Yahya - Justice and Tolerance in the Qur'an (2003)

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JUSTICE AND TOLERANCE IN THE OUR'AN
with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know
no sorrow. (Qur'an, 2:62)
The examples cited above are only a few of the measures
implemented by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that show
the way he exercised justice. However, the most important of
these contracts is the Constitution of Medina signed by Jews
and pagan communities. This contract is still the subject of
many articles today, and is closely examined.
The Constitution of Medina was prepared under the
leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) 1,400 years
ago, that is in 622 AD, to meet the needs of people of different
beliefs, and was put into practice as a written legal contract.
Different communities of different religions and races that
had harboured deep-seated enmity towards one another for
120 years became parties to this legal contract. By means of
this contract, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) showed that
conflicts between those societies, which had been enemies
and quite unable to reach any form of compromise, could
come to an end, and they could actually live side by side.
According to the Constitution of Medina, everyone was
free to adhere to any belief or religion or to make any political
or philosophical choice. People sharing the same views could
come together and form a community. Everyone was free to
exercise his own justice system. However, anyone who
committed a crime would be protected by no-one. The
parties to the contract would co-operate and provide support
for each other, and remain under the protection of the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Conflicts between the parties
would be brought to the Messenger of God.