Ka'b ibn Mâlik (may Allah be pleased with him): when the Prophet ﷺ came to Medina, its people were mixed.
Muslims, idolaters, and Jews. The idolaters and the Jews used to hurt the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.
Allah commanded His Prophet ﷺ to be patient and to forgive, Ka'b says, and a verse came down about them.
You will surely hear much abuse from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate others with Allah.
But if you are patient and fear Allah, that is of the matters worthy of resolve.
The text of the charter has come down to us through Ibn Ishâq. It begins with the Emigrants and the Helpers.
A writing between those who had left Mecca and those who had received them: two peoples, now one city.
It opens: “This is a writing from Muhammad the Prophet ﷺ, between the believers and Muslims of Quraysh and Yathrib.”
“And those who follow them, join them and strive with them: they are one community, apart from other people.”
The Emigrants of Quraysh pay their blood money together, as before. Each clan of the Helpers does the same.
Each group ransoms its captives “with kindness and fairness among the believers.” Eight clans are named, one by one.
Jâbir (may Allah be pleased with him) remembered it: the Prophet ﷺ wrote for each clan its blood money.
And 'Alî (may Allah be pleased with him) kept a sheet from him ﷺ: blood money, ransom of captives. The same two things.
“The believers leave no one among them crushed by debt without giving him, with kindness, for ransom or blood money.”
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet ﷺ made a pact between Quraysh and the Helpers in my house.”
Then a line to keep: “The protection of Allah is one; the humblest of them may grant it on behalf of all.”
'Alî's sheet carried the same rule: “The protection of the Muslims is one; the humblest of them may grant it.”
“Whoever kills a believer wrongfully, with proof, is killed in return, unless the victim's heir agrees otherwise.”
“No believer who accepts this sheet may help a wrongdoer or shelter him. Whoever does carries the curse of Allah.”
'Alî's sheet said it too: “whoever commits a crime in it or shelters a criminal: upon him the curse of Allah.”
“Whatever you differ over goes back to Allah and to Muhammad ﷺ.” Every dispute now had one place to go.
Medina, in the first years: Muslims, idol-worshippers and Jews in one city. A Companion described it.
The Prophet ﷺ wrote them a sheet. What did it say, and what did it change for the city?
A mixed city, one sheet, and the same rules a Companion kept in the sheath of his sword.
Tonight, read 3:186 once more, and decide how you will answer the next hurtful word: with patience, as Ka'b told it.