Charter of Madīnah: a Foundation for Centralized Modern State

Abstract

Charter of Madīnahh, the first written constitution in the annals of universe has become the fore runner of certain international documents, such as American constitution, Greek discourses, UN charter of human rights and British constitution, is being recognized as first written constitution of the world. The prophet of Islam, Ḥazrat Muḥammad (PBUH) has produced this great piece of work in such period, when human being was under quite severe circumstances. The order of might was right. The weaker ones have no say in the discourse of life. Political and racial clashes devastated human culture and civilization. Due to the absence of civilized approach of life, human life was an unruly mob, wandering aimlessly. Witnessing the grave circumstances of Mecca, the prophet of Allah on His command migrated to Madīnah. In Madīnah, he became the founder of modern and centralized city state of Madīnah.  This was indeed enunciation of first modern Muslim state with first written constitution in the annals of universe. This constitution or charter famously known as Charter of Madīnah, This was the first written constitution of world which has enshrined complete rights in the context of Social, Political, economic and rights to its subject population. The charter of Madīnah is the basic principle of governance in the context of their way of life, basic and inalienable rights, which are supposed to be the birth rights of an individual. The promulgation of charter of Madīnah has brought drastic change in the life of those of the communities which were ragged with bloody battles and ghastly enmities. Charter proclaimed individual dignity, socio- political rights, and economic rights as well as opportunities to all subjects at par level. The concept of human rights specially the rights of weaker was an ignored fact during the dark ages had found full overhauling in the charter of Madīnah. It became the flare of hope and enlightment for those of the depressed communities, which never perceived the sense of freedom, human dignity and rule of law as they experienced after the promulgation of the charter of Madīnah.