سیرتِ نبوی ﷺ میں بین الاقوامی تعلقات کا تصور: سفارت کاری، معاہدات اور جنگ و امن کے اصولوں کا تقابلی مطالعہ

The Concept of International Relations in the Prophetic Seerah: A Comparative Study of Diplomacy, Treaties, and the Principles of War and Peace

Abstract

Abstract: The research paper titled "The Concept of International Relations in the Seerah of the Prophet (PBUH): A Comparative Study of Diplomacy, Treaties, and the Principles of War and Peace" challenges the prevailing Western notion that international law and diplomatic norms originate exclusively from the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia. It argues that Islam established a comprehensive, ethical, and equitable system of international relations fourteen centuries ago with the founding of the State of Madinah. A critical study of the Prophet's Seerah demonstrates that his diplomacy was rooted not in transient political gains, but in peace, universal justice, neutrality, and the fulfillment of covenants—brilliantly exemplified by the Constitution of Madinah, the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and diplomatic letters sent to global rulers.

The paper highlights the evolution of classical Islamic international law, known as Ilm al-Siyar, and acknowledges the pioneering contributions of Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani in codifying the laws of nations. A comparative evaluation reveals that while modern Western theories—such as Realism and Liberalism—often subordinate ethics to national interests, the Islamic framework derived from the Seerah is anchored in divine commands, the unconditional preservation of treaties (Pacta Sunt Servanda), and the sanctity of human rights. The primary objective of the Islamic state's foreign policy has consistently been peaceful dialogue, human welfare, and the protection of religious freedom rather than territorial expansion.

Ultimately, the study concludes that the diplomatic protocols, rules of diplomatic immunity, and codes of conduct during war and peace found in the Seerah are remarkably more advanced and comprehensive than modern conventions like the Geneva Accords. To address contemporary global conflicts, the paper recommends integrating "The Seerah and Diplomacy" into academic and diplomatic curricula in Muslim nations, promoting Islamic international law through global scholarly seminars, and applying the models of the Constitution of Madinah and Hudaybiyyah to resolve intra-state and international disputes peacefully.