Communication in the Early Islamic Era: A Social and Historical Analysis

By Mahmoud M. Galander

Islam is the only Religion that is complete, none other religion than Islam is complete. This article will put a light upon the Role of communication during the early stages of Islam and how it affected the social and cultural behavior of Muslims at that time. As we know that Islam is a communication-based religion and communication plays a critical role. In Islam, there are two main sources through which we can receive its teachings. These sources are Qur’an and Sunnah.

Firstly, we will discuss the role of the Qur’an in interpreting its importance in communicating Islam. Al Qur’an communicates the fundamental principles of Islamic behavior. At the time of the prophet Muhammad (SAW), Quran was in the stage of descendance. The verses of the Quran were descended on the requirement of the verse when it was needed for the people. As we know the Qur’an was not revealed in the form it presently acquires, rather it was revealed in the way people got questions or quires regarding Islam. We can observe that in the early stages of Islam, people use to communicate at interpersonal levels (one-one communication). Our prophet used to communicate with non-Muslims one on one, delivering them the right message of Allah Al-Mighty. Over time number of believers started increasing at a drastic speed thus the mode of communication changed from one on one to Group communication. This was the first evolution regarding communication in Islam.

Secondly, we will put a light upon the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and its relation with communication during the early stages of Islam and how it affects people, socially. As we know that Sunnah communicates the abstract reality of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) life. Following the footsteps of Prophet (PBUH), Muslims at that time were taught to spread the teachings of Islam and that is also a major role that communication played at that time in spreading Islam.

Communication Among Early Muslims:

During the early stages of Islam, there were a few Muslims. Thus, as I mentioned before that, the mode of communication was inter-personal. Muslims used to worship God hiding from cruel non-believers. Now if we look at things from another perspective, we will come to know that during the early era of Islam, Muslims used to communicate orally. Like other Arabs of the desert, Muslims used oral communication for social interaction for information and socialization. Over time, Muslims started to build their community. After community, they build a whole nation of their own within the time period of 30 years after the arrival of Islam. This played a critical role for Muslims in improving their communication status from oral to Written Communication. This gave a new dimension to the communication process of Arab Muslims. By that time Muslims started collecting the verses of the Holy Quran and compiling them in the form of a Book securing its status forever. As Allah says In Quran that He is the creator of this book and He will protect it. Now we will have a look at the oral and written communication in detail.

Oral Communication During Early Era of Islam:

It is famous about Arabs that they are very good with a memory they can memories any things very easily. This was such a thing due to which they didn’t have the habit of writing anything.  In the early Era of Islam, the State of Madinah was geographically limited, face-to-face communication was the dominant style of interaction. The leader and the followers were closely linked, communication was direct and feedback was simultaneous. Thus, the revelation of the verses of the Quran to the Prophet (SAW), a solemn moment that Muslims revere was lived by the members of the community, who, in some cases witnessed the actual moments in which the Prophet (SAW) received the revelations. These revelations would then be communicated to the companions who would immediately exchange the text and learn the verses by heart. From a network analysis perspective, the entire Madinah political set-up could be envisaged as consisting of a central social network of communication in which the Prophet (SAW).

As I mentioned before, Islam took a short time in spreading as compared to the other former religions. Thus, the mode of communication has to change to communicate with a greater number of people. To spread Islam with greater speed, it was required to improve the mode of communication.

Another important thing I want to mention here is that after the death of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) it was necessary to save his teachings and saying in the written form. Thus, In the time period of Caliphs, the copies of the Quran have written un the supervision of Caliphs themselves.

Written Communication During Early Era of Islam:

The need for Written Communication arose because in a battle against Non-Muslims in Arab a lot of Hafez-e-Quran embraced Shahad. This Incident compelled Muslims to secure the Message of God in written form so that it may not get controversial, unlike other Holy Books. This gave a whole new era of communication to the Arabs of that time and the time to come.

The importance of written communication is emphasized, both metaphorically and literally, in several verses of the Holy text. Allah Says in Quran:

“Oh, you who believe! When you deal with each other in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write faithfully as between the parties: Let not the [68] INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE, VOL 10, NO 1, 2002 scribe refuse not to write: As Allah has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable to dictate, let his guardian dictate faithfully. And get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women such as you choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witness should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big: It is jouster in the sight of Allah, more suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves, there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witness whenever ye make a commercial contract, and let neither scribe nor witness suffers harm. If ye do (such harm) it would be wickedness in you. So, fear Allah; for it is Allah that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things.”