The Medina charter: A Blueprint for Islamic Pluralism

The Christian Bible

• The Bible says that Prophet Lut AS had incest with his daughter.
  • In Islam, incest is a sinful and shameful act that cannot be attribute to a Prophet of God.
• The Jews understood he is claiming divinity
  • The original Injil (gospel)
  • The gospel is the first four chapters
  • The Prophet SAW
  • Let us come to common terms between us and you.
• Paul
• There is not one unambiguous statement where Jesus said, “I am God” or “Worship Me.”
• The word “Trinity” does not exist in the Bible.
• The revised standard version says that the word “begotten” was an interpolation added into the Bible.  They took it out.

The implementation of the Medina Charter effectively managed the conflict in a plural society, as the community of Medina during the Era of Prophet Muhammad consists of the diversity of races, religions, and tribes, including Aws and Khazraj, Christians and Jews, and others. It is a model that meets the needs of a plural society, which is manifested from the Qur’an and practiced in real life.  The community of Medina developed by Prophet as one Ummah produced tolerance, respect, and responsibilities towards maintaining the harmony of Medina among each other.

Prophet Muhammad implemented the Medina Charter by referring to the Quran and practicing it in real life to develop harmony among the communities of Medina, including the Muslims and non-Muslims, who among them are the Jews and Christians.  Prophet Muhammad had always treated all the communities of Medina very well, including the Jews. He shows kindness and persuades people to be lenient, do good deeds, and spread the good to others. This was shown when he told Aisha (RA) to be kind towards the Jews even when the Jews were rude towards them.

Clause 25 in the Medina Charter mentioned, “And the Jews (Banū Awf) shall be considered as one community (Ummah) along with the believers –for the Jews their religion, and for the Muslims, theirs, be one client or patron. He, however, who is guilty of oppression or breach of treaty, shall suffer the resultant trouble as also his family, but no one besides.”

Some other passages mentioned on the Jews in the Medina Charter were:
i. Whoever among the Jews embraced Islam, and they will receive aid and defense as long as they were no longer together with them, collaborating
and doing cruel things.
ii. The Jews can collaborate with the Muslims in certain things, even though they remain anti-religion.
iii. The Jews and the Muslims must agree as long as they do not battle.
iv. This ruling cannot be amended; whoever is free to come in and out to live in Medina, except those who did cruel things and committed sins.
Indeed, Allah is with those who did good and pious, as well as Prophet Muhammad.