Qur’an declares:
“O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.”
(Qur’an 49:13)
This verse became the foundation of a civilisation where difference was not feared but valued — where Africans, Arabs, Persians, and Turks, men and women, scholars and labourers all contributed to a shared spiritual and moral project. It was a unity based on humility, not hegemony; on service, not supremacy.
The Prophet ﷺ never sought to dominate others but to liberate them — from slavery to sin, from arrogance to faith, from serving creation to serving the Creator. That is why his unity endured, while empires built on pride eventually crumbled into dust.
Ideologies
Movements, such as the European Enlightenment, nationalism, or communism, also claimed to unite humanity, but they did so through ideology, economics, or reason divorced from revelation. Their bonds were intellectual or material rather than spiritual. They offered a shared cause, but not a shared moral compass. Where one was united by national identity, another by class struggle, the Prophet ﷺ united humanity through belief, compassion, and purpose before God.
The Prophet’s ﷺ unity was different in every dimension. It was spiritual rather than imperial, moral rather than material, and transformational rather than transactional. He did not conquer to rule, but to liberate hearts from subjugation to men and to bring them into servitude to Allah alone. His followers were not subjects but brothers and sisters in faith, each one equal before their Creator.
This unity was achieved without coercion of the soul. People came to Islam from every culture and rank, rulers and shepherds, merchants and freed slaves, drawn not by wealth or power but by the sincerity of his message and the beauty of his character. It was a unity that replaced vengeance with forgiveness, arrogance with humility, and despair with hope.
When compared to the fleeting political unities of history, the prophetic unity was enduring because it united hearts that had once been bitter enemies. The unification of the tribes of Aws and Khazraj, Arabs and non-Arabs, rich and poor was through divine support, as Allah stated:
“If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have brought their hearts together; but Allah brought them together.”
(Qur’an 8:63)
Even centuries after his passing, this unity continues to transcend continents and language, most poignantly manifested in Makkah, as believers from every nation circumambulate the Ka’bah. The call to prayer echoes from every horizon, believers of every race line up shoulder-to-shoulder in the same direction, reciting the same words, Allahu Akbar. No political order or ideology has replicated such universality.
Unity of purpose across time and geography
The unity the Prophet ﷺ established did not end with his lifetime; it continues to reverberate across continents and centuries. The Qur’an, the prayer, and the call to tawheed link believers from every era. Today, from Jakarta to Lagos, from Istanbul to London, millions stand in identical rows, facing the same direction, reciting the same words revealed in Makkah fourteen centuries ago. No political empire or human institution has maintained such coherence.
This enduring unity demonstrates that the Prophet ﷺ united not only his contemporaries but also the generations to come. They are united in belief, in the worship of Allah and in service to humanity. This unity transcends geography, language, and culture because it is anchored in revelation, not in worldly systems. This global fraternity, still alive in every masjid and every Ramadan, is living proof of Allah’s promise:
“Indeed, this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.” (Surat Al Anbiya 21:92)
The unity, despite political division and cultural diversity, is one of the miracles of Islam.