Human Rights in Islam

Throughout history, the purpose of human rights has been to ensure human dignity irrespective of race, religion, caste, colour and creed. Codes of conduct and charters/articles have been written and established to ensure this basic principle. However, what people fail to realise is that A—h established these very principles through the Quran over 1400 years ago.

A—h mentions in the Holy Quran: http://quran.com/16/90

“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.”

Surah Nahl (16:90)

So this ayah clearly indicates that it is a command to act justly to people and treat them equally. A—h has also forbid oppression and this is emphasised even more greatly to people who have been given a position of power.

Alongside being entitled to rights we must make it our duty to uphold the rights of others. One cannot have rights without duty or duty without right. The function of the law is to control illegal activities and safeguard the rights of others. 

Prophet (SAW) worked all day and night for the preservation of human rights. After the migration to Madinah, he (SAW) introduced a charter which guaranteed full protection to everyone regardless of religion.

The right to life is also emphasised and protected in Islam, as shown clearly in the following ayah: http://quran.com/6/151

“And do not kill the soul which A—h has made forbidden for you to kill (except by legal right)”

Surah Anfaal (6:151)

It has also been mentioned that whoever kills another then it will be as though he has killed the whole of humanity and if a person saves another then it is as though he has saved the whole of humanity. Islam gives these rights to each and every human being regardless of religion or nationality.

Bearing in mind that upholding the rights of others(Huqooq al Ibaad) is a command from A—h (Huqooq A—h) and so by acting upon this you’re actually getting reward and gaining the Almighty’s pleasure.

This is clear from a Hadith in which Prophet (SAW) mentions:

“A—h will say ‘Oh children of Adam (AS), I asked you for food but you did not feed Me’.

Man will reply ‘Oh A—h, how could I feed you when you are the sustainer of all men?’

A—h will reply ‘Such and such of my servants asked you for food but you didn’t give it to him. Do you not know that if you had given him food then you would have found food here with me?’

And again, A—h will ask, ‘Oh children of Adam (AS), I asked you for water but you did not give it to Me’.

Man will reply ‘Oh A—h how could I give you water when you are the Lord of the Worlds’.

A—h will then say ‘Such and such asked you for water but you didn’t give it to him. If you had given it to him then you would have found water here with me’

When Hadhrat Abu Bakr (RA) was made the Khalifah he said:

“The weak shall be strong in my eyes until I restore to them their rights and the strong shall be weak in my eyes until I have restored the rights of the weak from them”.

The criteria for rights should be universal and impartial with respect to colour, caste and creed. The Muslim state was run by caliphs who were not monarchs trying to only satisfy themselves. Rather, these Caliphs were just rulers and followed the Shariah strictly.

Once when Hadhrat Ali (RA) was the Caliph, he lost his amour which was later found by a Jew. The Caliph Hadhrat Ali (RA) bought his son (Hadhrat Hasan (RA)) as a witness but the judge rejected this support because he was a relative. This kind of judicial system impressed the Jew and at once he owned up and thereafter embraced Islam.

As Muslims, we are directed to act justly with everyone, Muslim, Non-Muslim, relatives, orphans and the poor.

In the Quran, A—h mentions: http://quran.com/4/36

“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the neighbour farther away, the companion at your side, the traveller, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

Surah Nis’aa (4:36)

So good Aqhlaaq (manners) are for everyone to act upon and displayed to everyone. We often complain that other people don’t show us good manners but we fail to show them etiquettes in the first place. As Muslims living in the West, it is our duty to prove the media wrong and show the world that Islam teaches nothing but Khair (goodness) towards others. No other religion has ever made good manners an act of worship to the extent that we have etiquette of war; No child, woman or old person must be harmed, no trees or any type of plant should be destroyed and amongs others no body must be mutilated.

Hadhrat Umar (RA) has said that a person’s true character is displayed when you travel with them or when doing business with them. So be aware of this next time you are travelling with people and be aware of your own actions during this time!!

In another ayah, A—h says: http://quran.com/25/63

“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.”

Surah Furqaan (25:63)

The six rights of a Muslim:

1.      When you meet him, greet him with Salaam – It is Wajib to reply to a person’s Salaam.

2.      When he invites you, respond to his invitation.

3.      When he seeks advice from you, give the person correct and sound advice – Do not rebuke a person who has done wrong, they don’t need to be told that their abode is HELL!! Rather speak gently about how Merciful A— h is and that He welcomes those who return to Him with open arms.

4.      When she sneezes and praises A—h, to reply by supplication for her Mercy.

5.      If she becomes ill, to visit her.

6.      If a person passes away, to attend their funeral – Remember that by praying for a deceased person, A—h will create a person for you who will pray for you after you pass away.

May the Almighty grant us all the ability to act upon what we have learnt.

Help us to not only fulfill the Rights of our Creator but also of the Creation in a way that we get reward for doing so.

May He make our intentions pure and sincere for all our actions and grant us all the highest places in Paradise..
Ameen..