Human Rights and Justice in Islam

Human Rights and Justice in Islam


Description: A glimpse at the foundations of human rights laid by Islam.
By islam-guide.com

Islam provides many human rights for the individual. The following are som=
e of these human rights that Islam protects.

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sa=
cred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, i=
n Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophe=
t Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said: "Truly yo=
ur blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable."[1]

Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran speaks of human equality in t=
he following terms:

"O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you =
into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of=
you with God is the most pious.[2] Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware."=
(Quran 49:13)

Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored because of their=
wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to be =
distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. =
The Prophet Muhammad said: "O people! Your God is one and your forefather =
(Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not=
better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not =
better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red pers=
on,[3] except in piety."[4]

One of the major problems facing mankind today is racism. The developed wor=
ld can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting =
his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad, Islam has pro=
vided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (H=
ajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations,=
when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to p=
erform the pilgrimage.

Islam is a religion of justice. God has said:

"Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, =
and when you judge between people, to judge with justice...." (Quran 4:58)

And He has said:

"...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just." (Quran 49:9)

We should even be just with those who we hate, as God has said:

"...And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that=
is nearer to piety...." (Quran 5:8)

The Prophet Muhammad said: "People, beware of injustice,[5] for injustice =
shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment."[6]

And those who have not gotten their rights (i.e. what they have a just clai=
m to) in this life will receive them on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet=
said: "On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they =
are due (and wrongs will be redressed)..."[7]


Footnotes:
[1] Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #1739, and Mosnad Ahmad, #2037.
[2] A pious person is a believer who abstains from all kinds of sins, perfo=
rms all good deeds that God commands us to do, and fears and loves God.
[3] The colors mentioned in this Prophetic saying are examples. The meanin=
g is that in Islam no one is better than another because of his color, whet=
her it is white, black, red, or any other color.
[4] Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #22978.
[5] i.e. oppressing others, acting unjustly, or doing wrong to others.
[6] Narrated in Mosnad Ahmad, #5798, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2447.
[7] Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2582, and Mosnad Ahmad, #7163.

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