Life-of-Muhammad

48Life of Muhammad saBetween the Prophet sa of God and the Faithful on the onehand, and all those on the other, who voluntarily agree toenter. If any of the Meccan Muslims is killed, the MeccanMuslims will themselves be responsible. The responsibilityfor securing the release of their prisoners will also betheirs. The Muslim tribes of Medina similarly will beresponsible for their own lives and their prisoners.Whoever rebels or promotes enmity and disorder will beconsidered a common enemy. It will be the duty of all theothers to fight against him, even though he happens to be ason or a close relation. If a disbeliever is killed in battle bya believer, his Muslim relations will seek no revenge. Norwill they assist disbelievers against believers. The Jewswho join this covenant will be helped by Muslims. TheJews will not be put to any hardship. Their enemies willnot be helped against them. No disbeliever will givequarter to anybody from Mecca. He will not act as atrustee for any Meccan property. In a war betweenMuslims and disbelievers he will take no part. If a believeris maltreated without cause, Muslims will have the right tofight against those who maltreat. If a common enemyattack Medina, the Jews will side with the Muslims andshare the expenses of the battle. The Jewish tribes incovenant with the other tribes of Medina will have rightssimilar to those of Muslims. The Jews will keep to theirown faith, and Muslims to their own. The rights enjoyedby the Jews will also be enjoyed by their followers. Thecitizens of Medina will not have the right to declare warwithout the sanction of the Prophet sa . But this will not prejudicethe right of any individual to avenge an individualwrong. The Jews will bear the expenses of their ownorganization, and Muslims their own. But in case of war,they will act with unity. The city of Medina will beregarded as sacred and inviolate by those who sign thecovenant. Strangers who come under the protection of itscitizens will be treated as citizens. But the people ofMedina will not be allowed to admit a woman to itscitizenship without the permission of her relations. Alldisputes will be referred for decision to God and the