Interaction or transaction; foundation of Prophet’s (PBUH) political-societal actions facing ʿAbd Allāh ibn 'Ubayy’s behavior

Interaction or transaction is a fundamental and thought provoking issue of Prophet’s (PBUH) political-societal relations. In relation with outsiders (opponents and enemies), he turned to actions and reactions that weren’t easily accepted; In a way that it was astonishing and surprising even to The Companions of the Prophet (ṣaḥāba). To find the true reason behind his actions and behaviors, deep thinking and analysis are needed. The Prophet (PBUH) is the clear and perfect example of a Muslim, as stated in the Holy Quran. The central question of the current research is whether his behavior was a tactic to temporarily attract others and based on a kind of profit-seeking transaction or a fundamental and strategic action arising from his prophetic nature to guide others to achieve a transcendent life with a correct and ethical interaction? In a clearer interpretation and in order to set an example for today’s people, are the actions and the political-societal works of the Prophet (PBUH) with others, including opponents and enemies, a kind of profitable and necessary trade –to promote prophecy or to consolidate and expend power- or based on the anthropological and stable interaction for human guidance? The article proceeds with the hypothesis that the Prophet’s (PBUH) behavior with others was based on ethical principles, as a fundamental strategy, and emerged from his anthropological and compassionate perspective to form a cohesive society with transcendent goals; as seen in the face of various issues, including the response to the request of the leader of the hypocrites of Medina. Achieving such a goal is possible with the logic of content analysis, explanation of Sira data with a rational perspective, an approach and method that distinguishes the article form from other researches focused on the political-social Sira of the Prophet (PBUH).