Prophetic Measures for Developing Natural Resources in Medina A Study in the Sunnah and Seerah

Abstract

The entire earth is considered a natural resource that God has made subservient to humankind, entrusting it to them as His stewards. The civilizational progress achieved by most countries of the world today depends on the quantity of natural resources they possess and the measures taken to develop them. This study examines the natural resources available in Medina and the practical measures—both verbal and practical—that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took to develop them. Despite the advancements and modernization of economic development methods and procedures today, these Prophetic measures represent the broad outlines for developing natural resources in every time and place. This study consists of three sections. The first section clarifies the Prophetic measures for developing agricultural resources, the second section explains the Prophetic measures for developing livestock resources, and the third section presents the Prophetic measures for developing water resources in Medina after the Hijra (migration). This study concludes that natural resources are a great blessing from God for which we must be grateful and strive to develop. Developing and preserving them is a religious duty and an obligation. Therefore, there is a social and civilizational necessity to overcome colonialism and dependency, and to reduce the cycle of poverty that is expanding daily in most Muslim countries.