Conflict management involves implementing strategies that limit the negative aspects and increase the positive aspects of a conflict at a place where the conflict exists or originates. Further, the main objective of conflict management is to enhance the learning and outcome of a group. It is a practice of identifying and handling conflict in a sensible, fair, and efficient manner. Conflict management requires effective communicating, problem solving and negotiating skills with a focus on interests.
Conflict is an inevitable phenomenon of human life. Islam is literally derived from the word ‘Silm’, which means peace. Everyone strives for peace, which can be established only in the absence of conflict. In fact, in the very beginning of humanity, in Heaven, after the creation of Adam and Eve, we see the conflict between Adam, Eve and Satan.
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted” (Qur’ān 49:13). When a person has a strong belief that all human beings are created from one male and female, he tends to develop a sense of brotherhood and co-operation, which eliminates all sorts of conflicts.
Thus, the Qur’ān aims to avoid conflicts from the grassroots level, through this verse. To supplement the verse, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “O people, Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.” (Ahmed)
During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, he encountered many conflicts which he resolved in the most beautiful manner. All the conflicts which he resolved are a benchmark for entire mankind. Sometimes the conflicts were related to the Muslims and some other times to the non-Muslim, but he resolved them in the best possible manner irrespective of the religion. He resolved the conflicts with the basic principle of justice. Even before he was declared Prophet, he had resolved major dispute between the people of Makkah. Allah granted Prophet Muhammad the special gift to resolve conflicts and disputes. When some people of Makkah wanted to establish a committee to suppress violence in their society, he immediately joined them as he could play a role in resolving conflicts.
In the absence of central authority in Makkah, the battle broke out between the Quraish and the Qais tribe. As a result of the war, the law and order of Arabia had been broken; society became unsecured to live in; a number of lives were lost; people were oppressed, hijacked, robbed, etc. During this scenario, ‘Hilful Fudul’ (agreement created by various Makkans) was drafted; it was an oath to resolve chaos, disorder and conflict in the society of Makkah. The agreement was framed under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). In the agreement, they took up a promise to vindicate the rights of the weak and the oppressed against tyranny, to defend the helpless, travellers and foreigners against coercion and to prevent all sorts of disturbances. This agreement played an important role to establish peace in Arabia and history remarks that there were no more wars or injustices that took place for many years after its formation.
‘Hilful Fudul’ was a unique agreement which resolved various social problems. It protected citizens from all sorts of injustice and also helped them minimise the conflicts which would prevail between the two rivals. Through this agreement Prophet Muhammad was free from sorts of wars and created a third party alliance and worked as a mediator between the two hostile oppositions. He used the experienced method of unity of conscious people on this issue of humanity. As a result, with their justified advice and action, Arabia got back its peaceful society after a long time.
On the occasion, when Ka’abah was reconstructed by the Quraish along with other clans of Makkah, there arose a dispute among the tribes on the matter as to who shall place the sacred ‘Black Stone’ in the southeast corner of Ka’abah and each tribe wanted to have the honour of placing it. In such circumstances, the Prophet took up the issue and resolved it with great wisdom and in a friendly manner. He spread his cloak on the ground and placed the stone upon it. He then asked the representatives of each tribe to lift the cloak together. When the ‘Black Stone’ reached the required height; he placed it in its place. Everyone was pleased with the solution given by the Prophet and a bloodshed dispute ended with peace and happiness.
When the Prophet started inviting people to Islam, the non-Muslims were strongly against him as he was preaching something against their beliefs and against the tradition of their forefathers. And from there on the religious conflict between the believers and non-believers began. They tried to kill him, offer him wealth, honour, beautiful women, leadership and power but he did not accept any one of this. The sacrifice, patience, tolerance, avoidance of violence and standing firmly on the Islamic ideology, helped them resolve the conflict.
Before the migration of the Prophet to Madina, the city of Madina, like other cities of Arabia, had no central authority. Tribes and clans were ruled by the will of their own leaders. Besides the Jewish colony, primarily Madina was divided into two famous tribes, Aws and Khazraj. A long standing enmity divided these two parties. The conflict between Aws and Khazraj were communal in nature primarily backed by the honour and superiority of their own tribes. Each of them used to claim one’s supremacy over the other and even did not hesitate to harm the other for their own benefit.
In this case, the Prophet strived to resolve this conflict. He mediated between them not by the tribal customs, but by a common issue, that was Islam. He centralised their thoughts from their own tribe to the teachings of Islam. He gave the similar honour and treatment to the rival parties and made them understand the significance of Islam in the world and the hereafter. Besides this, he launched the notion of Islamic brotherhood so that they begin to think of every Muslim as their brother irrespective of colour, cast and tribe. The brotherhood of Islam was imbibed in such a manner that the enmity vanished and was never back.
After Hijrah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) had to perform some noteworthy acts to establish a safe and secured state in Madina, among which the ‘Madina Charter’ was one of the greatest. The Blessed Prophet tried to create a commonwealth by uniting these groups and called everyone together for a mutual adjustment and cooperation whereby risk of conflict might be avoided and the security of Madina would be maintained. In this context, the Prophet consulted with the representatives of and each party and filed a charter for the citizens of Madina. This agreement was also the first written charter in the history of the world.
This was a combined process to resolve and to prevent the upcoming conflicts. As the Jews were a mentionable entity at Madina and were very capable to create domestic hazards, they had to be well treated. But getting all the power of authority, Prophet Muhammad not only treated them well but also gave them equal rights and status. Because he knew that discrimination creates disputes, and hence he was not ready to give any chance of it under his leadership in Madina. This diplomatic foresight directly compelled the Jews to obey his rule. On the other hand, by the formulation of the agreement, he litigated the matter under the supreme court of justice. As both parties were equal before law, no one had the right to break the law and order of the state of Madina and it ultimately helped to avoid any sort of conflict among the citizens.
When Prophet Muhammad along with his 1400 followers (the companions) went to Makkah to perform Hajj, they were stopped by the Quraish at a place called Hudaybiya. There, the Prophet signed an agreement, which included the most noteworthy clause, i.e., the peace pact for ten years between the two parties, resolving all types of conflicts. This agreement brought to an end the rivalry between the Makkans and the Madinites forever.
Prophet Muhammad, in this scenario, used many methods to resolve the forthcoming dispute. First, Prophet Muhammad adopted the policy of avoidance, to stay away from fighting with the army of the Quraish. Secondly, Prophet Muhammad showed an immense tolerance to regulate the ceasefire, as he kept patience over the cruelty of Makkans that they did with his messengers. This incident from the life of Prophet Muhammad probably is the greatest example of conflict management.
When the treaty was being drafted, the representative of the Makkan unbelievers raised his objection to the use of the title “Messenger of Allah” for Muhammad. Thereupon the Prophet directed Ali, his scribe, to strike it out and replace it with Muhammad ibn Abdullah. Ali declined to do so. Then the Prophet took the pen from his hand and struck out the title, “Messenger of Allah”, and inscribed the words Muhammad ibn Abdullah. In this case, Prophet Muhammad resolved the conflict by compromising with the opposition party.
At the first sight, the treaty seemed to be an insulting one for the Muslims, as most of its clauses went against the Muslims’ interest. He welcomed the disgraceful agreement and showcased his vision in managing the conflict. The treaty of Al-Hudaibiyah was an apparent victory for the Muslims as they got an opportunity to communicate with the people of other tribes and received an opportunity to spread the message of Islam in the International arena.
Conflict is an inescapable part of our daily life which fluctuates a lot for its various ingredients. Even with a slight change of place, time and circumstances, it reacts in a different mode. To establish peace and justice in the human society, Islam lays emphasis on conflict management. The Qur’ān and the life of Prophet Muhammad provide us with complete principles in conflict management. Prophet Muhammad’s method to resolve conflicts were really excellent; he adopted a natural way, joined a group to manage conflicts, made right use of his power, gave equal rights and status to rival parties, shared common interests, firmly stood by his ideology, launched the notion of brotherhood, sacrificed, cooperated with people, showed immense tolerance to regulate the ceasefire and had patience during the entire course of action. All this helps us build a peaceful state at an individual and collective level.