The Constitution of Medina and Human Rights: A Research Study on the Universal Principles of Religious Freedom and Interfaith Harmony in the Articles of the Charter of Medina

دستورِ مدینہ اور انسانی حقوق: آئینِ مدینہ کے آرٹیکلز میں مذہبی آزادی اور بین المذاہب ہم آہنگی کے آفاقی اُصولوں کا تحقیقی جائزہ

Abstract

This research study explores “The Constitution of Medina and Human Rights” with a focus on its universal principles of religious freedom and interfaith harmony. The Charter of Medina, formulated by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, is recognized as the first written constitutional document in human history that ensured coexistence among diverse religious and ethnic communities under one state. It provided legal protection to minorities and institutionalized equality, justice, and mutual cooperation centuries before the modern Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Through analytical examination of key articles of the Charter—particularly Articles 20, 25, and 30–41—this paper highlights the Prophet’s ﷺ establishment of civic equality, religious autonomy, and shared responsibility among Muslims, Jews, and other communities in Medina. It demonstrates how the Constitution of Medina prohibited discrimination, protected freedom of belief, and built a foundation for social peace and collective defense.

By comparing the Charter’s provisions with modern human rights principles, the study concludes that the Medinan model of governance remains a timeless paradigm for constitutional pluralism, interfaith coexistence, and universal human dignity, offering enduring relevance to contemporary discussions on religious freedom and global human rights.