Human rights in Islam

in the name of god, most gracious, most merciful

The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

THE MOST PERFECT IN FAITH AMONGST BELIEVERS IS HE WHO IS BEST IN MANNER AND KINDEST TO HIS WIFE

equality of women

As creations of God, women are accorded spiritual equality with men. They area rewarded for prayer and charitable acts, and likewise held accountable for their actions, good or bad, while on earth.
The Glorious Qur'an says:

" If any do deeds of righteousness, - be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them." (Qur'an 4:124)

Both men and women have responsibilities towards their families and societies as is clear from the following verse:

"The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise." (Qur'an 9:71)

Under the laws of Islam, women have the right to own property and businesses, engage in financial transactions, vote, receive inheritance, obtain an education and participate in legal and political affairs. The fact that Muslim societies do not always accord women all these rights is an example of how human beings can fall short of fully implementing the Divine Will.

divinely mandated

The distinguishing feature of human rights in Islam is that these rights are the natural outcome of a broader practice of faith, deeds and social behavior that Muslims believe are divinely mandated.
The Glorious Qur'an says:

"Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition." (Qur'an, 16:90-91)

Human rights can be seen as stemming from two fundamental principles; dignity and equality.
Dignity is a fundamental right of every human being merely by virtue of his or her humanity. The Glorious Qur'an says:

"Verily we have honored the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment." (Qur'an 17:70)

Regarding equality, the Qur'anic verse is explicit:

"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you." (Qur'an 49:13)

Thus, what distinguishes one human being from another, in the Sight of God, is the person's piety and God-consciousness.

The proliferation of humanity into many races and ethnicities is a testament to God's Majesty and Wisdom. Physical and racial differences among human beings do not imply inequality. However, racial superiority and discrimination is prohibited in Islam and contradicts its essence.
This concept is exemplified in the following prophetic tradition:

"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab. Nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay."

What others said about Islam:

The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one if the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue.
A.J. Toynbee, "Civilization on Trial"
New York, 1948, p. 205.

the right to life and safety

The most basic right of a human being is the right to live. The Glorious Qur'an recognizes this right in the following verses:

"Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause..." (Qur'an, 17:33)

"Whosoever kills a human being without due reason - not in retaliation for murder or corruption on earth- it is as though he had killed all of mankind." (Qur'an, 5:32)

Islam's position on life is that it is a sacred trust from God. No human being is permitted to take the life of another, unless it is for justice administered by a competent court following due process of law.

Not only do human beings have the right not to be harmed, they have the right to be safeguarded from harm - physical or otherwise. So under Islamic law, people are legally liable for instance, if they did not prevent a blind man from dying of a perilous fall, if they were in a position to do so.

Even in a state of war, Islam enjoins that one deals with the enemy nobly on the battlefield. Islam has drawn a clear line of distinction between the combatants and the non-combatants of the enemy country. As far as the non-combatant population is concerned such as women, children, the old and the infirm, etc., the instructions of the Prophet are as follows:

"Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman"

"Do not kill the monks in monasteries"

During a war, the Prophet saw the corpse of a woman lying on the ground and observed: "She was not fighting. How then she came to be killed?" Thus non-combatants are guaranteed security of life even if their state is at war with an Islamic state.

freedom of beliefs

Contrary to popular misconceptions, a genuine Islamic state is obligated to not only permit but respect diversity. Thus non-Muslims in an Islamic state are allowed to worship in accordance with their religion.

When Spain was under Muslims rule, the city of Cordova, was considered the 'intellectual center of Europe', where students went to study philosophy, science and medicine under Muslim, Jewish, and Christian scholars.

This rich and sophisticated society took a tolerant view towards other faiths. Tolerance was unheard of in the rest of Europe. But in Muslim Spain, thousands of Jews and Christians lived in peace and harmony with their Muslims overlords." (Burke, 1985, p.38)

islam is not a religion of extremism

"...Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind..." Qur'an 5:32

"Islamic terrorists!" "Muslim fundamentalists!" "Extremists!" "Radical Islamists!" These are just some labels that have been wrongly applied to Muslims and certain Muslim groups in recent years.

The media's portrayal of Islam often misleads those whose knowledge of the religion is limited, into making negative assumptions about this very peaceful and tolerant way of life.

Barack Obama, The US President said at Cairo University in 2009:

"America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."

"Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism - it is an important part of promoting peace."

In an article published by PEW Research center on Sept 13, 2010:

"Most Americans say they do not know much about the religion of Islam. A majority admits to knowing very little (30%) or nothing at all (25%) about the Muslims religion. Just a little more than a third (35%) know "some" about the religion, and only 9% say they know a great deal."

Is it then, any wonder that most people associate Islam with terrorism?

The prevalence of media bias and ignorance regarding Islam can be countered by understanding Islam through its proper teachings. That means referring to the Qur'an and the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Through the proper understanding of these teachings, one will discover Islam to be completely against any form of extremism.

As we read in verse 2:190, Allah commands Muslims not to go to extremes by saying,

"Do not transgress the limits."