HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM

CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Human Rights are those conditions of social life, by the providence of which one can achieve the happiness and contentment. If we live in a society, being the part of it, we want to live free but keeping in view that we are in chains and these chains are the limitations or boundaries on our freedom. In the same vein freedom in society is not absolute, as absoluteness ultimately leads towards dictatorship. One s freedom ends before the liberty of others.

C ONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Rights are like the planets orbiting the sun. Same is the case of society in which everyone is having sphere of one s rights and it should not contradict the other s.
Basic norms of society Rights of an individual Rights of other individual

R IGHTS

AND SOCIETY

Society, of which, we all are part of, is like a fabric. Men and Women are two main kinds of threads, by which this fabric is woven. Now, threads are not to decide their order in the fabric but the machine or the person working on it will decide. This can be the only way to reach the fine cloth. If fabric itself is left to decide its order than the cloth will be rough. In the case of Human Rights or its kind Women Rights, it should not be the case that members of society are deciding their order or the fraction of society is deciding the rights of others.

W HO WILL DECIDE RIGHTS ?

So, the view of above logic, it should be the jurisdiction of someone superior to human to decide the rights. That is in the shape of divine religion Islam. Islam starts from Adam (AS) and concludes upon Holy Prophet Muhammad (SWT). As Allah (SWT) says that:


And Verily, the Religion near Allah (SWT) is Islam

Islam and all other divine religions make the sovereignty in the hands of Almighty Allah (SWT). Same is the idea of Rule of Law that the commands of law should be deemed as superior and no human should challenge them. So, it will be power of Allah to decide the rights.

C ONTINUE
All prophets were under the laws being revealed upon them and no-one made himself above the religion or law being revealed upon him. So, the concept of grant of rights to every human is as old as is the history of human beings.

E QUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND

7

WOMEN


Islam considers a woman to be equal to a man as a human being and as his partner in this life. Women have been created with a soul of the same nature as man s. Allah (SWT) says in the Quran: "O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever and All-Watcher over you." (Al-Nisa 4:1)

In Islamic law a woman is an independent, unique individual in her own right. She has the same responsibilities towards herself, towards Allah (SWT) and towards other human beings as the male, and will be punished or rewarded in the Hereafter without discrimination towards her female gender.

K INDS

OF WOMEN RIGHTS

 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

We can categorize women rights in five kinds as under: Spiritual Rights Economic Rights Social Rights Educational Rights Legal Rights

S PIRITUAL
Equality in spiritual Rights

RIGHTS

Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No 124, which says: If any of you do deeds of righteousness, whether it be male or a female and has faith, they shall surely enter Paradise and not the least injustice shall be done to them Surah Isra, Ch.17, Verse No.70, which says, We have honored the children of Adam and bestowed on them special favors.


Here, Allah says about his favor for both male and female without any discrimination.

10

E CONOMIC

RIGHTS

In 1870, the married women in England was given the right to dispose of its property. Islam recognized the economic rights of women before 1400 years ago. Women in Islamic state is not only given right to work but dignified jobs as doctors and teachers. First and beloved wife of our beloved Prophet (SAW) was a successful bossiness women of her time. No financial liability on women but have the right of inheritance.

11

S OCIAL

RIGHTS

Islam prohibits, female infanticide. It is mentioned in Surah Taqveem, Ch. 81, Verse No. 8 and 9: when the female child is buried alive and when she questions you, for what crime was she killed

Surah Nisa, Ch. No. 4, Verse No. 1 says: Respect the womb that bore you

Best among you is the one who is best for his wife. Muhammad (SWT)

12

E DUCATIONAL

RIGHTS

Surah Alaq, or Surah Iqra, Verse No. 1 which says: Read, recite or proclaim in the name of your Lord

According to a saying of Prophet Muhammad (SWT), It is obligatory for every Muslim, male or female, to acquire knowledge. (Al-Bayhaqi).


This verse and Hadith clearly gives equal opportunities of education to both male and female

13

L EGAL
Equal legal personality

RIGHTS OF WOMEN

Equal civil and criminal liabilities Qisas, Theft and etc

14

CONCLUSION

Female in Islam is deemed as equal but not identical to male To make a female responsible for the liabilities of male will also be injustice Women should not be portrayed as the weak fraction of society Divine law should decide the rights of both men and women