Human Rights

After the great world wars in which human beings witnessed the unspeakable horrors that they were capable of unleashing upon each other, humanity began to fear itself. It was at this time that the great declarations and conventions on human rights were drafted and adopted.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is indeed a noble and historic document that enshrines the principle of human dignity and the preservation of inalienable human rights. There are Muslims who speak about it in distrustful and fearful terms, simply because it has its origins in the West and because it discusses a few principles that some Muslims may not readily agree with. For this reason, there are those who regard it as a collection of confused statements that the Muslims can dispense with. This is a point of view that Muslims need to seriously reconsider.

Many of the rights that the Declaration refers to are principles that were part and parcel of Muslim culture – and that Western civilization could very well have learned from the Muslims – at the time when Islamic civilization was ascendant. It behooves the Muslims today to be at the forefront of those who work to uphold human rights. The Muslims should be the furthest people from the evils and maladies of our present age, with all its wars, bloodshed, oppression, and tyranny.

Every positive development that humanity experiences is an opportunity for constructive activity, for positive change, and for calling people to Islam. Every alliance, conference, and treaty is a messenger of goodwill and of renewal.

Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said about an alliance for the upholding of rights that existed in Mecca during pre-Islamic times: “I had witnessed an alliance being convened in the home of `Abd Allah b. Jud`ân that if the likes of it were to occur in Islam, I would enter into it. Seek such alliances and restore even the simplest rights to the people. No oppressor should have power over the oppressed.” [al-Bayhaqî]

This alliance was a source of goodness that brought general benefit to the people, and was thereby something that Allah loved. There is nothing more destructive in life than disregard for life’s mandates, the oppression of human beings, and wanton bloodshed. These are the very evils that made the angels dread Allah’s creation of the human being.

We read in the Qur’ân: “Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ They said: ‘Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- while we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?’ He said: ‘I know what you know not’.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 30]

There are universal values that people share, regardless of their religious persuasions. All rational people agree on the value of preserving human dignity. This remains a coveted spiritual and moral ideal, even in times when its practical realization in the world is sorely wanting.

Human rights are not merely some document to be read or words to be heard and written down. They must be a cultural reality that all people put into practice in their lives. It grieves me that we as Muslims, who can so readily criticize the West whenever they are guilty of a human rights violation, perpetrate the very same violations against people in our own lands.

Allah says: “And do not kill yourselves. Indeed Allah is merciful towards you.” [Sûrah al-Nisâ’: 29]

Allah upholds our dignity and commands that we do not violate it with our own hands. I sadly feel that we like to hear sweet talk about rights while perpetrating mistreatment and abuse to all sorts of people.

It is high time that we translated the principles of human rights is into a clear program, both in Islamic work and in Law, by which we can guarantee the rights of the people living in Muslim lands and hold up our conduct as a positive example for the rest of the world.

In the Gulf States and elsewhere, we need to protect the rights of expatriate workers whose sponsors abuse them and delay paying them the full compensation that is their due. We need to uphold the rights of the poor and weak. We need to protect the rights of women, about whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “I swear by Allah. I strongly affirm the rights of two groups who are weak: orphans and women.” [Sunan Ibn Mâjah – and authenticated by Ibn Hibbân and al-Hâkim]

Allah shows us the importance of freedom of thought, the right to hold to one’s own opinion and to express one’s culture when He says: “And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, save with such of them as commit oppression; and say: “We believe in that which has been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.” [Sûrah al-`Ankabût: 46]

Allah speaks specifically about the rights of non-Muslims when He says: “Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who do not fight you because of your faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for indeed Allah loves those who are just.” [Sûrah al-Mumtahanah: 8]

If human rights violations in the Muslim world have been encouraged by certain right-wing extremists in the West, those violations have also been aggravated by the practical and ideological failure in the Arab world to defend human rights.

If we are not going to become wholly distracted by laying the blame on Western organizations and international breaches of human rights, we must work to correct ourselves, our culture, and our practices with respect to those human rights that we all recognize and uphold.

Islam has given us the practical teachings to assist us in upholding human rights. We have to monitor our own conduct in the Muslim world. This comes as part of our Islamic duty of enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong. Allah says: “The believers, men and women, are protectors of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong; they establish prater, pay the Zakâh, and obey Allah and His Messenger. To these people Allah will show mercy. Indeed Allah is mighty and wise.” [Sûrah al-Tawbah: 71]

The purpose of Islamic Law is to protect society. Its job is not to prevent the occurrence of certain sins and misdeeds. That is an impossible goal. Its job is rather to minimize evil in society and minimize its harm. One of the most important aspects of the task of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong is that of ensuring that people’s rights are upheld, good works are carried through, and injustice prevented.

The agencies in society who are responsible for carrying out this noble task must defend the rights of the people. As a result, they will be loves by the people.

The Muslim world needs to draw up charters which can be referred to, which outline the rights of the people, proclaim those rights, and uphold them. The people will be able to sense how important and serious their human rights are. Likewise, there need to be organizations established to carry out this work alongside the human rights organizations that already exist, and which are certainly doing their job, but are still far too few compared to what is needed to solve the world’s problems.

We need rights organizations to do for human rights what Islamic workers engaged in enjoining right and forbidding wrong are doing for Islamic mores. We need commissions that oversee and monitor how human rights are honored in society. Such organizations can instill in the people the value of human rights in a wholesome and ethical way.

Not only must a culture of human rights be cultivated through sermons and speeches, the matter needs to be added to our school curriculums. Educators and students need to be trained in knowing their rights as well as their responsibilities towards others. In this way, a proper understanding of these crucial issues can be disseminated throughout society and blossom into the reform that our societies need.

Allah says: “In truth your Lord destroyed not the townships tyrannously while their people were doing right.” [Sûrah Hûd: 117]