During the eleventh Islamic year, the six individuals who had come from Madina and converted to Islam in a place called Aqaba, promised our Holy Prophet (PBUH) that they would return the following year and meet at the same place.
When it was time for the next hajj, which came a year after their first encounter with our Holy Prophet (PBUH), the six individuals set off in a caravan of twelve people towards Mecca. One night they met with our Holy Prophet (PBUH) in secret in the small and narrow valley named Aqaba. At the end of this meeting, they pledged their allegiance to Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) on the following conditions:
a) To not associate any partners with Allah,
b) To not steal,
c) To not commit adultery,
d) To not kill their children,
e) To not slander anyone,
f) To not oppose an auspicious cause.
Furthermore, these Muslims made the following agreement with our Holy Prophet (PBUH):
“Obedience and submission come first and foremost during times of distress, pressure, prosperity, and happiness. We are under your command. We will not disobey you in any way.” (3)
The above-mentioned issues that those who were present in the first Aqaba Pledge promised not to do are the things that form a peaceful community life. There would definitely be no law and order in a community where those ugly deeds were prevalent.
Islam, which came to make humanity attain peace and bliss and to base the community life on law and order, would definitely adopt those principles as indispensable and would obtain a promise from its followers regarding the issue.
The Second Pledge of Aqabah :
Mus'ab ibn Umayr returned to Makkah the following year and a number of the Muslim Ansar accompanied those of their people making hajj who were still idol-worshippers. The Muslims arranged to meet the Messenger of Allah at Aqabah. When they had finished the hajj, they met in the valley near Aqabah late at night. There were seventy-three men and two women. The Messenger of Allah came with his uncle, al-Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib who was still an idol-worshipper at that time.
The Messenger of Allah talked to them, recited the Qur'an and prayed to Allah and encouraged people to become Muslims. Then he said,' ask for your allegiance on the basis that you protect me as you would protect your wives and children.'
They pledged their allegiance to him. They asked him to promise that he would not leave them and return to his people. The Messenger of Allah gave his promise, 'I am from you and you are from me. I will fight those you fight and will be at peace with those with whom you are at peace.'
He chose twelve leaders from among them: nine from the Khazraj and three from the Aws
Charter of Medinah
After assuming a central role in Madinah, the Prophet recognized a few pressing needs, which included:
Determining the rights and responsibilities of the local population as well as the immigrants from Makkah
Making agreements with the non-Muslim population of Madinah, especially the Jews, to ensure peace and harmony
Creating a strategy and plan to defend the city against invasions
Making resources available for the immigrants to make a living
The strong need to create a centralized government in Madinah to end the prevailing anarchy culminated in the creation of the Charter of Madinah. The text of the charter has been preserved in its entirety by the scholars Ibn Ishaq and Abu Ubaid. It is divided into two parts; the first part deals with the rules and regulations for Muslim immigrants (Muhajiroon) and Muslim natives (Ansar) and the second part deals with the rights and responsibilities of the Jews of Madinah.
This charter contains 47 clauses, which laid the foundations of a sovereign nation-state comprising of Muslims, Jews and Pagans, having equal rights and responsibilities under a common citizenship.
Many historians believe that the charter was developed in two stages: the first part was written before the battle of Badr and the second part about relations with Jews, after Badr, when Muslims had gained a much stronger standing. The salient features of this charter include:
All parties included in the charter, i.e. Muslims, people of the book (Jews and Christians) and pagans, had freedom to practice their religion
All citizens of the state had equal rights and responsibilities and were protected against excess and oppression
A system of financial aid was developed within each tribe and between tribes. Communal funds were set up which were used in times of financial need such as to pay ransom or blood-money
In the event of a war or hostile attack from outsiders on one tribe, all tribes of Madinah (signatories of the charter) were required to come to the aid of the defending tribe
In the event of a dispute among the signatories, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was the final authority for settling the dispute
The Quraysh of Makkah were to be boycotted commercially by all signatories and nobody was to extend any support to them
Significance of the Charter of Madinah
It is a landmark document, not only in Muslim history but also in the constitutional history of the world. This charter transformed all aspects of life in Madinah including political, religious and social life. Its biggest achievement was bringing belligerent tribes together to form a polity and establishing long term peace among them. It put an end to the prevailing anarchy and protected the life, liberty, property and religious freedom of all people included in the accord. It created a state where equal rights and responsibilities were truly provided for all citizens. The charter of Madinah replaced the traditional tribal kinship with a new social order and created a nation state with a new social fabric.