Human Rights
In Islam
And Common Misconceptions
Human Rights(حقوق الإنسان)
OR
Abdul-Rahman Bin Abdulkarim Al-Sheha
Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 180 | Size: 1 MB
All Praise is due to Allah and may Allah
exalt the mention of His Prophet and render him and his household, his
Companions, and those who follow their way safe from every evil, and
grant them security on the Day of Resurrection. Every society must
ensure for its citizens the rights that guarantee for them their basic
needs and security, and enable them to feel a sense of belonging and
attachment to the larger social group. Individuals need to feel security
and a sense of belonging in order to perform their tasks and duties in a
satisfactory manner.
Presently, three distinct trends are
discernable in our global society. The first trend exaggerates the right
of the individual over the society. This trend gives the individual
full freedom to do as he pleases with minimal restrictions.
Unfortunately this leads to a chaotic social situation because when
unlimited freedom is granted to the individual, selfish desires
predominate and bring conflicting results. The entire society suffers
immensely from greed and selfishness. This trend is found in the liberal
democratic capitalist society.
The second trend, contrary to the above,
advocates the rights of the society over the individual. The latter is
stripped of his individual rights. Only rights that serve the ruling
regime are granted to the individuals, according to the dominant
ideology of the ruling class or group. This trend is prevalent in
communist and totalitarian societies.
The third trend, ideally neither
emphasizes the right of the society over the individual, nor the right
of the individual over the society. Each is given its due right in life
according to the given system. Rights and obligations are governed and
controlled by strict rules and conditions. In this trend, the public
interest is given priority over the interest of an individual only in
case of a serious conflict.
In this booklet we shall address human
rights in the light of perfectly balanced system of laws and principles
of Islam. These rights are based on revelations from the Divine Book of
Muslims, the Glorious Qur’an and from the Sunnah, the practice of
Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) the two main sources of Islamic life and
jurisprudence. Both the Glorious Qur’an and the Sunnah aim to produce an
ideal individual in an ideal society: all interact with each other to
produce the harmony of the individuals with Allah their Lord and
Creator, with themselves, others, the society in general, and other
societies all over the globe.
We firmly believe that the application of
the individual and social principles of the third trend, when guided by
the perfect revealed law from Allah in the Qur’an and Sunnah, will
definitely make humanity happier and more prosperous. The application of
these principles will enable the society to achieve peace and security.
These social rights and principles are not a result of previous
experiences, social ideologies, temporary and immediate needs and/or
political drives and motives: rather they are from the Beneficent and
the Omniscient for man’s progress to happiness in this life and
salvation in the Hereafter.
Our firm belief in the truth and justice
of the Islamic rights and principles is due to the fact that Allah, the
Most Merciful and only Creator of man, reveals them. He knows well what
suits His creation at all times, what benefits or harms man, what makes
him happy or sad, what makes him successful or miserable. By His
knowledge and beneficence He has legislated what suits best and fulfills
the essential needs of all His creatures on earth and makes their lives
successful, secure and joyful.
The Glorious Qur’an, which was revealed
and sent down unto Muhammad (PBUH) is the everlasting miracle that
contains the basics of these essential rules. The Sunnah, the practices
of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) which is the second source of Islamic law,
contains the detailed revealed guidance. These rules and principles were
set forth by Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) some fourteen hundred years ago
in the best form and manner and will remain relevant forever. Both, the
Glorious Qur’an and Sunnah (practices of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)) honor
man and his individual rights in the society. These sources of Islamic
law did not overlook the needs and rights of the society and the public
interest. In fact, The Almighty Allah states in the Glorious Qur’an:
وَلَقَدۡ
كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ
وَرَزَقۡنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَـٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ ڪَثِيرٍ۬
مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيل
{We have
honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea;
given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them
special favors, above a great part of Our Creation.} (The Noble Qur’an 17:70)
Man will only gain this honor and privileges when he fulfills his obligations and renders the rights due to their owners.
In order to execute the role of the
special place on earth, there is a need for specific tasks to be
performed by specific individuals. This concept is illustrated by the
Almighty Allah in the Glorious Qur’an:
فَلَمَّا
نَسُواْ مَا ذُڪِّرُواْ بِهِۦۤ أَنجَيۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَنۡہَوۡنَ عَنِ
ٱلسُّوٓءِ وَأَخَذۡنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ بِعَذَابِۭ بَـِٔيسِۭ بِمَا
كَانُواْ يَفۡسُقُونَ
{So when
they forgot the remindings that had been given to them, We rescued those
who forbade evil, but We seized those who did wrong with a severe
torment because they used to rebel against Allah’s command (disobey
Allâh).} (The Noble Qur’an 7:165)
Some nations and international
organizations, like the United Nations, call loudly to principles that
seek to guarantee human rights. Islam established, within its
enlightened Shari’ah (law and jurisprudence) many of these human rights
some fourteen centuries ago. The rights enumerated by modern
international organizations are characterized with deficiencies in
conceptualization, flaws in formulation, and injustices in application.
They are subject to political agendas, economic pressures and culturally
biased viewpoints. They carry the residues of colonialism and
imperialism. Such rights are often enumerated and established not for
the interests of all humans, rather, to the benefit of certain
governments, organizations and powerful special interest groups. This
becomes more evident when, as we see all over the world, many of our
fellow humans suffering from the worst atrocities, and yet, there is no
organization to truly defend the poor and the weak. Glaring inequalities
and abuses between nations and within nations are growing worse and
worse even before our eyes, and the prescriptions for aid and
development mire them deeper into misery as if they were meant to
perpetuate their misery and servitude.
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