Interfaith Relations in the Time of the Prophet Muhammad: The Construction of Global Ethics in the Medina Charter

Abstract

This study examines interfaith relations during the era of the Prophet Muhammad by analyzing the Medina Charter as an early foundation for global ethics in pluralistic societies. Using a qualitative literature-based approach, it analyzes the charter, classical Islamic historiography, the Qur’an, and contemporary scholarship on religious tolerance and global ethics. The findings show that the Medina Charter introduced a socio-political model in which the ummah functioned not only as a religious community but also as a political entity founded on mutual obligations and collective protection. It recognized religious diversity, granted legal autonomy to non-Muslim communities, guaranteed freedom of religion, and established an impartial mechanism for resolving conflicts. These principles correspond closely with Hans Küng’s Global Ethics, particularly its emphasis on nonviolence, justice, tolerance, solidarity, and human dignity. The study argues that the Medina Charter offers a historical prototype for managing religious plurality through dialogue, legal pluralism, and shared moral commitments, providing continuing relevance for addressing religious conflict, identity politics, and social fragmentation.

Keywords

• Global Ethics
• Interfaith relation
• Islamic civilization
• Medina Charter
• religious tolerance