The Protection of Human's Right in Islam

The protection of human life is a fundamental objective and principle of Islamic teachings. The dignity that Allah bestowed upon humankind at the time of creation was the blessing of a sacred inviolability that manifests itself as the rights to life, freedom, and property. The right to life has been recognized as the first and most important universal right derived from Sharia and classical Islamic law. All people have equal rights to conduct business and economic activity according to their choice. They can work in any profession they like. 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)

At the core of Islam is the focus of an individual’s personal relationship with God, their Creator. It encourages a believer to have sustained awareness of God which is a key to lasting happiness. Islam teaches that God is the source of peace. By focusing on this important relationship and following God’s guidance, believers will be able to acquire inner peace and tranquillity. 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 has great placed emphasis on the value of all life and has issued clear warnings against unjustified violence. Every person has the right to enjoy respect and honour in society. It is not allowed to defame a person through the wrong accusation. Islamic teachings can be made part of life only through a process of learning by each and every member of the community. It is the fundamental right of a Muslim to have facilities and adequate opportunities for learning and acquiring knowledge.

Here are some fundamental Human Rights In Islam:

Islam provides the right to equality is a practical reality
Islam’s teaching shows that all innocent life is sacred
Islam emphasizes the complete freedom of belief
Islam is a paradigm shift towards human rights
Islam teaches us to practice in our daily life
Islam leads to a balanced way of living
Islam brings civilization and happiness
Islam emphasizes the right to privacy
Islam holds a woman in high esteem
Islam holds a sanctity of human life
Islam brings trust in Almighty Allah
Islam leads an honour and dignity
Islam gives social responsibility
Islam has freedom of religion
Right to life for the unborn child
Right to personal responsibility
Right to protection of reputation
Right to conscientious abstention
Right to participate in public affairs
Right to struggle for just social order
Right to chastity, dignity, and lineage
Right to sanity and intellectual freedom
Right to enjoin virtue and eradicate evil
Right to inheritance for both women and men
Right to refuse obedience to oppressive rulers

This life is an ultimate testing ground and although we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can control how we react. Islam encourages a person to focus on what is in their control, to be grateful to God for blessings, and to be patient during hardships. 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 guarantees the right to life for every human being, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. Every human life is sacred in Islam and every person has been granted God-given fundamental and universal rights at the time of their birth. 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)

Islam gives a person a clear perspective on the events that happen in their life, both good and bad, as they are, in fact, tests from God. It encourages a person to understand events in the context of the overall purpose of life, which is to acknowledge God and obey Him. He created humans with intellect and free will to test them as to who will wilfully choose to follow His guidance.

The Holy Quran describes sanctity attached to human life in a quite different manner:

“God does not like that evil be spread.” (Quran 4:148)
“O, my Lord! Advance me in knowledge.” (Quran 20: 114)
“Woe to every scandalmonger and backbiter.” (Quran 104:1)
“There is no compulsion in the matter of religion.” (Quran 2:256)
“That those who have no knowledge are not equal to those who have.” (Quran 39: 9)
“That ‘whosoever has been knowledge indeed has been given an abundant good.” (Quran 2: 269)
“O, believers! Avoid suspecting each other: In some cases, the suspicion is an offence, and do not spy on or speak ill of each other in the absence.” (Quran 49:11)
“Whoever kills a human being without (any reason like) murder, or corruption on earth, it is as though he had killed all mankind.” (Quran 5:32)
“O, believers! Do not betray the trust of God and Prophet, and do not intentionally appropriate, property entrusted to you.” (Quran 8:27)
“The law of retaliation is meant to save a life; so that the wise dread homicide in the future.” (Quran 2:179)

Islamic teachings, all living things are partners to humans in life and each species deserves respect. To kill just one innocent human is like killing the whole of humanity, and to save just one human amounts to saving the whole of humanity. Islam seeks to strengthen the family because outside it, there is no real protection for children, especially in their early stages of growth when the attention and care given to them by their parents are of crucial significance. 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 requires that Muslims possess upright character and deal justly with the entire human race. Everyone has the right to move from one place to another within the territorial limits of a country without unnecessary restrictions imposed by the state authorities beyond the scope of law and rules. Allah says:

وَأَحِبَّ لِلنَّاسِ مَا تُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِكَ تَكُنْ مُؤْمِنًا وَأَحْسِنْ جِوَارَ مَنْ جَاوَرَكَ تَكُنْ مُسْلِمًا

“Love for the people what you love for yourself and you will be a believer. Behave well with your neighbours and you will be a Muslim.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah 4217)

Everyone is equal before the law. All citizens must be treated equally in law, rich or poor a person of high status or an ordinary person. Not only do human beings have the right not to be harmed, but they also have the right to be safeguarded from harm, physical or otherwise. One of the fundamental rights established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam.