Human Rights in Islam and the West

INTRODUCTION

The concept of human rights is as mature as human history itself

but the first bold and practical step was made by Islam in 7th Century AD
(10th AH). According to Islamic scholars the fundamental human rights are
given by Islam from fourteen hundred years ago in 10 AH/632 AD with the
deliverance of the Last sermon of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). Now a day, it has
become a most significant issue of the modern history especially in the Islamic
and the Western perspectives.

DEFINITION

According to the Oxford English Dictionary: Usually human

right is a right which is believed to belong to every person.

In Encyclopedia of Britannica the Human rights are define as:

Rights that belong to an individual or group of individuals as a consequence of
being human:

The western concept of Human Rights

Western scholars claim that the foundation of human rights stems from the ‘magna cart’ of
Britain, but they don’t realize that magna carta came into existence 600 years after the advent of
Islam.

The Islamic concept of Human Rights

This is an old concept, as old as Islam itself and is known as ‘huqooq-ul-ibad’. These rights
were given to muslims 1400 years ago, during the last sermon of the Holy Prophet.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE LIGHT OF KHUTBA HUJJAT-UL-WIDA- Wording of

Last Sermon.
 As the last prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said: There is no
superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab. There is no superiority for a non-Arab
over an Arab. There is no superiority for a red (race) person over a white
person. Likewise, there is no superiority of a white over a red (race) person,
except for the piety and God consciousness.

Human Rights in Islam

The basic universal human rights given by Quran and Sunnah include the
following:

when we speak of human rights in Islam

we really
mean that these rights have been granted
by God
when we speak of human rights in Islam
we really
mean that these rights have been granted
by God
when we speak of human rights in Islam
we really
mean that these rights have been granted
by God
when we speak of human rights in Islam
we really
mean that these rights have been granted
by God
when we speak of human rights in Islam
we really
mean that these rights have been granted
by God
I. Islam declares a complete equality among all mankind, regardless of one's faith,
skin color, language, gender or ethnic background.
II. The right of freedom and choice, on top of which is the freedom of belief. “There shall be no
compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.”
(Al-Baqarah: 256)

III. Prohibition of slavery and acknowledging freedom as an inherent right.

IV. The right to life. It is a Divine gift that cannot be given but by Allah (SWT).
V. The right of freedom .Omar Ibnul-Khattab is reported to have said his famous word to
AmrIbnul-‘As, “How would you enslave people, when their mothers have given birth to them
as free human beings.”
VI.  Islam has ensured freedom of speech, which means that every human being enjoys his
complete freedom to utter the truth and offer an advice for every Muslim brother.
VII. Right to Equal Justice because all humans are equal, they are equal in the eyes of
the law. Allah said in the Quran: “And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are
just” (Quran, 49:9).
VIII. Rights to Privacy is a basic right of every citizen that his private life should be
respected.
IX. Islamic state has the responsibility to guarantee protection of the
places of worship of its non-Muslim citizens.
X. Right to rejection of racism and ethnic discrimination.

Conclusion
As the journey of development and improvement of humanity is
caring on in a very fast way. But the status of Human Rights is going to fall
with passage of time also very fast. If we want true performance of human
rights for peaceful and humble society then we may obey the divine rules of the
Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) in every sphere of life.