Social Roles of Sahabiyat in the Prophet Muhammad  Era with Application to Thai Muslim Women in the Society of Three Southern Border Provinces of Thailand

Abstract

This research aims at 1) studying the roles of Sahabiyat in the Madinan Society at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, 2) investigating the level of current Thai Muslim women in the three Southern Border Provinces of Thailand in practicing Sahabiyat’s roles, and 3) synthesizing the suggestions to develop the roles of current Thai Muslim women in the three Southern Border Provinces of Thailand in accordance with the roles of Sahabiyat. Qualitative method which documents, in-depth interview and focus group discussion of 16 experts, and quantitative method which composes of 90 questionnaires were used in collecting data. 

            The document findings revealed that Sahabiyat at the time of the Prophet Muhammad played an important role in the society and culture, economy, education and politics. The quantitative study showed that the level of Thai Muslim women in three Southern Border Provinces in practicing the 4 aspects of Sahabiyat’s roles is in the average. The results of the synthesis of the experts’ suggestions to develop the role of Thai Muslim women in the three Southern Border Provinces are summarized as follows: 1) campaigning for disseminating knowledge about Sahabiyat in all aspects throughout all levels of the society,  2) creating an understanding and awareness among Muslim leaders at all levels of the need to promote the role of Thai Muslim women in the three Southern Border Provinces in accordance with the roles of Sahabiyat, 3) producing a new generation of Muslim women leaders who are fully equipped with textual and contextual knowledge and understanding, 4) developing Islamic educational concepts to cover objectives and goals of Islamic education,  and  5) providing space for Muslim women’s participation in religious organizations. The study also revealed that educational, religious, judicial institutions and Muslim women organizations which are functioning in the three Southern Border Provinces are vital mechanism to drive up and develop the roles of Thai Muslim women in accordance with the role of Sahabiyat.