Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
12. Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah
~ 306 ~
When the Prophet reached Madinah, there were,
besides a small minority of idolators, two main
communities living there—the Jews and the
Muslims. These two communities were split up
into several small groups. Neither was able to
present a united front. People were just waiting
for someone who would organize and unite them.
When the Prophet realized that this was what
people wanted, he issued a decree in which Jews
and Muslims were recognized as communities in
their own right. “The Jews are a community along
with the Muslims.... They shall have their religion
and the Muslims theirs.” No encroachment was
made on the customary rights and responsibilities
of either Jews or Muslims, and acceptable
concessions were made to the sentiments of both
communities. A clause was added, however,
which read as follows:
Whenever there is a disagreement about
something, the matter should be referred to
God Almighty and to Muhammad.
11
This decree amounted to a political initiative which,
in the most tactful and ingenious manner,
