Page 60 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

family, and people with very different geographic, cultural and
ethnic roots came together to constitute one whole. The Constitution
of Medina also established very wide-ranging freedom of belief and
religion. One of the items expressing that freedom reads:

"The Jews of Banu 'Awf are a communi-

ty along with the believers. To the Jews

their religion and to the Muslims their

religion." (The Constitution of Medina,
http://www.islamic-study.org/jews-prophet-

page-2.htm)

The Constitution of Medina consists of 47 items. Items 1–23 con-
cern Muslims, while items 24–47 concern Jewish tribes settled in

Medina. Reference being made to Christians, who were much fewer
in number, is also important in terms of participation by members of
different faiths.

An analysis of the Constitution of Medina in a report titled "A
Reassessment of Medina Charter according to Professor Leonard
Swidler's Pluralism Perspective" states that the Constitution is a sig-
nificant document in displaying the Prophet's efforts in uniting the

city and bringing the groups together around the law, which was
explicitly announced to the people.

58