The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 27
I - Early Establishment of Madīnah and Foundation of the Islāmic Government 27 the primary conditions of this treaty in our own words before our readers: 1. The Muslims and Jews would live together with sympathy and sincerity, and would not oppress or wrong each other. 2. All people would enjoy religious freedom. 3. The lives and wealth of all citizens would be honoured and safeguarded, except that an individual was guilty of oppression or criminality. 4. All disputes and conflicts would be presented before the Messenger of Allāh for his judgement, and all verdicts would be in accordance with Divine Command (i. e. , the Sharī‘at of every specific people). 5. No party would set out for war without the permission of the Messenger of Allāh. 6. If another nation waged war against the Jews or Muslims, one would stand up in defense of the other. 7. Similarly, if Madīnah was attacked everyone would defend it collectively. 8. The Jews would not provide any aid or protection to the Quraish of Makkah or their allies. 9. Every community would bear their own expenses. 10. This treaty would protect no tyrant, criminal, or wrongdoer from punishment or retribution. 1 Due to this treaty mutual relations between the Muslims and Jews were strengthened. In a way, the foundation of a structured government was established in Madīnah, whereby every community, despite being free in its religious and internal affairs, was regulated by a common law and central government. The Holy Prophet sa was declared to be the head of this central government. Threatening Letter from the Quraish to the Idolaters of Madīnah Much time had not passed since the arrival of the Holy Prophet sa in Madīnah, when a threatening letter was sent by the Quraish addressing ‘Abdullāh bin Ubayy bin Sulūl, chieftain of the Khazraj tribe, and his idolatrous 1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, pp. 353-355, Hijratur-Rasūli Kitābuhū Bainal-Muhājirīna Wal-Anṣārī Wa Muwāda‘atu Yahūd, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)