Human Rights in Islam - Qamar Islam Khan

Human dignity is manifest since the very moment of man’s creation. Allah created man in the best and most perfected form ever. Muslims believe that God is the sole Creator and Sustainer of humankind and the universe. He has given each human being dignity and honour and the human rights and privileges we enjoy are granted by Him. The rights granted by God are designed for everybody. Allah says:

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا

“We have certainly dignified the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created with definite preference.” (Surat Al-Isra 17:70)

Islam proclaims that God treats all human beings equally and true human rights can only be achieved by obedience to Him. Islamic moral principle calls upon Muslims to treat others the way they would like to be treated. Islam has great placed emphasis on the value of all life and has issued clear warnings against unjustified violence. Islam calls for Muslims and non-Muslims to cooperate in good deeds, justice, and mutual benefit for humanity. Allah says:

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۗ وَمَن قُتِلَ مَظْلُومًا فَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا لِوَلِيِّهِ سُلْطَانًا فَلَا يُسْرِف فِّي الْقَتْلِ

“Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except by right of justice. Whoever is killed unjustly, We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed the limits in taking life.” (Surat Al-Isra 17:33)

Islam has laid down universal and fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances. These basic rights are associated with Islamic faith and belief because they are divinely ordained. Thus, human rights in Islam are religious obligations, meaning that every Muslim must protect them and restore them if they are violated.

Here are some Human Rights from an Islamic Perspective:

Right to emphasizes the complete freedom of belief
Right to teaches to practice in our daily life
Right to brings civilization and happiness
Right to sanity and intellectual freedom
Right to hold a woman in high esteem
Right to brings trust in Almighty Allah
Right to chastity, dignity, and lineage
Right to social and legal equality
Right to “Religious” freedom
Right to brotherly treatment
Right to protection of trusts
Right to identity for a child
Equality of all humans
Right to personal responsibility
Right to protection of reputation
Right to life for the unborn child
Right to conscientious abstention
Right to participate in public affairs
Right to struggle for just social order
Right to leads a balanced way of living
Right to enjoin virtue and eradicate evil
Right to inheritance for both women and men
Right to refuse obedience to oppressive rulers
Right to a rejection of racism and ethnic discrimination

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ

“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Surat Al-Ma’idah 5:2)

The believer will not truly be a believer until he is pleased for people to have what he is pleased for himself. Human love is the natural love we experience for things we like that manifests itself as affection and attachment. We naturally have a love for our parents and family members and things we enjoy in life. We should have this kind of love and affection for fellow Muslims and it is a sign of Allah’s favour. Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا

“Verily, for those who have believed and done righteous deeds, the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.” (Surah Maryam 19:96)

The Islamic creed is founded upon the unity of the human race as a principle. The aim of the differences between humans, whether in sustenance, a source of income, age, colour or race is to construct this universe within the framework of coexistence, cooperation, and integration. Allah says:

Human Rights In An Islamic State:

Protection From Arbitrary Imprisonment
Freedom Of Conscience And Conviction
The Right To Protest Against Tyranny
Sanctity And Security Of Private Life
The Security Of Personal Freedom
The Protection Of Honor
Equality Before Law
Freedom Of Expression
Freedom Of Association
Rulers Not Above The Law
The Security Of Life And Property
Protection Of Religious Sentiments
The Right To Basic Necessities of Life
All power and authority belong to God
The Right To Participate In The Affairs Of State

Islam has a highly valued bay’ a and made it a means of keeping the discipline of the society through the law of the state based on the mutual pledges between the ruler and the ruled. Among the rights, Islam has conferred for human beings is the right to freedom. This freedom is as valued and preserved as is his own life. So, it preserved the freedom of the self and the freedom of expression. Allah says:

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ

“Verily, you do not guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills. He is most knowing of the rightly guided.” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:56)

Islam declares all people equal in terms of human values, and all individuals are equal before the Islamic code of law. Its judgments and legal penalties apply to all races and classes of people without any distinction, and without any person, group or nation acquiring immunity or privilege. Every human being is entitled to his integrity, honour, and reputation during his life and after his death. Allah says:

لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ

“You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred.” (Surah Al-Mujadila 58:22)

Islam condemns the abuse of power, position, and authority and commands people to assist an oppressed person even with the use of force when necessary. Every individual in an Islamic society, regardless of his faith or religious affiliation, position or social status, has certain immutable rights.

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:

“And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just.” (Quran, 49:9)
“When the wild beasts are herded together (in the HUMAN habitations).” (At-Takwir, 5)
“He who finds the right path does so for himself, and he who goes astray does so to his loss, and no one who carries a burden bears another’s load…” (Bani Israel 17:15)
“Saving a life it is as though he had saved the lives all mankind, whosoever kills a human being without any reason, it is as though he had killed all mankind.” (Quran, 5:32)
“And the believers, men, and women are protecting friends one of another, they enjoin the right and forbid wrong…” (Al-Tawbah 9:71)
“There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.” (Al-Baqarah: 256)
“Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.” (Al-Infitar: 7-8)
“And that you slay not your children because of penury. We provide for you and them…” (Al-An’am 6:151)
“So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter.” (Ala-Imran: 159)

Human rights had never been enforced at some time in human history, they would have remained no more than theoretical ideas in people’s minds. But Prophet Muhammad founded a civilization in which they were fully implemented, serving as an outstanding example for all future generations of mankind. Islam not only recognizes absolute equality between men irrespective of any distinction of colour, race or nationality but makes it an important and significant principle, a reality. Allah says:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِين

“And his signs are the creation of heavens and earth and the diversity of your tongues and colours. Surely, there are signs in this for all the worlds.” (Quran 30:22)

The Qur’an and the Sunnah declare all human beings as the progeny of Adam. Therefore, all humans, irrespective of their gender and colour, are declared essentially equal. It is an unfortunate reality of our time, however, that the governments of many so-called “Muslim” countries do not apply these principles but rather suppress public opinion and violate human rights. However, such tyranny is in no way representative of Islamic teachings.

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