The Constitution of Medina

In Medina, the Prophet ﷺ concluded a treaty among the believers of Quraysh and Yathrib and those who followed them. It removed the grudges of the Jahiliyya and tribal rivalries and made the believers one community apart from all people ^{1 2}.

The book mentions sixteen clauses. Among them: the believers are one community apart from all people; each group ransoms its captives with kindness and justice; the believers unite against whoever transgresses, seeks injustice, sin or aggression, even if he is one of their own sons; no believer kills a believer on account of an unbeliever, nor supports an unbeliever against a believer; God's protection is one, and the least of them may grant protection on behalf of all; the Jews who follow the believers have support and assistance, neither wronged nor allied against; a polytheist may not protect Quraysh's property or person; whoever knowingly kills a believer is to be requited, unless the victim's heir consents; and what they dispute is referred to God and to the Prophet ^{1 3}.

• The book summarises the text of the treaty and does not give all of its wording here. The museum presents the clauses as a summary of Ibn Hisham's account.

The Prophet agreed with the Jews a treaty that left them complete freedom in religion and property. The Banu Awf and other Jews had their religion, and they formed one community with the believers. They bore their own expenses, and the Muslims bore theirs. Between them was support against whoever fought the people of the document, with sincere counsel and goodness rather than sin, and support for the wronged. Medina's interior was sacred, and disputes that threatened corruption were referred to God and to the Prophet. Quraysh and its supporters were not to be given protection ^{4 5}. Through this treaty, Medina and its surroundings became a state founded on concord, with Medina as its capital and the Prophet as its head ⁵.