The Constitution of Medina

After his emigration to Medina, the Prophet concluded a comprehensive charter regulating relations among the parts of the new society and laying the foundations of Islam's first consensual state — proclaiming the unity of the community, freedom of religion and a common defensive alliance. ¹

The compact established the principle that the believers and Muslims of Quraysh and Yathrib and whoever follows them, joins them and strives with them are "one community apart from all people"; it confirmed the Muhajirun and the Ansar upon their tribal groups in the sharing of blood-money and the ransoming of captives, in justice and fairness among the believers. ^{2 3}

It laid down collective solidarity against wrongdoing and aggression even if the wrongdoer were a son of one of them; forbade aiding an unbeliever against a believer or killing a believer for an unbeliever; declared God's protection one, granted by the least of them on behalf of all; made the peace of the believers one in war; and referred every dispute to God and to His Messenger. ⁴

The document included a covenant with the Jews of Medina — among them Banu Qaynuqa, Banu al-Nadir, Banu Qurayza and their clients — securing them freedom of religion and property: "the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs, their clients and themselves"; they bear their own expenses and the Muslims bear theirs; between them stands aid against whoever wars on the people of this document, with good counsel, sincerity and loyalty without sin. ^{5 6}

The document made the interior of Yathrib inviolable for its people, required mutual aid in defending it should an enemy descend, and forbade giving protection to Quraysh, its wealth or its helpers — affirming that the document does not shield a wrongdoer or sinner. ⁷