Course:

Islamiat and
Pakistan
Studies
Subm|tted to S|r Mahmood u| nasan
Subm|tted by Mar|am Mun|r
88A 78
Pioject Repoit: Buman Rights in Islam
2

Contents
8aslc Puman 8lghLs 3
1he 8lghL 1o Llfe 3
1he 8lghL 1o 1he SafeLy Cf Llfe 4
roLecLlon of 8ellglous SenLlmenLs 3
1he 8lghL 1o A 8aslc SLandard Cf Llfe 3
8lghLs of dlsable people 6
8lghLs of MlnorlLles 6
1he lndlvlduals 8lghL 1o lreedom 6
1he oslLlon Cf Slavery ln lslam 7
1he 8lghL Lo !usLlce 7
1he LquallLy Cf Puman 8elngs 8
1he 8lghL 1o CooperaLe And noL 1o CooperaLe 9
1he roLecLlon of Ponour 10
LCCnCMlC 8lCP1S 11
8lghL and CbllgaLlon Lo arLlclpaLe ln Lhe ConducL and ManagemenL of ubllc Affalrs 11
1he Lconomlc Crder and Lhe 8lghLs Lvolvlng 1here from 11
LLCAL 8lCP1S 12
1he 8lghL Lo !usLlce 12
LquallLy 8efore Law 13
CLl1lCAL 8lCP1S 14
lreedom of Lxpresslon 14
lreedom of AssoclaLlon 13
1he 8lghL Lo roLesL agalnsL 1yranny 16
8eferences 17



When we speak of human rlghLs ln lslam we really mean LhaL Lhese rlghLs have
been granLed by Cod Lhey have noL been granLed by any klng or by any leglslaLlve
3

assembly 1he rlghLs granLed by Lhe klngs or Lhe leglslaLlve assemblles can also be
wlLhdrawn ln Lhe same manner ln whlch Lhey are conferred 1he same ls Lhe case
wlLh Lhe rlghLs accepLed and recognlzed by Lhe dlcLaLors 1hey can confer Lhem
when Lhey please and wlLhdraw Lhem when Lhey wlsh and Lhey can openly
vlolaLe Lhem when Lhey llke 8uL slnce ln lslam human rlghLs have been conferred
by Cod no leglslaLlve assembly ln Lhe world or any governmenL on earLh has Lhe
rlghL or auLhorlLy Lo make any amendmenL or change ln Lhe rlghLs conferred by
Cod no one has Lhe rlghL Lo abrogaLe Lhem or wlLhdraw Lhem nor are Lhey baslc
human rlghLs whlch are conferred on paper for Lhe sake of show and exhlblLlon
and denled ln acLual llfe when Lhe show ls over nor are Lhey llke phllosophlcal
concepLs whlch have no sancLlons behlnd Lhem
1he charLer and Lhe proclamaLlons and Lhe resoluLlons of Lhe unlLed naLlons
cannoL be compared wlLh Lhe rlghLs sancLloned by Cod because Lhe former are
noL appllcable on anybody whlle Lhe laLLer are appllcable on every bellever 1hey
are a parL and parcel of Lhe lslamlc lalLh Lvery Musllm or admlnlsLraLor who
clalms hlmself Lo be Musllm wlll have Lo accepL recognlze and enforce Lhem lf
Lhey fall Lo enforce Lhem and sLarL denylng Lhe rlghLs LhaL have been guaranLeed
by Cod or make amendmenLs and changes ln Lhem or pracLlcally vlolaLe Lhem
whlle paylng llp servlce Lo Lhem Lhe verdlcL of Lhe Poly Curan for such
governmenL ls clear and unequlvocal
1hose who do not judqe by whot 6od hos sent down ore the disbe/ievers
{544)

Basic Human Rights
The Right To Life
1he flrsL and foremosL baslc rlghL ls Lhe rlghL Lo llfe 1he Poly Curan lays down
whosoever ki//s o humon beinq {without ony reoson /ike) mon s/ouqhter or
corruption on eorth it is thouqh he hod ki//ed o// monkind %332)
1he proprleLy of Laklng llfe ln reLallaLlon for murder or for spreadlng corrupLlon
can be declded only by a compeLenL courL of law uurlng a war lL can be declded
4

only by a properly esLabllshed governmenL ln any evenL no lndlvldual has Lhe
rlghL Lo declde such quesLlons by hlmself As Lhe Poly Curan makes clear
uo not ki// o sou/ which 4//oh hos mode socred except throuqh the due process
of /ow %6131)
Pomlclde ls Lhus dlsLlngulshed from desLrucLlon of llfe carrled ouL ln Lhe pursulL
of [usLlce 1he ropheL blesslngs of Allah and peace be upon hlm has declared
homlclde as Lhe greaLesL sln afLer polyLhelsm A 1radlLlon of Lhe ropheL reads
1he qreotest sins ore to ossociote somethinq with 6od ond to ki// humon
beinqs
ln all Lhese verses of Lhe Curan and Lhe 1radlLlons of Lhe ropheL Lhe word soul
(oofs) has been used ln general Lerms wlLhouL any lndlcaLlon LhaL clLlzens
belonglng Lo ones own naLlon or Lhe people of a parLlcular race or rellglon should
noL be kllled 1he ln[uncLlon applles Lo all human belngs
1he 8lghL Lo Llfe has been glven Lo man as a whole only by lslam ?ou wlll
observe LhaL reference Lo human rlghLs ln consLlLuLlons or declaraLlons ln many
counLrles clearly lmplles LhaL Lhese rlghLs are appllcable only Lo Lhe clLlzens of
LhaL counLry or Lo a cerLaln klnd of race ConLrary Lo Lhls parLlal concepL of human
rlghLs lslam recognlzes such rlghLs for all human belngs
The Right To The Safety Of Life
lmmedlaLely afLer Lhe verse ln Lhe Poly Curan whlch has been menLloned ln
connecLlon wlLh Lhe rlghL Lo llfe Cod says
"4nd whoever soves o /ife it is os thouqh he hod soved the /ives of o//
monkind"%332)

1here can be several forms of savlng man from deaLh lf a man ls lll or wounded lL
ls your duLy Lo geL hlm medlcal help lf he ls dylng of sLarvaLlon lL ls your duLy Lo
feed hlm lf he ls drownlng lL ls your duLy Lo rescue hlm We regard lL as our duLy
Lo save every human llfe because lL ls Lhus LhaL we have been en[olned ln Lhe
Poly Curan
3

!7otection of Religious Sentiments
Along wlLh Lhe freedom of convlcLlon and freedom of consclence lslam has glven
Lhe rlghL Lo Lhe lndlvldual LhaL hls rellglous senLlmenLs wlll be glven due respecL
and noLhlng wlll be sald or done whlch may encroach upon Lhls rlghL lL has been
ordalned by Cod ln Lhe Poly Curan
uo not obuse those they oppeo/ to insteod of 6od (6108)
1hese lnsLrucLlons are noL only llmlLed Lo ldols and delLles buL Lhey also apply Lo
Lhe leaders or naLlonal heroes of Lhe people lf a group of people holds a
convlcLlon whlch accordlng Lo you ls wrong and holds cerLaln persons ln hlgh
esLeem whlch accordlng Lo you ls noL deserved by Lhem Lhen lL wlll noL be
[usLlfled ln lslam LhaL you use abuslve language for Lhem and Lhus ln[ure Lhelr
feellngs lslam does noL prohlblL people from holdlng debaLe and dlscusslon on
rellglous maLLers buL lL wanLs LhaL Lhese dlscusslons should be conducLed ln
decency
uo not orque with the peop/e of the 8ook un/ess it is in the po/itest monner
(2946)soys tbe Ootoo
1hls order ls noL merely llmlLed Lo Lhe people of Lhe ScrlpLures buL applles wlLh
equal force Lo Lhose followlng oLher falLhs
The Right To A Basic Standa7d Of Life:
Speaklng abouL economlc rlghLs Lhe Poly Curan en[olns lLs followers
"4nd in their weo/th there is ocknow/edqed riqht for the needy ond destitute
{5112)
1he wordlng of Lhls ln[uncLlon shows LhaL lL ls caLegorlcal and unquallfled
lurLhermore Lhls ln[uncLlon was glven ln Makkah where Lhere was no Musllm
socleLy ln exlsLence and where Lhe Musllms came ln conLacL mosLly wlLh
dlsbellevers
1he clear meanlng of Lhls verse ls LhaL anyone who asks for help and anyone who
ls sufferlng from deprlvaLlon has a rlghL Lo share ln Lhe properLy and wealLh of a
Musllm lrrespecLlve of wheLher he belongs Lo Lhls or Lo LhaL naLlon Lo Lhls or Lo
6

LhaL counLry Lo Lhls or Lo LhaL race lf one ls ln l a poslLlon Lo help and a needy
person asks for help or lf one comes Lo know LhaL he ls ln need Lhen lL ls ones
duLy Lo help hlm
Rights of disable people
Curan and Sunna say
"You must bui/d occess foci/ities for the disob/ed in mosques"
Powever ln more general Lerms Allah MosL Plgh commanded us Lo spend for Pls
sake of whaL Pe gave us and Lhe ropheL upon hlm blesslngs and peace Lold us
Lo Make Lhlngs easy noL dlfflculL and roceed aL Lhe pace of Lhe weakesL among
you lor endowed mosques especlally !umua mosques Lo provlde for people
wlLh dlsablllLles ls llke a dlrecL appllcaLlon of Lhose ulvlne and ropheLlc
ln[uncLlons So now Lhe nonMusllms are remlndlng us Lhrough Lhelr pracLlce buL
we fall Lo connecL Lhe doLs because we are sLuck aL words and seek excuses for
ourselves

Rights of Mino7ities
1he Curanlc prlnclple on Lhe adapLaLlon of rellglon and Lhe rlghLs of mlnorlLles
says LhaL
1here is no compu/sion in re/iqion
ln a Musllm counLry rellglous mlnorlLles shall have Lhe cholce Lo be governed ln
respecL of Lhelr clvll and personal maLLers by lslamlc Law or by Lhelr own laws
The Individual's Right To F7eedom
lslam has caLegorlcally forbldden Lhe prlmlLlve pracLlce of capLurlng a free man Lo
make hlm a slave or Lo sell hlm lnLo slavery Cn Lhls polnL Lhe unequlvocal words
of Lhe ropheL %blesslngs of Allah and peace be upon hlm) are as follows
7

1here ore three coteqories of peop/e oqoinst whom l sho// myse/f be o p/ointiff
on the uoy of ludqement Of these three one is he who ens/oves o free mon
then se//s him ond eots this money {8ukhori ond lbn Mojo)
1he words of Lhls 1radlLlon of Lhe ropheL have noL been quallfled or resLrlcLed Lo
a parLlcular naLlon or race or Lo followers of a parLlcular rellglon
The !osition Of Slave7y In Islam
lslam Lrled Lo solve Lhe problem of Lhe slaves LhaL were already ln Arabla by
encouraglng people Lo seL Lhem free Musllms were Lold LhaL freelng slaves would
mean Lhe explraLlon of some of Lhelr slns lreelng a slave of ones own free wlll
was declared Lo be an acL of such greaL merlL LhaL Lhe llmbs of Lhe man who
manumlLLed a slave would be proLecLed from hell flre one for each llmb of Lhe
slave freed
1he resulL of Lhls pollcy was LhaL by Lhe Llme Lhe perlod of Lhe 8lghLly Culded
Callphs was reached all Lhe old slaves of Arabla had been llberaLed 1he ropheL
blesslngs of Allah and peace be upon hlm) alone llberaLed as many as 63 slaves
1he number of slaves freed by Alsha was 67 Abbas llberaLed 70 Abd Allah bln
umar llberaLed one Lhousand and Abd al8alLman purchased LhlrLy Lhousand
and seL Lhem free CLher Companlons of Lhe ropheL llberaLed a large number of
slaves Lhe deLalls of whlch are glven ln Lhe 1radlLlons and books of hlsLory of LhaL
perlod
1he problem of Lhe slaves of Arabla was Lhus solved ln under 40 years AfLer Lhls
Lhe only slaves lefL ln lslamlc socleLy were prlsoners of war capLured on Lhe
baLLlefleld 1hese were kepL by Lhe Musllm governmenL ln quesLlon unLll Lhelr
own governmenL agreed Lo recelve Lhem back ln exchange for Musllm soldlers
capLured by Lhem or arranged Lhe paymenL of ransom on Lhelr behalf lf Lhe
soldlers Lhey capLured were noL exchanged for Musllm prlsoners of war or Lhelr
people dld noL pay Lhelr ransom money Lo purchase Lhelr llberLy Lhe Musllm
governmenL dlsLrlbuLed Lhem among Lhe soldlers of Lhe army whlch had capLured
Lhem
The Right to 1ustice:
8

1hls ls a very lmporLanL and valuable rlghL whlch lslam has glven Lo man 1he Poly
Curan has laln down
uo not /et your hotred of o peop/e incite you to oqqression {5l) "4nd do not
/et i//wi// towords ony fo/k incite you so thot you swerve from deo/inq just/y 8e
just thot is neorest to heedfu/ness {58)
SLresslng Lhls polnL Lhe Curan agaln says
You who be/ieve stond steodfost before 6od os witness for {truth ond) foir
p/oy { 4 1l5)

1he polnL ls Lhus made clear LhaL Musllms have Lo be [usL noL only Lo 1 Lhelr
frlends buL also Lhelr enemles ln oLher words Lhe [usLlce Lo whlch lslam lnvlLes
her followers ls noL llmlLed Lo Lhe clLlzens of ones own counLry or Lhe people of
ones own Lrlbe naLlon or race or Lhe Musllm communlLy as a whole lL ls meanL
for all human belngs


The Equality Of Human Beings:
lslam noL only recognlzes Lhe prlnclple of absoluLe equallLy beLween men
lrrespecLlve of colour race or naLlonallLy lL makes lL an lmporLanL reallLy
AlmlghLy Cod has lald down ln Lhe Poly Curan
O monkind we hove creoted you from o mo/e ond femo/e
ln oLher words all human belngs are broLhers 1hey all are Lhe descendanLs from
one faLher and one moLher
"4nd we set you up os notions ond tribes so thot you moy be ob/e to recoqnite
eoch other {49 1l)
1hls means LhaL Lhe dlvlslon of human belngs lnLo naLlons races groups and
Lrlbes ls for Lhe sake of dlsLlncLlon so LhaL people of one race or Lrlbe may meeL
9

and be acqualnLed wlLh people belonglng Lo anoLher race or Lrlbe and cooperaLe
wlLh one anoLher
1hls dlvlslon of Lhe human race ls nelLher meanL for one naLlon Lo Lake prlde ln lLs
superlorlLy over oLhers nor for one naLlon Lo LreaL anoLher wlLh conLempL
lndeed the nob/est omonq you before 6od ore the most heedfu/ of you { 49
1l)
1haL ls Lhe superlorlLy of one man over anoLher ls only on Lhe basls of Cod
consclousness purlLy of characLer and hlgh morals and noL colour race language
or naLlonallLy eople are Lherefore noL [usLlfled ln assumlng alrs of superlorlLy
over oLher human belngs nor do Lhe rlghLeous have any speclal prlvlleges over
oLhers
1hls has been Lhus exempllfled by Lhe ropheL %blesslngs of Allah and peace be
upon hlm) ln one of hls saylngs
"No 4rob hos ony superiority over o non4rob nor does o non4rob hove ony
superiority over o b/ock mon or the b/ock mon ony superiority over the white
mon You ore o// the chi/dren of 4dom ond 4dom wos creoted from c/oy
%8ayhaql and 8azzaz)
ln Lhls manner lslam esLabllshed Lhe prlnclple of equallLy of Lhe enLlre human race
and sLruck aL Lhe very rooL of all dlsLlncLlons based on colour race language or
naLlonallLy
Accordlng Lo lslam Cod has glven man Lhls rlghL of equallLy as a blrLhrlghL no
man should Lherefore be dlscrlmlnaLed agalnsL on Lhe grounds of Lhe colour of hls
skln hls place of blrLh Lhe race or Lhe naLlon ln whlch he was born
The Right To Co-ope7ate And Not To Co-ope7ate
lslam has prescrlbed a general prlnclple of paramounL lmporLance and unlversal
appllcaLlon 1he Poly Curan says
cooperote with one onother for virtue ond heedfu/ness ond do not cooperote
with one onother for the purpose of vice ond oqqression {52)
10

1hls means LhaL Lhe man who underLakes noble and rlghLeous work lrrespecLlve
of wheLher he ls llvlng aL Lhe norLh ole or Lhe SouLh ole has Lhe rlghL Lo expecL
supporL and acLlve cooperaLlon from Musllms 8uL he who pracLlses vlce and
aggresslon even lf he ls our closesL relaLlon or nelghbour does noL have Lhe rlghL
Lo our supporL and help ln Lhe name of race counLry language or naLlonallLy nor
should he expecL Musllms Lo cooperaLe wlLh hlm 1he wlcked and vlclous person
may be our own broLher buL he ls noL of us and he can have no help or supporL
from us as long as he does noL repenL of hls ways Cn Lhe oLher hand Lhe man
who ls dolng deeds of vlrLue and rlghLeousness may have no klnshlp wlLh
Musllms buL Musllms wlll be hls companlons and supporLers or aL leasL hls well
wlshers
The !7otection of Honou7
1he rlghL of Lhe clLlzens Lo Lhe proLecLlon of Lhelr honour ln Lhe address dellvered
on Lhe occaslon of Lhe larewell Pa[[ Lo whlch l have referred earller Lhe ropheL
dld noL only prohlblL Lhe llfe and properLy of Lhe Musllms Lo one anoLher buL also
any encroachmenL upon Lhelr honour respecL and chasLlLy were forbldden Lo one
anoLher 1he Poly Curan clearly lays down
You who be/ieve do not /et one {set of) peop/e moke fun of onother set uo not
defome one onother uo not insu/t by usinq nicknomes 4nd do not bockbite or
speok i// of one onother {491112)
1hls ls Lhe law of lslam for Lhe proLecLlon of honour whlch ls lndeed much
superlor Lo and beLLer Lhan Lhe WesLern Law of uefama Llon Accordlng Lo Lhe
lslamlc Law lf lL ls proved LhaL someone has aLLacked Lhe honour of anoLher
person Lhen lrrespecLlve of Lhe facL wheLher or noL Lhe vlcLlm ls able Lo prove
hlmself a respecLable and honourable person Lhe culprlL wlll ln any case geL hls
due punlshmenL 8uL Lhe lnLeresLlng facL abouL Lhe WesLern Law of uefamaLlon ls
LhaL Lhe person who flles sulL for defamaLlon has flrsL Lo prove LhaL he ls a man of
honour and publlc esLeem and durlng Lhe lnLerrogaLlon he ls sub[ecLed Lo Lhe
scurrllous aLLacks accusaLlons and lnnuendoes of Lhe defence councll Lo such an
exLenL LhaL he earns more dlsgrace Lhan Lhe aLLack on hls repuLaLlon agalnsL
whlch he had knocked Lhe door of Lhe courL of law Cn Lop of lL he has also Lo
produce such wlLnesses as would LesLlfy ln Lhe courL LhaL due Lo Lhe defamaLory
accusaLlons of Lhe culprlL Lhe accused sLands dlsgraced ln Lhelr eyes Cood
11

Craclous! whaL a subLle polnL of law and whaL an adherence Lo Lhe splrlL of Law!
Pow can Lhls unfalr and un[usL law be compared Lo Lhe ulvlne law?









ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Right and Obligation to !a7ticipate in the Conduct and
Management of !ublic Affai7s
Sub[ecL Lo Lhe Law every lndlvldual ln Lhe communlLy (ummob) ls enLlLled Lo
assume publlc offlce rocess of free consulLaLlon (5boto) ls Lhe basls of Lhe
admlnlsLraLlve relaLlonshlp beLween Lhe governmenL and Lhe people eople also
have Lhe rlghL Lo choose and remove Lhelr rulers ln accordance wlLh Lhls prlnclple
The Economic O7de7 and the Rights Evolving The7e f7om
ln Lhelr economlc pursulLs all persons are enLlLled Lo Lhe full beneflLs of naLure
and all lLs resources 1hese are blesslngs besLowed by Cod for Lhe beneflL of
manklnd as a whole All human belngs are enLlLled Lo earn Lhelr llvlng accordlng
Lo Lhe Law Lvery person ls enLlLled Lo own properLy lndlvldually or ln assoclaLlon
wlLh oLhers SLaLe ownershlp of cerLaln economlc resources ln Lhe publlc lnLeresL
12

ls leglLlmaLe 1he poor have Lhe rlghL Lo a prescrlbed share ln Lhe wealLh of Lhe
rlch as flxed by Zakah levled and collecLed ln accordance wlLh Lhe Law All means
of producLlon shall be uLlllzed ln Lhe lnLeresL of Lhe communlLy (ummob) as a
whole and may noL be neglecLed or mlsused ln order Lo promoLe Lhe
developmenL of a balanced economy and Lo proLecL socleLy from explolLaLlon
lslamlc Law forblds monopolles unreasonable resLrlcLlve Lrade pracLlces usury
Lhe use of coerclon ln Lhe maklng of conLracLs and Lhe publlcaLlon of mlsleadlng
adverLlsemenLs All economlc acLlvlLles are permlLLed provlded Lhey are noL
deLrlmenLal Lo Lhe lnLeresLs of Lhe communlLy (ummob) and do noL vlolaLe
lslamlc laws and values




LEGAL RIGHTS
The Right to 1ustice
1hls ls a very lmporLanL and valuable rlghL whlch lslam has glven Lo man as a
human belng 1he Poly Curan has laln down
uo not /et your hotred of o peop/e incite you to oqqression (52) 4nd do not
/et i//wi// towords ony fo/k incite you so thot you swerve from deo/inq just/y 8e
just thot is neorest to heedfu/ness %38)
SLresslng Lhls polnL Lhe Curan agaln says
You who be/ieve stond steodfost before 6od os witness for {truth ond) foirp/oy
%4133)
1hls makes Lhe polnL clear LhaL Musllms have Lo be [usL noL only wlLh ordlnary
human belngs buL even wlLh Lhelr enemles ln oLher words Lhe [usLlce Lo whlch
13

lslam lnvlLes her followers ls noL llmlLed only Lo Lhe clLlzens of Lhelr own counLry
or Lhe people of Lhelr own Lrlbe naLlon or race or Lhe Musllm communlLy as a
whole buL lL ls meanL for all Lhe human belngs of Lhe world Musllms Lherefore
cannoL be un[usL Lo anyone 1helr permanenL hablL and characLer should be such
LhaL no man should ever fear ln[usLlce aL Lhelr hands and Lhey should LreaL every
human belng everywhere wlLh [usLlce and falrness
Equality Befo7e Law
lslam glves lLs clLlzens Lhe rlghL Lo absoluLe and compleLe equallLy ln Lhe eyes of
Lhe law As far as Lhe Musllms are concerned Lhere are clear lnsLrucLlons ln Lhe
Poly Curan and hadlLh LhaL ln Lhelr rlghLs and obllgaLlons Lhey are all equal
1he be/ievers ore brothers {to eoch other) (4910) lf they {disbe/ievers) repent
ond keep up proyer ond poy the lpoordue they ore your brothers in foith
(911)
1he ropheL has sald LhaL
1he /ife ond b/ood of Mus/ims ore equo//y precious {4bu uowud lbn Mojjoh)
ln anoLher hadlLh he has sald
1he protection qiven by o// Mus/ims is equo/ ven on ordinory mon of them con
qront protection to ony mon {o/8ukhori Mus/im 4bu uowud)
ln anoLher more deLalled 1radlLlon of Lhe ropheL lL has been sald LhaL Lhose who
accepL Lhe Cneness of Cod belleve ln Lhe ropheL hood of Pls Messenger glve
up prlmlLlve pre[udlces and [oln Lhe Musllm communlLy and broLherhood
then they hove the some riqhts ond ob/iqotions os other Mus/ims hove %al
8ukharl alnlsal)
1hus Lhere ls absoluLe equallLy beLween Lhe new converLs Lo lslam and Lhe old
followers of Lhe lalLh
1hls rellglous broLherhood and Lhe unlformlLy of Lhelr rlghLs and obllgaLlons ls Lhe
foundaLlon of equallLy ln lslamlc socleLy ln whlch Lhe rlghLs and obllgaLlons of any
person are nelLher greaLer nor lesser ln any way Lhan Lhe rlghLs and obllgaLlons of
14

oLher people As far as Lhe non Musllm clLlzens of Lhe lslamlc SLaLe are
concerned Lhe rule of lslamlc Sharlah %law) abouL Lhem has been very well
expressed by Lhe Callph All ln Lhese words
1hey hove occepted our protection on/y becouse their /ives moy be /ike our /ives
ond their properties /ike our properties
%Abu uawud) ln oLher words Lhelr %of Lhe dhlmmls) llves and properLles are as
sacred as Lhe llves and properLles of Lhe Musllms ulscrlmlnaLlon of people lnLo
dlfferenL classes was one of Lhe greaLesL crlmes LhaL accordlng Lo Lhe Curan
haraoh used Lo lndulge ln
e hod divided his peop/e into different c/osses 4nd he suppressed one
qroup of them {ot the cost of others) (284)



!OLITICAL RIGHTS
F7eedom of Exp7ession
lslam glves Lhe rlghL of freedom of LhoughL and expresslon Lo all clLlzens of Lhe
lslamlc SLaLe on Lhe condlLlon LhaL lL should be used for Lhe propagaLlon of vlrLue
and LruLh and noL for spreadlng evll and wlckedness 1hls lslamlc concepL of
freedom of expresslon ls much superlor Lo Lhe concepL prevalenL ln Lhe WesL
under no clrcumsLances would lslam allow evll and wlckedness Lo be propagaLed
lL also does noL glve anybody Lhe rlghL Lo use abuslve or offenslve language ln Lhe
name of crlLlclsm 1he rlghL Lo freedom of expresslon for Lhe sake of propagaLlng
vlrLue and rlghLeousness ls noL only a rlghL ln lslam buL an obllgaLlon Cne who
Lrles Lo deny Lhls rlghL Lo hls people ls openly aL war wlLh Cod Lhe Allowerful
And Lhe same Lhlng applles Lo Lhe aLLempL Lo sLop people from evll WheLher Lhls
evll ls perpeLraLed by an lndlvldual or by a group of people or Lhe governmenL of
ones own counLry or Lhe governmenL of some oLher counLry lL ls Lhe rlghL of a
Musllm and lL ls also hls obllgaLlon LhaL he should warn and reprlmand Lhe evll
13

doer and Lry Lo sLop hlm from dolng lL Cver and above he should openly and
publlcly condemn lL and show Lhe course of rlghLeousness whlch LhaL lndlvldual
naLlon or governmenL should adopL
1he Poly Curan has descrlbed Lhls quallLy of Lhe lalLhful ln Lhe followlng words
1hey enjoin whot is proper ond forbid whot is improper %971)
ln conLrasL descrlblng Lhe quallLles of a hypocrlLe Lhe Curan menLlons
1hey bid whot is improper ond forbid whot is proper (967)
1he maln purpose of an lslamlc CovernmenL has been deflned by Cod ln Lhe
Curan as follows
lf we qive outhority to these men on eorth they wi// keep up proyers ond offer
poordue bid whot is proper ond forbid whot is improper (2241)
1he ropheL has sald
lf ony one of you comes ocross on evi/ he shou/d try to stop it with his hond
{usinq force) if he is not in o position to stop it with his hond then he shou/d try
to stop it by meons of his tonque {meoninq he shou/d speok oqoinst it)"
F7eedom of Association
lslam has also glven people Lhe rlghL Lo freedom of assoclaLlon and formaLlon of
parLles or organlzaLlons 1hls rlghL ls also sub[ecL Lo cerLaln general rules lL should
be exerclsed for propagaLlng vlrLue and rlghLeousness and should never be used
for spreadlng evll and mlschlef We have noL only been glven Lhls rlghL for
spreadlng rlghLeousness and vlrLue buL have been ordered Lo exerclse Lhls rlghL
Addresslng Lhe Musllms Lhe Poly Curan declares
You ore the best community which hos been brouqht forth for monkind You
commond whot is proper ond forbid whot is improper ond you be/ieve in 6od
(J110)
1hls means LhaL lL ls Lhe obllgaLlon and duLy of Lhe enLlre Musllm communlLy LhaL
lL should lnvlLe and en[oln people Lo rlghLeousness and vlrLue and forbld Lhem
16

from dolng evll lf Lhe enLlre Musllm communlLy ls noL able Lo perform Lhls duLy
Lhen
/et there be o community omonq you who wi// invite {peop/e) to {do) qood
commond whot is proper ond forbid whot is improper those wi// be prosperous
%3104) 1hls clearly lndlcaLes LhaL lf Lhe enLlre Musllm naLlon collecLlvely beglns
Lo neglecL lLs obllgaLlon Lo lnvlLe people Lo goodness and forbld Lhem from dolng
evll Lhen lL ls absoluLely essenLlal LhaL lL should conLaln aL leasL a group of people
whlch may perform Lhls obllgaLlon As has been sald before Lhls ls noL only a rlghL
buL an obllgaLlon and on Lhe fulfllmenL of whlch depends success and prosperlLy
here as well as ln Lhe PereafLer lL ls an lrony wlLh Lhe rellglon of Cod LhaL ln a
Musllm counLry Lhe assembly and assoclaLlon LhaL ls formed for Lhe purposes of
spreadlng evll and mlschlef should have Lhe rlghL Lo rule over Lhe counLry and Lhe
assoclaLlon and parLy whlch has been formed for propagaLlng rlghLeous ness and
vlrLue should llve ln perpeLual fear of harassmenL and of belng declared lllegal
CondlLlons here are [usL Lhe reverse of whaL has been prescrlbed by Cod 1he
clalm ls LhaL we are Musllms and Lhls ls an lslamlc SLaLe3 buL Lhe work LhaL ls
belng done ls dlrecLed Lo spreadlng evll Lo corrupL and morally degrade and
debase Lhe people whlle Lhere ls an acLlve and effecLlve check on Lhe work belng
carrled ouL for reformlng socleLy and lnvlLlng people Lo rlghLeousness Moreover
Lhe llfe of Lhose who are engaged ln spreadlng rlghLeousness and checklng Lhe
spread of evll and wlckedness ls made lnLolerable and hard Lo bear
The Right to !7otest against Ty7anny
AmongsL Lhe rlghLs LhaL lslam has conferred on human belngs ls Lhe rlghL Lo
proLesL agalnsL governmenLs Lyranny 8eferrlng Lo lL Lhe Curan says
6od does not /ove evi/ to/k in pub/ic un/ess it is by some one who hos been
injured thereby (4148)
1hls means LhaL Cod sLrongly dlsapproves of abuslve language or sLrong words of
condemna Llon buL Lhe person who has been Lhe vlcLlm of ln[usLlce or Lyranny
Cod glves hlm Lhe rlghL Lo openly proLesL agalnsL Lhe ln[ury LhaL has been done Lo
hlm 1hls rlghL ls noL llmlLed only Lo lndlvlduals 1he words of Lhe verse are
general 1herefore lf an lndlvldual or a group of people or a parLy usurps power
and afLer assumlng Lhe relns of auLhorlLy beglns Lo Lyrannlze lndlvlduals or groups
17

of men or Lhe enLlre populaLlon of Lhe counLry Lhen Lo ralse Lhe volce of proLesL
agalnsL lL openly ls Lhe Codglven rlghL of man and no one has Lhe auLhorlLy Lo
usurp or deny Lhls rlghL lf anyone Lrles Lo usurp Lhls rlghL of clLlzens Lhen he
rebels agalnsL Cod 1he Lallsman of SecLlon 1444 may proLecL such a LyranL ln Lhls
world buL lL cannoL save hlm from Lhe hellflre ln Lhe PereafLer


Refe7ences:
O http://www.islamicweb.com/begin/humanrights.htm
O http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/Mhri/index.htm
O http://www.alhewar.com/ISLAMDECL.html