Comprehensive Urban and Municipal System During the Prophetic Era

Authored by: Asadullah Khan Shahidi

❀ Migration and Population Surge in Madinah​

With the Prophet ﷺ's migration to Madinah, a large influx of Muhājirīn (emigrants) arrived, eventually outnumbering the local residents.
(Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)


To accommodate this demographic transformation, the Prophet ﷺ devised an integrated and visionary urban plan. Despite limited resources, he managed to provide housing, employment, and social integration to people from diverse regions and backgrounds—a monumental feat in the realm of urban planning and statecraft.

❀ Revolutionary Principles of Islamic Urban Planning​

The Prophet ﷺ redefined the notion of a city—not merely as a collection of buildings and roads, but as a center for ethical, spiritual, and civilizational flourishing.
A city should nurture both physical and moral well-being, fostering community, cleanliness, justice, and peace.

❀ Key Infrastructural Developments in Madinah​

• A central location was chosen as the capital, where Masjid Nabawī and the homes of the Prophet's wives were constructed.
• Small residential units were built for the Muhājirīn, typically consisting of three rooms.
  (Reference: Adab al-Mufrad – Imām Bukhārī)
• Migration-focused colonies were established for the Muhājirīn, while other tribes were instructed to remain in their respective territories.
  (Reference: Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd)

❀ Temporary Housing Solutions​

• Initially, the emigrants were housed in al-Ṣuffah, a shaded area beside the Prophet’s Mosque, or in tents.
• Many Anṣār were requested to host emigrants temporarily until permanent accommodations were arranged.

❀ Urban Expansion and Boundaries of Madinah​

By the end of the Prophetic period, Madinah’s boundaries had expanded:

• East: To Baqīʿ al-Gharqad
• West: To Baṭḥāʾ
• Northeast: To the houses of Banū Sāʿidah

The Prophet ﷺ set limits to urban sprawl, stating that if the population grew further, a new city should be established rather than congesting the old.
(Reference: Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh)

❀ Establishment of the Islamic State in Madinah​

Upon migration, the Prophet ﷺ established a comprehensive state system based on Islamic values, replacing the tribal and ethnic loyalties of pre-Islamic Arabia with faith-based citizenship.

❀ The Constitution of Madinah (Mīthāq al-Madīnah)​

Shortly after Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ drafted the first civic constitution in history, known as the Mīthāq al-Madīnah.
(Reference: Dr. Ḥamīdullāh – Madīnah kā Pahlā Dastūr)


Key Clauses of the Charter:

① Protection of peace and order
② Guarantee of religious freedom
③ Mutual defense against foreign aggression
④ Collective resistance to sedition and internal unrest
⑤ No war could be declared without the Prophet's ﷺ permission

❀ Primary Objectives of the Early Civic Administration​

✔ Establishing peace and security
✔ Arranging food and shelter for migrants
✔ Facilitating education and spiritual training
✔ Defining rights and responsibilities of all inhabitants, including non-Muslims

❀ Municipal Governance in the Prophetic Era​

➤ Urban Planning Principles​

• Road width regulation: Minimum width of seven hand spans was mandated.
  (Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
• Cleanliness: The Prophet ﷺ forbade throwing litter in the streets and declared removing obstacles from pathways as an act of charity.
• Water supply: The Prophet ﷺ encouraged communal ownership of water, and ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه purchased Bi’r Rūmah and endowed it for public use.
  (Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

❀ Building Codes and Housing Policies​

• Instructions were issued to prevent illegal construction and ensure spacious streets.
• The Prophet ﷺ appreciated wide dwellings and said:
  “Fortunate is the one whose house is spacious.”
  (Reference: Adab al-Mufrad – Imām Bukhārī)

❀ Market Regulation and Trade Ethics​

• No tax or toll was imposed in the Prophetic market.
  (Reference: Futūḥ al-Buldān – al-Balādhurī)
• The Prophet ﷺ personally inspected the market, ensuring accurate weights and measures and preventing adulteration.

❀ Public Health and Sanitation​

• Cleanliness is half of faith, the Prophet ﷺ taught.
• Mosques, streets, and public areas were to be kept clean.
• Adulteration in food was prohibited, and emphasis was laid on the supply of pure, untainted goods.

❀ Modern Relevance of the Prophetic Urban Model​

The urban governance and planning system of the Prophet ﷺ was:

• Inclusive, ensuring equal rights for all
• Sustainable, preventing over-expansion
• Ethical, rooted in cleanliness, justice, and transparency
• Progressive, with a focus on public welfare, community well-being, and rule of law

Many modern Western civic systems have adopted similar principles, and by applying the Prophet’s ﷺ visionary urban model, today’s cities could resolve complex urban issues like overcrowding, sanitation, housing, and corruption.

✿ Conclusion​

The urban and municipal model established by the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah was centuries ahead of its time. It combined strategic planning, ethical governance, and communal harmony—setting a timeless example for civilizations to come.