"THE CONSTITUTION OF MEDINA" – A SUPREME EXAMPLE OF TOLERANCE

Abstract

Abstract. This article analyzes the role of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in establishing the foundations of the Islamic state centralized in Medina, with particular emphasis on the “Constitution of Medina” (Ṣaḥīfa). After the Hijra, an alliance was concluded among various tribes and religious groups (the Muhājirūn, Anṣār, Aws, Khazraj, and Jewish tribes), defining their rights and obligations. This document, regarded as the first political-legal contract in Islamic history, encompassed principles of collective cooperation, mutual protection, personal accountability for crimes, elimination of hostilities, and unity against external enemies. Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) consolidated the tribes, centralized religious and political authority, and laid the foundation of a new ummah. Based on scholarly sources, the article highlights the socio-political significance of the Constitution of Medina and its role in the development of Islamic civilization.