The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page clxx
GENERAL INTRODUCTION own organization, and Muslims their own. But in case of war, they will act with unity. The city of Medina will be regarded as sacred and inviolate by those who sign the covenant. Strangers who come under the protection of its citizens will be treated as citizens. But the people of Medina will not be allowed to admit a woman to its citizenship without the permission of her relations. All disputes will be referred for decision to God and the Prophet. Parties to this covenant will not have the right to enter into any agreement with the Meccans or their allies. This, because parties to this covenant agree in resisting their common enemies. The parties will remain united in peace as in war. No party will enter into a separate peace. But no party will be obliged to take part in war. A party, however, which commits any excess will be liable to a penalty. Certainly God is the Protector of the righteous and the faithful, and Muḥammad is His Prophet (Hishām). This is the covenant in brief. It has been prepared from scraps to be found in historical records. It emphasizes beyond any doubt that in settling disputes and disagreements between the parties at Medina, the guiding principles were to be honesty, truth and justice. Those committing excesses were to be held responsible for those excesses. The covenant makes it clear that the Prophet of Islam was determined to treat with civility and kindness the other citizens of Medina, and to regard them and deal with them as brethren. If disputes and conflicts arose later, the responsibility rested with the Jews. As we have already said, two or three months passed away before Meccans could renew their planned hostility against Islam. An occasion was provided by Sa'd bin Mu'ādh, Chief of the Aus tribe of Medina, who arrived at Mecca for the circuit of the Ka'bah. Abū Jahl saw him do this and said, "After giving protection to this apostate Muḥammad, do you expect you can come to Mecca and circuit the Ka'bah in peace? Do you think you can protect and save him? I swear by God, that had it not been for Abū Sufyan, you could not have returned safe to your family. " Sa'd bin Mu'adh replied, "Take it from me, if you Meccans stop us from visiting and circuiting the Ka'bah, you will have no peace on your road to Syria. " At about that time Walīd bin Mughīrah, a Meccan chief, became seriously ill. He apprehended that his end had come. The other chiefs of Mecca were sitting around. Walīd could not control himself and began to cry. The Meccan chiefs wondered at this and asked him why he was crying. "Do you think I am afraid of death? No, it is not death I fear. What I fear is lest the Faith of Muḥammad should spread and even Mecca go under him. " Abū Sufyan assured Walīd that as long as they lived they would resist with their lives the spread of this Faith (Khamīs, Vol. I). cxliv