Report on The Constitution of Medina
The Constitution Of Medina, ed. and tr. A. Guillaume; reprinted in C. Warren Hollister et al.,eds, Medieval Europe: A Short Source Book (New york, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, 1982; 4th ed.2002), 81-83.
The Constitution of Medina was both a religious and political document written by Muhammad and his followers. It was written in the later part of the early sixth century of the current era. The document shows the structure upon which Muhammad organized both the political and spiritual life of those he governed. The Constitution of Medina was created in a time when Muslims were part of different tribe and lacked a definitive political structure.
The purpose of the Constitution of Medina was to create an agreement between the Quraysh and the people of Yathrib, which was later known as Medina. The Quraysh were the prominent community within Mecca, whom Muhammad had triumphed over. Muhammad wished to unite Muslims and addressed this concern by keeping the Quraysh’s custom of paying blood prices within the constitution. For this reason, Muhammad created an agreement which abode to certain traditions already present within Mecca. Muhammad established a practical governance of Muslims, by allowing tribal customs to remain present even after he took over.
To further establish a bond between Muslims, Muhammad wrote into the document the principle of God’s protection. This protection, granted by God, was for all Believers. Believers were not to kill other
“Fight in the name of God and in the ‘path of god’. Combat those who disbelieve in God.” The quote above is an excerpt from Matthew Gordon’s book, “The Rise of Islam”. Throughout the course of history, many religions have had a profound effect on western civilization. During the early 5th century a religion arose that had an extremely important impact on western civilization. The Arabic prophet Muhammad founded the religion known today as Islam. Violence, diplomacy, Arabic tradition, and public law played a vital role in the rise and conquest of Islam. These four key elements that fostered the rise of Islam helped establish one of the largest religions in western civilization.
When Muhammad died a caliph, or successor, assumed leadership. The two caliphs succeeding Muhammad furthered the Islamic cause by conquering vast territory. Their culture infiltrated lands "from the Pyrenees and Atlantic coast in Spain to the Indus Valley of India and China's far western borders (Andrea 88)." Their world community called Dar al-Islam spread across land and included non-Muslim peoples. Muslims allowed the Christians living in this realm to continue practicing Christianity. However, the Pact of 'Umar, a political document, succinctly laid out the requirements of Christian observance within the presence of Muslims. Although it was a restricted existence for the Christians, the Muslims did practice and offer tolerance towards this disparate religion.
← Cobban, Alfred. The Absolutist Rulers of Europe. 1969. The 1700s-Headlines in History. Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc, 2001. 37-46
The Quran says to accept other beliefs and religions and to live concurrently and peacefully, but some Muslims might not want to have other religions and go against other groups of people.
“... Religion may be protected… defend the lands of Islam… enforce legal penalties… God’s truth may prevail over every religion (Doc E).” The laws in the law book are made to protect people and let conquered lands to practice their own religion, so they seemed fair to others. For example one law is “defend the lands of Islam.” People want to be protected and Muslims were ordered to protect certain lands, as a result people wanted this protection and moved to these places. Another example is “Religion may be protected.” Some people didn’t want to change religions but were under Islamic rule. This law would appeal to them because they would not have to try and overtake the Muslims, so they could have their way. More peace would be achieved and more people would be attracted to Islam, hence making it
In post-classical history, Islam was recognized for its loyalty to Allah and its precise rules of religion. Muhammad, founder of Islam, was born from a nomad-merchant class, giving a pulse to the traveling trait of Islam and its literal veins of expansion throughout the Eurasian borders. While keeping the classic code of Muhammad’s original law underway, Islam’s expansion during 600- 1200 C.E. introduced advanced authority and systems of economic control.
Directions: The following question requires you to construct a coherent essay that integrates your interpretation of Documents A-I and your knowledge of the period referred to in the question. High scores will be earned only by essays that both cite key pieces of evidence from the documents and draw on outside knowledge of the period. Some of the documents have been edited, and wording and punctuation have been modernized.
To achieve this goal, I have organized my paper into four main sections. In the first section, I provide an account of what happened during the 17th century
The first document that significantly influenced the Constitution was the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was signed by King John of England in 1215. It stated that the King was not above the law of the land and protecting the rights of the people. The Magna Carta is now documented as the most important documents in the history of democracy. It is so important because it established a
In northern Europe after the Middle Ages, monarchies began to build the foundations of their countries that are still in affect today. During the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries these “New Monarchs” made many relevant changes in their nations. During the middle of the fifteenth century Europe was affected by war and rebellion, which weakened central governments. As the monarchies attempted to develop into centralized governments once again, feudalism’s influence was lessened. This “new” idea of centralization was reflected in the monarch’s actions. Rulers tried to implement peace and restore the idea that the monarchy represented law and order in the nation. These New Monarchs were able to build armies due to taxation, and
God has power to grant them victory.(22:39) (Document B). In other words when Islam did start to take over and conquer, they allowed the people to do as they pleased but they have to earn respect back. The only time that the followers would bring harm is when attacked. This was a great offer to the people because it gave them their privacy and respect, while keeping peace between their boundaries.The qualities of what the followers should do or be is devout, sincere, patient, charitable, and chaste. Other values is that to not bring harm to other human beings. All of these polices sound reasonable, and negotiable making it much easier for the followers to transition into Islam’s ways (Document
Living in the medieval time period was not as glamorous as it is often portrayed; peasants and serfs led hard lives, however, kings, lords, and knights lived lavishly and at the expense of those under them. In this paper you will read about all of these lifestyles, as well as the castles in which these lords and kings lived in. Mainly castle designs, fortifications, and siege tactics will be revealed to you; yet there are several sections, dealing with the lifestyles of the above mentioned, leading up to that.
Mohammed offered alternatives to leaders of Christian tribes. He told them that they either had to convert to Islam or pay tribute, or money, in return for protection on the condition of the acceptance of Islam. If they obeyed the Lord and Mohammed, then the Muslim armies would defend them. However, if the tribes opposed or displeased them, there would be a cruel, brutal war between the two groups in which children would be taken captive and the elderly would be killed. Though these attacks were viewed as cruel and merciless by the Christians, the Muslims viewed this as act of self-defense. They felt these attacks were necessary because they had to fight their enemies in the name of God and live according to the example of their prophet, Mohammed.
The Qur'an is the fundamental text for all Muslims as it is believed to contain the revelation of Allah, complete and unaltered as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The secondary sacred text is the Hadith which refers to the collection of traditions, words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad who lived in accordance to the beliefs of Islam in the way which Allah intended. The Qur'an refers to Islam as 'the path of peace' and it is due to this importance placed upon peace that the Qur’an also declares that there be no aggressive war permitted in Islam. Peace is achieved through submission to Allah and this is reinforced through daily prayer (salat).
The Quran tenets encompass various life aspects that include God’s teachings, the way of harmonious living in the community, moral virtues, the regulations on financial matters, and specific obligations among Muslims males and females. In general, the sharia law is an extended platform that provides guidance on family affairs, criminal judgment, political perception, and economic factors. The law thrives on the precepts of religious attributions to God. Since the emergence of sharia law, various Islamic nations have endorsed most or parts of the