During the time of Prophet Muhammad, the condition of Muslims began\nto improve following the migration from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina).\nThere, the Prophet was appointed as the leader of a pluralistic society,\nin addition to being the guide for the Muslim community. From that\npoint, he was able to more actively implement Islamic law, including in\nmatters of tolerance.<\/p>\n
After uniting the Ansar and Muhajirin in bonds of brotherhood and\nfaith, the Prophet enacted the Medina Charter. This agreement\naccommodated the interests not only of Muslims but also of the Jews and\nidol worshippers living in the city. Its purpose was to enable each\ncommunity to coexist peacefully and assist one another.<\/p>\n
However, attempts to undermine the Medina Charter soon emerged. One\nsuch incident became the occasion for the revelation of Surah Al-Baqarah\nverse 256. Hamka explains that the Banu Nadhir tribe repeatedly violated\nkey points of the Charter. The tribe, which was predominantly Jewish,\nwas even proven to have plotted to kill the Prophet. Consequently, the\nBanu Nadhir were expelled from Medina.<\/p>\n
Yet, the Muslims faced a dilemma rooted in a local tradition that\npredated Islam. When the city was still called Yathrib, the local\ninhabitants felt their way of life was more uncivilised than that of the\nJewish community. They admired the Jewish scholars\u2019 expertise in\neducating the younger generation. As a result, some entrusted their\nchildren to be raised according to Jewish customs.<\/p>\n
Now, the children of the Ansar who had been entrusted to the Banu\nNadhir had grown up. Some had even become devout Jews, having been\nraised in that faith since childhood. Many Ansar parents pleaded with\nthe Prophet to forcibly convert their children to Islam, fearing their\noffspring would end up in hell.<\/p>\n
Then, verse 256 of Surah Al-Baqarah was revealed, affirming that\nthere is no compulsion in religion. According to a narration by Ibn\nAbbas, the Prophet merely summoned the children and asked them to choose\nwhether to embrace Islam or remain with Judaism. Many decided to become\nMuslim, while others chose to continue their old faith and subsequently\nfollowed the Banu Nadhir in leaving Medina.<\/p>\n
In relation to this event, Buya Hamka cited the appreciation of\nProfessor Philip Khuri Hitti. The author of \u2018History of the Arabs\u2019\nconsidered Al-Baqarah verse 256 to be a worthy reference for interfaith\nrelations.<\/p>\n
Another case occurred when the Prophet received a Christian\ndelegation from Najran at the Nabawi Mosque. The companions were\nsurprised by the unexpected decision he made.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-medina-charter-and-exemplary-tolerance-1781679189", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }