Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 338
Covenants with Non-Muslims, Treaties and Contracts 331 them and had escaped from the Meccans imprisonment, gradually grew into a strong band, settling somewhere near the Meccans’ trade route. They began to make surprise lightening attacks on their caravans and run away with the booty which they used as their livelihood. A cursory glance by an observer cannot fathom the depth of wisdom of the Holy Prophet sa underlying the wording of this decision. After a while the Meccans began to realise how they had been outdone by the Holy Prophet’s sa careful wording of the contract. If the idolators had agreed to let the escapees settle in Medina under the strict control of the Holy Prophet sa , they would never have attacked the Meccans because it was against the treaty. But when settled outside Medina under their own command they could do whatever they liked. The Treaty of Medina One category of treaties can be that every participant, regardless of his religion, will enjoy equal rights with the other participants. The treaty of Medina belonged to this category. The important clauses relevant to this discussion are as follows: 1. The Quraish Immigrants from Mecca and the An sa r from Medina who gave them shelter and all those who, despite not being Muslims signed