KARAMAH was founded on the premise that God has given dignity (karamah) to all the children of Adam (Qur’an 17:71).
On January 25th, KARAMAH participated in the historic Marrakesh Conference entitled: “The Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities: Legal Framework and a Call to Action.” This conference is the culmination of various preparatory conferences and discussions held over the last several years under the leadership of the prominent world-renowned scholar Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah. The conference was attended by hundreds of Muslim scholars, academics, and leaders of Muslim communities hailing from 120 countries, along with representatives of Islamic and international organizations and religious ministries who convened to reassert the rights of non-Muslims living in Muslim majority countries and to condemn violence committed in the name of Islam.
Foundations of Contractual Citizenship through the Constitution of Madinah
KARAMAH founder, Dr. Azizah al-Hibri spoke on the opening day about the Charter of Madinah, executed over 1400 years ago between the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on the one hand and the people of Madinah on the other. The people of Madinah admired the teachings of the Prophet, who was being persecuted for his views in his own hometown, Makkah. So they invited him to move to their city. Having experienced religious oppression first hand, the Prophet understood the importance of religious liberty and devised the Charter of Madinah to protect it. The Charter became the basis of his relationship, as a leader, with the people of Madinah, which included both Muslim and Jewish tribes. It also defined the relationship of the Madinan people with each other. Most notable about the Charter is that it was a constitutional contract that guaranteed the religious liberty of all Madinan people, and it was agreed upon by all parties. At a time when deviant ideologies have distorted Islamic principles and caused senseless violence in the Muslim world and beyond, this conference is both timely and vital to begin the historic revival of that part of our collective history that promoted harmonious living.
Foundational Qur’anic Concepts: Religious Liberty, Dignity and Justice
In her speech, Dr. al-Hibri noted that the Charter of Madinah is an integral part of the Sunnah (prophetic words and example) and that it is firmly founded on the Qur’anic message. She then provided select Qur’anic verses that provide a firm foundation for protecting religious freedom. For example, the Qur’an clearly states: “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” Furthermore, the Qur’an connects this state of religious liberty to the state of political maturity (rushd) of the community, and describes the opposite state as one of oppression (ghayy). Dr. al-Hibri also cited two other important Qur’anic concepts upon which the Charter of Madinah rests: dignity and justice for all. The verse “We have given dignity to the children of Adam” is all inclusive, said Dr. al-Hibri. Dignity is given to all the children of Adam regardless of faith, gender, or other considerations. She added that it is part of the dignity of human beings to be able to think and worship freely. Moreover, the core of Islamic praxis (putting the principles of the Qur’an in practice) is justice, particularly, restorative justice that is based on compassion and forgiveness. Dr. al-Hibri stated that “in a just Muslim state that respects the dignity of each of its citizens and their right to freedom of thought and belief, religious freedom ranks very high.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Devised a Federalist System in Madinah
Dr. al-Hibri noted that the religious tribal structure in Madinah, and the need to protect religious liberty, required the Prophet (PBUH) to devise a federalist model between Muslim and Jewish tribes. The Charter of Madinah referred collectively to these tribes as one ummah. At the same time, it preserved for each group its identity, customs and internal relations. It also affirmed that all Madinah tribes, Muslim and Jewish, joined together in mutual defense and peace making. Among other provisions are these: Jews were entitled to assistance, equality and loyalty, and if wronged, Muslims were required to help them. Both groups were required to bear the communal defense expenses whenever the city was at war. The Charter also enshrined other principles of fairness and equity. It nullified guilt by association and established punishment for anyone who sought to spread sin or injustice regardless of their status or their tribal or family affiliations. Dr. al-Hibri noted that, centuries later, a letter by George Washington to a Hebrew congregation echoed some of the same ideas present in the Charter. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson adopted a similar approach that led to the adoption of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom which was the precursor for the First Amendment to the US constitution.
Another Religious Liberty Document
Dr. al-Hibri pointed out that the Charter of Madinah was not devised by the Prophet (PBUH) to address a transitory phase. Indeed, he executed other similar documents, most important among them was the one executed with the Christian monks of St. Catherine monastery in Mount Sinai. In that document he extended protection to all Christians of the East and West and required all Muslims to observe this commitment till the end of time. She suggested that another conference be held to discuss the St. Catherine document. Dr. al-Hibri concluded her statements by condemning the bloodshed and violence that is being perpetrated today by groups falsely claiming to be raising the flag of Islam. These groups, said Dr. al-Hibri, replaced Islamic values with anti-humanistic ones. They “ushered a return to the Age of Ignorance (pre-Islamic Jahilliyah) and took with them many of our gullible, promising youth who did not know any better.” She addressed these misguided youth saying: “Islam is not about earthly power struggles, the killing of humanity, or shocking denials of basic liberties, religious and otherwise. Islam is about spirituality, peace, and harmony. It is about giving each his due, and being a good steward of this earth by promoting the well-being of its humans, animals and even plants– all covered by the sunnah of our Prophet.”
The Declaration
The Marrakesh Conference is by many measures groundbreaking. On January 27, 2016, this conference yielded the historic “Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities.”
Download the Executive Summary of the Marrakesh Declaration here.
We hope that the Marrakesh declaration will not remain ink on paper and that it will influence laws and attitudes in diverse parts of the Muslim world. If 1400 years ago, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was able to establish a just Muslim state where religious communities’ rights were guaranteed based on the Charter of Madinah, then it can still happen today.
Read Dr. Azizah al-Hibri’s speech: The Charter of Madinah and Religious Freedom
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