Preambule
This is a document from Muhammad the Prophet (may Allah bless him
and grant him peace), governing relations between the Believers i.e. Muslims of
Quraysh and Yathrib and those who followed them and worked hard with them.
1.
They form one nation -- Ummah.
2.
The Quraysh Mohajireen will continue to pay blood money, according
to their present custom. In case of war with any body they will redeem their
prisoners with kindness and justice common among Believers.
3.
The Bani Awf will decide the blood money, within themselves,
according to their existing custom. In
case of war with anybody all parties other than Muslims will redeem their
prisoners with kindness and justice according to practice among Believers.
4.
The Bani Saeeda, the Bani Harith, the Bani Jusham and the Bani Najjar
will be governed on the lines of the above (principles)
5.
The Bani Amr, Bani Awf, Bani Al-Nabeet, and Bani Al-Aws will be
governed in the same manner.
6.
Believers will not fail to redeem their prisoners they will pay
blood money on their behalf. It will be a common responsibility of the Ummat
and not of the family of the prisoners to pay blood money.
7.
A Believer will not make the freedman of another Believer as his
ally against the wishes of the other Believers.
8.
The Believers, who fear Allah, will oppose the rebellious elements
and those that encourage injustice or sin, or enmity or corruption among
Believers.
9.
If anyone is guilty of any such act all the Believers will oppose
him even if he be the son of any one of them.
10. A Believer
will not kill another Believer, for the sake of an un-Believer. (i.e. even
though the un-Believer is his close relative).
11. No Believer
will help an un-Believer against a Believer.
12. Protection
(when given) in the Name of Allah will be common. The weakest among Believers
may give protection (In the Name of Allah) and it will be binding on all
Believers.
13. Believers are
all friends to each other to the exclusion of all others.
14. Those Jews who
follow the Believers will be helped and will be treated with equality. (Social,
legal and economic equality is promised to all loyal citizens of the State).
15. No Jew will be
wronged for being a Jew.
16. The enemies of
the Jews who follow us will not be helped.
17. The peace of
the Believers (of the State of Madinah)
cannot be divided. (it is either peace or war for all. It cannot be that a part
of the population is at war with the outsiders and a part is at peace).
18. No separate
peace will be made by anyone in Madinah when Believers are fighting in the Path
of Allah.
19. Conditions of
peace and war and the accompanying ease or hardships must be fair and equitable
to all citizens alike.
20. When going out
on expeditions a rider must take his fellow member of the Army-share his ride.
21. The Believers must avenge
the blood of one another when fighting in the Path of Allah (This clause was to
remind those in front of whom there may be less severe fighting that the cause
was common to all. This also meant that although each battle appeared a
separate entity it was in fact a part of the War, which affected all Muslims
equally).
22. The Believers (because
they fear Allah) are better in showing steadfastness and as a result receive
guidance from Allah in this respect. Others must also aspire to come up to the
same standard of steadfastness.
23. No un-Believer will be
permitted to take the property of the Quraysh (the enemy) under his protection.
Enemy property must be surrendered to the State.
24. No un-Believer will
intervene in favour of a Quraysh, (because the Quraysh having declared war are
the enemy).
25. If any un-believer kills
a Believer, without good cause, he shall be killed in return, unless the next
of kin are satisfied (as it creates law and order problems and weakens the
defence of the State). All Believers shall be against such a wrong-doer. No
Believer will be allowed to shelter such a man.
26. When you differ on
anything (regarding this Document) the matter shall be referred to Allah and
Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
27. The Jews will contribute
towards the war when fighting alongside the Believers.
28. The Jews of Bani Awf will
be treated as one community with the Believers. The Jews have their religion.
This will also apply to their freedmen. The exception will be those who act
unjustly and sinfully. By so doing they wrong themselves and their families.
29. The same applies to Jews
of Bani Al-Najjar, Bani Al Harith, Bani Saeeda, Bani Jusham, Bani Al Aws,
Thaalba, and the Jaffna,
(a clan of the Bani Thaalba) and the Bani Al Shutayba.
30. Loyalty gives protection
against treachery. (loyal people are protected by their friends against
treachery. As long as a person remains loyal to the State he is not likely to
succumb to the ideas of being treacherous. He protects himself against
weakness).
31. The freedmen of Thaalba
will be afforded the same status as Thaalba themselves. This status is for fair
dealings and full justice as a right and equal responsibility for military
service.
32. Those in alliance with
the Jews will be given the same treatment as the Jews.
33. No one (no tribe which is
party to the Pact) shall go to war except with the permission of Muhammed (may
Allah bless him and grant him peace). If any wrong has been done to any person
or party it may be avenged.
34. Any one who kills another
without warning (there being no just cause for it) amounts to his slaying
himself and his household, unless the killing was done due to a wrong being
done to him.
35. The Jews must bear their
own expenses (in War) and the Muslims bear their expenses.
36. If anyone attacks anyone
who is a party to this Pact the other must come to his help.
37. They (parties to this
Pact) must seek mutual advice and consultation.
38. Loyalty gives protection
against treachery. Those who avoid mutual consultation do so because of lack of
sincerity and loyalty.
39. A man will not be made
liable for misdeeds of his ally.
40. Anyone (any individual or
party) who is wronged must be helped.
41. The Jews must pay (for
war) with the Muslims. (this clause appears to be for occasions when Jews are
not taking part in the war. Clause 37 deals with occasions when they are taking
part in war).
42. Yathrib will be Sanctuary
for the people of this Pact.
43. A stranger (individual)
who has been given protection (by anyone party to this Pact) will be treated as
his host (who has given him protection) while (he is) doing no harm and is not
committing any crime. Those given protection but indulging in anti-state
activities will be liable to punishment.
44. A woman will be given
protection only with the consent of her family (Guardian). (a good precaution
to avoid inter-tribal conflicts).
45. In case of any dispute or
controversy, which may result in trouble the matter must be referred to Allah
and Muhammed (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), The Prophet (may Allah
bless him and grant him peace) of Allah will accept anything in this document,
which is for (bringing about) piety and goodness.
46. Quraysh and their allies
will not be given protection.
47. The parties to this Pact
are bound to help each other in the event of an attack on Yathrib.
48. If they (the parties to
the Pact other than the Muslims) are called upon to make and maintain peace
(within the State) they must do so. If a similar demand (of making and
maintaining peace) is made on the Muslims, it must be carried out, except when
the Muslims are already engaged in a war in the Path of Allah. (so that no
secret ally of the enemy can aid the enemy by calling upon Muslims to end
hostilities under this clause).
49. Everyone (individual)
will have his share (of treatment) in accordance with what party he belongs to.
Individuals must benefit or suffer for the good or bad deed of the group they
belong to. Without such a rule party affiliations and discipline cannot be
maintained.
50. The Jews of al-Aws,
including their freedmen, have the same standing, as other parties to the Pact,
as long as they are loyal to the Pact. Loyalty is a protection against
treachery.
51. Anyone who acts loyally
or otherwise does it for his own good (or loss).
52. Allah approves this
Document.
53. This document will not
(be employed to) protect one who is unjust or commits a crime (against other
parties of the Pact).
54. Whether an individual
goes out to fight (in accordance with the terms of this Pact) or remains in his
home, he will be safe unless he has committed a crime or is a sinner. (i.e. No
one will be punished in his individual capacity for not having gone out to
fight in accordance with the terms of this Pact).
55. Allah is the Protector of
the good people and those who fear Allah, and Muhammad (may Allah bless him and
grant him peace) is the Messenger of Allah (He guarantees protection for those
who are good and fear Allah).
