Download Muhammad and Planning Methodology

The Islamic Message and Planning Methodology
Comparative Views of Planning and the Islamic Message by Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.)
Akram Al-Attar
April 7, 2007
Planning Methodology and the Islamic Message by Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) and Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.)
Outline
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of the Presentation
Introduction: Background, Interest, Objectives
Research Question: Is the Islamic Message by Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) and Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) Based on Scientific
Planning Methodology?
What is Planning? Definition, Characteristics, Theory, Principals.
Parallels between the Islamic Message and Scientific Planning
Mecca Period.
Medina Period.
Back to Mecca.
Conclusion
The Islamic Message by Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.)– Part Two
Definition of Planning:
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Planning is setting a course of action to achieve certain
goals (or solve problems),
Defined by concerned parties/stakeholders, &
Implemented Within a period of time.
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Ernest Alexander (1992) Defines planning as:
“The Deliberate social or organizational activity of developing an
optimal strategy of future action to achieve a desired set of goals, for
solving novel problems in complex contexts, and attended by the
power and intention to commit resources and to act as necessary to
implement the chosen strategy.”
Definition of Planning:

Ernest Alexander (1992) Defines planning as:
“The Deliberate social or organizational activity of developing an optimal
strategy of future action to achieve a desired set of goals, for solving novel
problems in complex contexts, and attended by the power and intention to
commit resources and to act as necessary to implement the chosen strategy.”
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Kaiser et al (1995) describes land use planning as:
“a turbulent activity due to the complexity and dynamism of its social,
physical, institutional, and policy environments”. “No single theory of
planning for urban change adequately describes the full range and
complexity of land use planning practice.”
Planning is a Decision Making Process
Rational Decision Making Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Design/Synthesis – Designing Alternative Solutions/Plans
Analysis - Defining Goals, Problems, Stakeholders, Time, etc.
Evaluation – Comparative Analysis of Alternatives & Selection
Implementation – Executing the Chosen Strategy/Plan
Monitoring – Checking Performance Over Time
Physical/
Functional
Component
Economic
Environmental
Component
Legal
Component
Social
Political
Component
Component
Time
Main Problem-Components of Planning Context
View of Integrated Planning
Evaluation Feedback
Problem
Context
Ecological
Physical
Design
Synthesis
&
Pre-design
Synthesis
Economic
of Plan
Alternatives
E
Political
Social
E
Evaluation Feedback
E
Ecological
Evaluation
Physical
Economic
Social
of
Alternatives
& Plan
Selection
Political
E
Political
Economic
Ecological
Physical
Social
Implement
ation
of Selected
Alternative
Plan
E
Ecological
Physical
Economic
Social
Political
E
Process Evaluation
E
Figure 4.2: Multidisciplinary Integrated Planning Process
(For Each Package of the Reuse and Redevelopment of Blighted Industrial Sites)
Note: Planning Process stages and evaluation are adapted from (Alexander, 1992; Baer, 1997; Kaiser et al, 1995; Lichfield, 1975)
E
Evaluation
Monitoring
of Implemented
Alternative Plan
E
View of Integrated Planning
Overall Integrative Planning Package
Planning-Decision Making Stages
4
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Implementation
Monitoring
2. Physical-Functional Planning & Design
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Implementation
Monitoring
3. Project Financial & Marketing Planning
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Implementation
Monitoring
4. Social Equity Planning
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Implementation
Monitoring
5. Stakeholders’ Organizational Planning
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
Implementation
Monitoring
Integration
Integration
1. Site Remediation Plan/ Planning
5
Integration
3
Integration
2
Integration
1
Planning Sub-Processes
Exhibit 4: Multiple Planning Sub-Processes Constituting the Integrative Planning Process
This Exhibit does not represent the following: timing or phasing of each sub-process or package, distribution of implementation package
responsibility among stakeholders
View of Integrated Planning
Macro-level Planning Vision
Overview Process and Problem Context
Planning Process
for each Package
(Rational Decision Making)
Package A: Project Initiation & Site Restoration
Stage-1: Defining Project Initiator
Stage-2: Site Cleanup and Preparation
(Including site remediation plan)
1. Problem Context
2. Design of Alternatives
3. Evaluation
Package B: Site Reuse & Redevelopment
4. Implementation
5. Monitoring
Stage-3: Package Marketing
Stage-4: Site Reuse & Redevelopment
(Including site planning & design)
Micro-Level Planning ( Interrelated Package & Stage Levels)
Figure 4.1: General Conceptual Planning Framework for the Reuse & Redevelopment of Blighted Industrial Sites
View of Integrated Planning
Rational Comprehensive Planning Model (Scientific/Expert-driven)
1950s & 1960s
Physical/Economic Development Planning
(e.g., Land Use Planning)
Social Planning
(1960s)
Disjointed Incremental
Model (Lindblom)
Environmental & Resource Planning
EIA
(1970s)
Cybernetics
(Context)
Mixed Scanning
Model (Etzioni)
Advocacy Planning
Environmental Planning
Socio-Political
Context
Participatory/Transactive
Planning (Friedmann)
Ecological
Context
Ecological Planning
Radical Planning
Collaborative/Communicative
Planning (Innes)
Ecosystem Planning
Ecosystem Sciences
Equity Planning
Watershed Planning
Community-based Planning
Community-based
Stakeholders
Approaches
Collaboration/Partnership
Multi-disciplinary Integrated
Planning
Sustainable
Development
Ecosystem-based
Approaches
Figure 3.1 Evolution of Planning Paradigms
(Figure is based on information from the following sources: Alexander, 1992; Briassoulis, 1989; Etzioni 1973; Friedmann, 1987, 1995; Innes,
1995, 1996, 1999; Krumholz & Forester 1990; Lindblom 1973; McHarg, 1969; Margerum, 1997; Nelson & Serafin,1996; Slocombe, 1993)
Some Characteristics of the Planning Process
#1
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A decision making process to achieve goals
Decisions can have positive or negative multiplier
effect/impact.
Planning goes through phases - interim goals/objectives
A process that goes through stages.
Planning includes multiple interactive components
Planning is an incremental and adaptive process
Evolutionary process
Planning is an optimization process
Balanced trade-offs
Some Characteristics of the Planning Process
#2
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Planning is a process set at multiple levels
● Space: Micro-Macro
● Function: Single Component – Multiple Component
● Time: Short Term – Long Term
● Holistically: Earth and Heaven
Planning for sustainability
Planning is a collaborative process
Planning is a consensus building process
Planning is a mediation process
Parallels between The Islamic Message Through Prophet Muhammad and Scientific Planning Methodology
Planning Goals & Context
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Will of Almighty Allah to Establish
the New Message of his Religion
Islam to save people and guide
them to the right path
Islam is the ultimate chain link of
Heavenly messages.
The message was revealed by
Archangel Gibreel to
Muhammad.
Muhammad delivers the
Message to his people and
humanity in general
Quran is the word of Allah and
the constitution/plan for humanity
Quran is the most reliable source
(Haykal, 1935).
ALLAH
Archangel
Gibreel
Muhammad
People
Humanity
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning
Methodology
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Why Muhammad Was the Chosen
Messenger?
● Muhammad is called
Al-Amin - The Trustworthy
● Muhammad Worshiped Allah
only (no Idols) like Prophet
Ibrahim
● Being illiterate makes the
Message/Quran a Miracle
Muhammad is only a Messenger.
● The task was to deliver the
message of Almighty to his
people and humanity in
general.
- Mecca
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“And Verily, you [O’ Muhammad] are
of a great moral character.” (68 AlKalam,4)
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“We have not sent thee but as a
universal [messenger] to men,
giving them glad tidings, and
warning them [against sin], but most
men understand not”.
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In essence the task for Mohammad
was Implementation Planning
LINEAGE
QUSAYY (400 C.E.)
‘Abd al ‘Uzza
‘Asad
‘Abd al Dar
‘Abd Manaf (430 C.E.)
al Muttalib
Hashim (464 C.E.)
Nawfal
‘Abd Shams
Umayyah
Khuwayllid
Harb
‘Abd al Muttalib (497 C.E.)
Abu Sufian
al ‘Awwam
Hamzah al ‘Abbas ‘Abdullah
Khadijah
al ‘Zubayr
(545 C.E.)
Abu Lahab Abu Talib al Harith
Muhammad (570 C.E.)
Ja’far Uqayl
Fatima
Al Hassan
Source: Haykal, 1935 with Addition
Mu’awiyah
Ali
Al Hussayn
Yazid
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology
Problem Context
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Political
● Local Conflict and Power Struggle
● Regional Power Struggle
● Global Power/Intervention? Distance Barrier
Social/Religious
● Tribal structure
● Tribal Beliefs, Values and Habits
Economic Base
● Hajj Al-Ka’ba (Prophet Ibrahim & Ismail Construction).
● Trade/Commerce.
Environmental
● Desert Landscape
● Mountains Surrounding Mecca (Ghar Hiraa & Jabal Noor).
● Scarce Water (Zamzam)
Physical/Functional
● Towns are apart with long time/distance travel (by Camel)
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology
Mecca: Main Events of Early Life and Character
Building
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He was born as an Orphan
His Mother also died when he
was 6 years old
Five years of childhood in albadiya.
Traveled with his uncle on a
trade trip at age 12.
Meeting the Christian Priest
Buhaira who saw spiritual signs
of Prophethood on Muhammad.
Al-Fujjar war and the League of
Fudhul at the age of 15.
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Tough conditions but tender
surrounding at childhood.
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Learning experience from real life
responsibility at early age.
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Lessons from the unjustified war.
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Conflict resolution.
Agreement among parties
Building Consensus
Building peace
Securing rights of the weak and
oppressed.
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology
Mecca: Main Events before and up to Revelation
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On a second trade trip to Syria.
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Muhammad (Age 25) marries
Khadija
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Learning more from real world
responsibility.
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Planning attributes of black
stone resolution:.
Rebuilding Al-Ka’ba and resolution
for placing the black stone (Age 25)
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Contemplating at Hiraa during the
month of Ramadan.
Muhammad was seeking spiritual
reality, the truth of God, the creator
of the universe. He did not worship
the Idols
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Vision for a solution
A synthesizer
A collaborative approach.
Fairness to all.
Contemplation was a source of
inspiration and broad planning
vision for reality and existence
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology
Mecca: Revelation at Age 40 – The Message in
Secret
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During contemplation period at Hiraa in
the month of Ramadan, Archangel
Gibreel revealed to Muhammad for the
first time the word of Allah Almighty.
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Muhammad becomes the Prophet. His
wife Khadija became the first Muslim.
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His cousin Ali, who was living with them,
became the first male Muslim at age 10.
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Then his servant Zaid Ibn Haritha, then
Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq, then Bilal AlHabashi became Muslims.
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The Islamic Message was in Secret
within the family and the clan and stayed
like that for three years.
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“Read in the name of your Lord who has
created [all that exists]. He has created
man from a clot [ apiece of coagulated
blood]. Read! And your Lord is the most
generous. Who has taught [the writing]
by the pen. He has taught man that
which he knew not. (Quran 96, 1-5)
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“O’ you [Mohammad] the mantled one!
Arise and warn! And glorify your Lord
[Allah]! And purify your garments! And
… (Quran 74: 1-5)
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Planning Attributes:.
● Keeping the message in secret to
gain time for increasing the number
of new Muslims and to be stronger.
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology:
Mecca: Islamic Message in the Open
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Archangel Gibreel revealed to
Muhammad the command of the
Almighty to have the Islamic message
declared in the open.
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“Warn your nearest kinsmen, and lower
your wings (in kindness) to those
believes who follow you”.
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“Then Declare what are commanded
and turn away from the Mushrikeen”.
(Quran, Al-Hijr 15: 94).
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Planning Strategy:
● Islamic Education
● Incremental Planning
● Gaining time to increase new
Muslim converts.
● Calling people for Islam during Hajj
period.
● Due to difficult conditions, the
Prophet recommended to his
companions to leave and go to
Abyssinia.
Muhammad called his relatives for Islam.
In the beginning no one responded
except Ali.
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Muhammad Calling Tribes for Islam but
Quraish threatening and persecuting new
Muslims.
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Mushrikeen (disbelievers) boycotted
Prophet Muhammad, Banu Hashim, and
Banu Al-Mut'talib.
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The Prophet was steadfast to continue
on the Message.
“Even if they put the sun on my right and
the moon on my left ….”
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology:
Mecca: Planning to Emigrate from Mecca
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Islam was spreading despite aggressive fight 
against Muslims.
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Year of Sorrow (Loss of Abu Talib & Khadija).
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Attempt to seek to Ta'if but was
disappointed.
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Israa and Mi'raaj (Age 50)
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The first pledge of Aqaba (Age 51)
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The second pledge of Aqaba (Age 52)
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The Plot to Murder the Prophet. Ali sleeps in
his bed
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The escape to Mt Thaur and then to
Yathrib/Medina (Age 53)
“Glory be to him who by night took his
servant from the Masjid Al-Haram to
Masjid Al-Aqsa whose precincts we did
blessed to show him some of his signs
…..” (Al Israa’ 17: 1)
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Israa & Mi'raaj was Allah’s reward for
Muhammad to show him his signs and
to strengthen him in carrying through his
Message.
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The essence of “Islam Spreading” has
been the truth inevitably penetrating into
human conscience.
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This is a slow process given established
social/tribal and psychological patterns.
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In essence, it is a matter of time and
that was a primary factor.
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology:
Mecca: Planning for Migration (Hijrah to Medina) –
Pledge of Aqaba
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 The First Pledge of Aqaba:
The first pledge of Aqaba (Age 51)
● We will worship only Allah.
A group from Aus and Khazraj tribes
● We will not commit adultery or
met the Prophet, embracing Islam, and
fornication.
pledged the following:
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The second pledge of Aqaba (Age 52)
Another Delegation from Aus and
Khazraj meeting the Prophet and to
convince him to come to Medina.
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We will not steal.
We will not kill our children.
We will not bring false charges.
We will obey Muhammad in all
that is good.
(Dr. Hashim,1991)
The Prophet made the decision to leave  Planning Lessons:
Mecca and make the Headquarters of
● Incremental/Evolutionary
Planning.
Islam in Medina.
● Reaching Agreements/ alliance
to establish a strong base.
Start of Al-Hijri Calendar and about ¾ of
● Patience & Perseverance in
Quran was revealed.
seeking the truth. (Time).
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology:
Medina: The First Years
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Consolidating the position of
Muslims:
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Battle of Badr.
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Treatment of Prisoners of War.
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Revelation called for release of
prisoners of war.
This was a learning lesson for
Mushrikeen to know Islam and its
humane Principles.
Planning Lessons:
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Building the first mosque in Islam in
Qubaa.
Status of Muslim-Brotherhood between
Muhaajiroon and Ansaar.
Treaty with Jewish Tribes
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Importance of Mosque location in
Planning an Islamic City.
Muslim-brotherhood is an integrated
social-political-economic resolution.
Agreements, Treaties and alliances
to establish a peaceful environment
and a strong base.
Success at Badr
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Revelation allowed Muslims to fight
back the first aggressors
(Mushrikeen).
The Angels were fighting on the
Muslim side. (Quran)
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology:
Medina: The First Years
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Battle of Uhod:
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Success bouncing from one side
to the other.
Planning Lessons:
Uhod
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The Battle of Al-Khandaq:
Al-Khandaq
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Al-Hudaibiya Treaty:
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Muslim determination to perform
Omrah.
Fear of the Disbelievers led to the
treaty.
To follow directions of the
Leader, the Prophet.
Perseverance.
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Good vision for an idea.
Sense of determination.
Al-Hudaibiya
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March to Khaybar:
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Long term vision.
Time on the Muslim side
A win-win approach even
though broken by the
disbelievers.
Quran calls it success and it
turned out to be.
Parallels between The Islamic Message and Scientific Planning Methodology
Medina and Return to Mecca
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Letters to Rulers of the World.
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Islam as a Universal Message.
It will continue so.
Muslims perform Omrah:
Quraish Breaks the Treaty:
Muslims Entering Mecca and
destroying the Idols.
Farewell Hajj and Khutba:
The Prophet (pbuh) dies:
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Planning Lessons:
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“This Day, I have perfected to
you your faith, and completed
my blessings upon you, and I
have chosen for you as your
Religion”.
Conclusion
 Islamic Unity & Freedom: Submission to the One God.
 Two Level Planning: at Heaven and on Earth.
 Planning in the context of the Creator-Human (Creation
relationship).
 Planning with a clear Vision
 Incremental Planning in the context of Complexity and
Uncertainty.
 Planning for Sustainability
 Planning for short term life and for long term hereafter
 Ultimately it is Planning with Allah in Our Hearts and Minds