After the establishment of the Islamic government in Medina...

After the establishment of the Islamic government in Medina, the Prophet (S) made contacts with the powerful political and social centers of his time by dispatching ambassadors, sending historic letters, and forging economic, political and military links with many leaders.

The biography of the Prophet (S) contains a detailed account of his letters to Khosroe, the Emperor of Persia; Caesar, the Emperor of Byzantine; Muqauqis, the King of Egypt; Negus, the King of Abyssinia; and other rulers at that time.[^2] 4. In a bid to elevate the objectives of Islam and maximize the cohesion of the bases of the Islamic government, the Messenger of Allah (S) appointed rulers and chiefs for many tribes and cities.

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful {This letter} is from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Rafa‘ah ibn Zayd. I have dispatched him to his tribe and those related to them to invite them toward God and His Messenger.

Whoever accepts his invitation will be among the Party of Allah and the Party of His Messenger and whoever turns away from him will have a two-month security respite.[^3] These practices and decisions of the Prophet (S) confirm that from the beginning of his mission, he had been in pursuit of setting up a strong government through which to administer the universal laws of Islam in all facets of life.

Do such actions like forging pacts with active groups and tribes, organizing a strong army, dispatching ambassadors to different countries, warning kings and rulers and communicating with them, sending governors and rulers to cities and districts far and near, and the like have any other name than “politics” in the sense of managing and administering different aspects of society?

In addition to the conduct of the Prophet (S), the manner of the Four Caliphs, and in particular the way followed by the Commander of the Faithful ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib ( ‘a ) during his caliphate and rule in his treatment of the Shi‘ah and the Sunni is a testimony to the concordance of religion and politics.