Human Rights—Justice, Respect, And Fraternity, Are Fundamental to Islam But Why Do Muslims Fail to Uphold Them?
By
Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam
16 January
2024
Human Rights
Are Fundamental To Islam, But The Issue Lies In Why Muslim Nations Fail To
Uphold Them. The Failure Of The Muslim Community To Advance Human Rights Is
Equally The Fault Of All Muslims, Not Just Preachers, Ulema, Imams, Or Modern Muslim
Intellectuals.
Main
Points:
1. Islam
upholds justice, peace, and safety, implementing strict measures to prevent
oppression and prevent individuals from falling into its depths.
2. Mercy is a
divine gift from Allah, and treating Earth's inhabitants with kindness will
result in His mercy.
3. Allah does
not grant mercy to a person who does not show mercy to others.
4. The
Prophet's hadiths, along with Qur'anic verses, offer profound lessons against
injustice and persecution, urging individuals to refrain from engaging in such
practices.
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The fact
that human rights are essential to Islam is not the problem. Everyone is aware
of that. The question is why any Muslim nation does not uphold human rights.
Muslims disregard human rights, even on an individual basis. It is possible
that they are unaware of what human rights are. In this regard, who are the
worst offenders? Is it the preachers, Ulema, imams, or modern Muslim
intellectuals? I don't hold any particular Muslim group only accountable
because the failure of the Muslim community to progress human rights is equally
the fault of all Muslims.
It also
comes up why governments, clergy, people, and societies, have failed to
practice Islamic guidelines on human rights, values and principles. Of course,
there are honourable outliers in every class—possibly with the exception of
governments—but that is unimportant. Although some Muslims proudly claim that
Islam is the source of the greatest human rights paradigm, some of us regularly
abuse these rights in the course of their daily life. This indicates that
although Muslims are required by Islam to uphold human rights and principles,
they do not do so. We need to think about these things, educate our Muslim
brothers about human rights, and encourage them to practise them.
Islam
places a strong emphasis on the fundamental human values of love, respect,
fraternity, and tolerance. It links these values to social, religious,
political, and economic interactions, establishing precise rules and
regulations for the well-being and happiness of mankind. Islamic belief holds
that everyone has a responsibility to treat everyone with kindness, compassion,
love, affection, and support while they are suffering, as Allah Almighty states
in the Holy Qur'an:
“And
cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and
aggression.” (5:2)
“so,
fear Allah and maintain friendship among yourselves…” (8:1)
“Indeed,
Allah decrees the commands of justice and kindness, and of giving to relatives,
and forbids from the shameful and evil and rebellion; He advises you so that
you may pay heed.”
(16:90)
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said,
“Those who
extend mercy receive mercy from the Most Merciful (Allah). The Lord of Heaven
will treat you with mercy if you treat the inhabitants of Earth with mercy.”
(Sunan Tirmidhi)
"He is
not one of us who does not respect our elders and extend kindness to our
younger ones." (Ahmad Musnad)
"Allah
does not provide mercy to a person who does not show mercy to people."
(Sahih Bukhari; Kitab al-Tawheed)
"All
creations are the family of Allah, and the one who best serves his family is
the most beloved creation to Allah." (Tabarani, Mu’jam Kabeer)
Islam
forbids injustice and suffering for any creature that exists, and it encourages
safety and peace. Islam necessarily takes strict steps to stop oppression and
keep individuals from slipping into the depths of oppression. The Almighty
Allah condemns the oppressors and says:
“And had
Allah willed, He could have made them all upon one religion, but He admits
whomever He wills into His mercy, and the unjust do not have any friend nor any
supporter.” (42:8)
“neither
you cause harm to someone, nor you be harmed.” (2:279)
The Holy
Qur'an places such a high value on human life that killing a person is
considered a crime equivalent to the annihilation of all of humanity. This
alone should give you an idea of how serious sin cruelty is. This sin is
regarded as the Major sin in Islam. The Almighty Allah says:
“Because
of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul
unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had
slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved
mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear
proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were
transgressors.”
(5:32)
This brings
us to the important question: Given that Allah Almighty is the Creator, Owner,
and Ruler and that He detests oppression and does not tolerate it, how can
governments, rulers, and other human leaders justify mistreating people?
Along with
the Qur'anic verses, the Prophet's hadiths are replete with illuminating and
thought-provoking lessons against injustice and persecution. People are
strongly discouraged from participating in oppression or transgression by these
lessons.
The Prophet
(Peace be upon him) is reported to have said, "Oppression will be a
darkness on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number
627)
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said, "Be afraid, from the
curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and
Allah." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 628)
The Prophet
(peace be upon him), "Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his
reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of
Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but
if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his
oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the
oppressed person will be loaded on him." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43,
Number 629)
Hazrat
'Aisha, the Mother of Believers, narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said, "The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most quarrelsome
person." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 637)
On the
authority of Abu Dharr al-Ghifaree (may Allah be pleased with him) from the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from his Lord, that He said:
“O, My
servants! I have forbidden dhulm (oppression) for Myself, and I have made it
forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another…” [Collections of Forty »
Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi » Hadith 24]
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) is reported to have said,
“Help your
brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one”. People asked,
“O Allah’s Messenger! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how
should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him)
said, “By preventing him from oppressing others”. (Bukhari, Hadith 2444)
Islam also
urges Muslims to emulate the Prophet (peace be upon him), who was well known
for his compassion and generosity. To do this, Muslims must give up all
behaviours that damage Islam's reputation, such as extremism and violence, and
embrace moderation and tolerance as a way of life.
The
Almighty Allah says, “There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among
yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and
to the believers is kind and merciful”. (9:128)
There is
truly nothing better than following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) and preventing oppression, violence, extremism, and
accepting the ideas of justice and moderation because these are the routes to
safety and righteousness.
Shirk and Kufr are serious faults
in Islam, but those who commit them are not deprived of human rights, decent
treatment, or compassion in this life. They are eligible for special benefits,
such as financial assistance for the impoverished and needy. It is recommended
that everyone show the same kindness to everyone, regardless of religion,
caste, culture and race.
Islam
forbids Muslims from harming or harbouring animosity against others under their
care, either verbally or physically. Islam considers it essential to defend its
inhabitants from injustice occurring within its borders. In the Hereafter,
Allah Almighty either permits oppressors to undergo double punishment or exacts
revenge upon them in this life. He does not love or guide oppressors.
Many verses
in the Quran and Hadiths emphasise how destructive, offensive, and prohibited
oppression is in all of its forms. A multitude of Ahadith expressly forbids
abuse or persecution of any non-Muslim who is under Muslim protection or who
has a peace accord in place.
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said, "On the Day of Judgement, I am that person's
enemy, who wrongs someone with whom the Muslims have a treaty, denies them
their rights, and burdens them beyond what they can bear, or takes something
from them against their will."
The Prophet
(peace be upon him) also said about the dhimmis (the non-Muslim citizens of the
Muslim State): "One who kills a man under covenant (i.e. a dhimmi) will
not even smell the fragrance of Paradise" (Bukhari and Abu Dawud).
In summary,
Islam has treated all people equally, regardless of their religion, and has
upheld their human rights without showing any bias or discrimination. They have
all been deemed honourable, and just like Muslims, they now enjoy the same
rights concerning equality in social, political, and private spheres. While
keeping these human rights and values, we must consider why Muslims disobey
them. We also need to come up with strategies for educating Muslims about these
ideas so that they will adhere to them.
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Kaniz
Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-human-rights/human-rights-justice-fraternity-muslims/d/131527