Since God is the absolute and the sole master of men and the universe, and since He has given each
man human dignity and honor, and breathed into him of His own spirit, it follows that men are
essentially the same. In fact, the only differences between them are such artificial ones as nationality,
color, or race. Thus, all human beings are equal and form one universal community that is united in its
submission and obedience to God. And at the center of this universal brotherhood is the Islamic
confession of the oneness and brotherhood of humanity.
An Islamic state may be established anywhere. While the state is geographically limited, the human
rights and privileges granted to humanity by God are not. The Quran states that these are universal
and fundamental, and that all individuals are to enjoy and observe them under all
circumstances-including war-regardless of whether he is living in the geographical confines of an
Islamic state or not:
"O believers, be you securers of justice, witness for God. Let not detestation for a
people move you not to be equitable; be equitable-that is nearer to God-fearing." Qur'an 5:8
Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. Violating this rule is
equivalent to killing all of humanity:
"Whoso slays a soul not to retaliate for a soul slain, nor for corruption done in the land, should be as if he had slain mankind altogether.
It is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, the sick or the wounded. Women's
honor and chastity are to be protected under all circumstances. The hungry must be fed, the naked
clothed, and the wounded or diseased given medical treatment regardless of their pro or anti-Muslim
sentiments and activities.
In Islam, human rights are granted be God, not by kings or legislative assemblies, and therefore they
can never be taken away or changed, even temporarily, for any reason. They are meant to be put
into practice and lived, not to stay on paper or in the realm of unenforceable philosophical concepts
or United Nation declarations. Every Muslim is required to accept them and recognize the people's
right to have them enforced and obeyed. The Quran states that:
"Those who do not judge by what God has sent down are the disbelievers."(5:44)
Human Rights in an Islamic State
Protection from Arbitrary Imprisonment:
The Security of Life and Property:
In the Prophet's address during his final pilgrimage, he said:"Your lives and properties are
forbidden to one another till you meet your Lord on the Day of Resurrection." He also
said:"One who kills a man under covenant (i.e., a non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim land) will
not even smell the fragrance of Paradise."
The Protection of Honor:
The Quran does not allow one's personal honor to be abused:
"O You who believe, do not let one set of people make fun of another set. Do not
defame one another. Do not insult by using nicknames. Do not backbite or speak ill of
one another." (49:11-12)
Sanctity and Security of Private Life:
The Quran guarantees privacy:
"Do not spy on one another and Do not enter any houses unless you are sure of their
occupant's consent."
The Security and Personal Freedom:
Islam prohibits the imprisonment of any individual before his guilt has been proven before a public
court. This means that the accused has the right to defend himself and to expect fair and impartial
treatment from the court.
The Right to Protest against Tyranny:
This is mentioned clearly in the Quran: God does not love evil talk in public unless it is by some
one who has been injured thereby. In Islam, as has been stated earlier, an individual's power and
authority is a trust from God. This is an awesome responsibility for a person, for he must use this
trust in a way that is acceptable to God or else suffer the consequences. This was acknowledged by
Abu Baker, who said in his very first address: "Cooperate with me when I am right, and correct
me when I commit error. Obey me so long as I follow the commandments of Allah and His
Prophet, but turn away from me when I deviate."
Freedom of Expression:
Islam allows complete freedom of thought and expression, provided that it does not involve
spreading that which is harmful to individuals and the society at large. For example, the use of
abusive or offensive language in the name of criticism is not allowed. In the days of the Prophet, the
Muslims used to ask him about certain matters. If he had received no revelation on that particular
issue, they were free to express their personal opinions.
Freedom of Association:
The formation of associations, parties, and organizations is allowed, on the understanding that they
abide by certain general rules.
Freedom of Conscience and Conviction:
The Quran states: There should be no coercion in the matter of faith. Totalitarian societies of all
ages have tried to deprive individuals of their freedom by subordinating them to state authority. This
condition is equivalent to slavery, the only difference being that physical slavery has been replaced
by mechanisms of control that allow the individual no freedom of choice. Islam forbids such practice.
Protection of religious Sentiments:
Along with the freedom of conviction and freedom of conscience, Islam guarantees to the individual
that his religious sentiments will be given due respect and the nothing will be said or done which may
encroach upon his right.
Islam states that each individual is responsible only for his own actions. Therefore, he cannot be
arrested and imprisoned for the offense of someone else. We read in the Quran: No bearer of
burdens shall be made to bear the burden of another.
The Right to Basic Necessities of Life:
Islam recognizes the right of the needy to demand help from those who are more fortunate:And in
their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and the destitute.
Equality Before the Law:
Islam gives its citizens the right to absolute and complete equality in the eyes of the law.
Rulers Are Not Above the Law:
According to the Islamic concept of justice, absolutely no one is above the law, for all men are
equal. This point was made in a very dramatic fashion by the prophet himself. One day, a women
belonging to a high and noble family was arrested in connection with a theft. The case was brought
to the Prophet with the recommendation that she be spared the mandated punishment for
theft(amputation of the hand). The Prophet replied:"The nations that lived before you were
destroyed by God because they punished the common man for their offenses and let their
dignitaries go unpunished for their crimes. I swear by Him Who holds my life in His hand that
even if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, had committed this crime, I would have
amputated her hand."
The Right to Participate in the Affairs of State:
In the Quran, we find the statement And their business is (conducted) through consultation
among themselves (42:38). This procedure is known as Shura, which is usually translated as
"consultation." In practice, it means that the executive head of the government and the members of
the assembly should be elected by free and independent choice of the people. However, the leader
is not bound to follow the decision that results from this deliberation.
Lastly, Islam seeks to achieve the above-mentioned human rights and many others through the
provision of certain legal safeguards, but primarily through calling upon individuals to transcend their
lower animal-like instincts so that they can go beyond mere ties fostered by the kinship of blood,
racial superiority, linguistic arrogance, and economic privilege. Islam urges man to move on to a
plane of existence where, by reason of his inner excellence, he can realize the ideal of the
brotherhood of man.
Sufism And Love : One And The Same
Sindh : My Motherland My Fatherland
Makhdoom's Quest For The Truth
Makhdoom's Quality Quest