Islam has a specific way of life derived from its concepts concerning life. These are the building blocks of the Islamic culture, which radically differs from all other cultures. It is characterized by three points:

1) It is founded on the Islamic ‘Aqeedah;

2) The criterion of actions in life is based on Allah’s commands and prohibitions, i.e. life is based on Halal and Haram and nothing else (such as benefit or Maslaha);

3) The meaning of happiness is to gain Allah’s pleasure, i.e. permanent peace of mind cannot be achieved without first gaining Allah’s pleasure.

That is the Islamic way of life, the kind of life Muslims look up to and aim to achieve. In order to make the above possible, it is essential to have a State that fully implements Islam and executes its rules without exception. When the Muslims migrated to Madinah, they led a distinguished way of life, with the Islamic ‘Aqeedah as its basis. The verses of the Qur’an concerning the social and penal codes came to be revealed at this time, in addition to the verses concerning other matters of worship which had not been revealed before. Zakat (alms) and Siyam (fasting) were decreed in the second year of the Hijrah. Adhaan was decreed and the people of Madinah listened to it being delivered in the sweet voice of Bilal ibn Rabah five times daily. Seventeen months after the arrival of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) to Madinah, the Qiblah (direction of prayer) was transferred to the Ka’bah. The verses of Divine Legislation concerning matters of worship, diet, morals, relationships and penalties were revealed. Khamr (intoxicants) and the flesh of swine were forbidden, and the verses concerning the penal and criminal code were also revealed, as were those concerning business transactions, the complete forbidding of Riba in all its guises and so on. Every time the verses that spoke to the people’s affairs in everyday life were revealed to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), he explained them and ordered the Muslims to abide by them. He (pbuh) looked after the Muslims’ affairs by solving their problems and settling their disputes by his sayings, actions and by his silence over what happened right in front of him, for his (pbuh) speech, actions and silence are all sources of the Shari’ah as Allah (swt) says in Surah al-Najm,

“Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation that is revealed” [An-Najm, 53:3-4]

Life in Madinah continued to follow that course with its distinct viewpoint, i.e. the Islamic one. The Islamic society - which is different from any other - was alive and flourishing then, thriving on Islamic concepts and emotions and now that the rules of Islam were being comprehensively implemented, offering solutions and guidelines to all the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was very pleased to see that the Da’wah had reached this stage with the Muslims settled in their Deen, abiding by its rules individually and collectively without fearing any harm or persecution. They solved their problems according to Allah’s rules, always referring new matters that had arisen to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and never stepping out of line. They applied Allah’s rules in every action and from this they achieved happiness and peace of mind. Many of the Muslims shadowed the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in order to learn from him, to memorize the Qur’an and acquire knowledge. Islam grew and spread, and the Muslims became stronger day by day.