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Q.No.2. What is Human Dignity? Explain how Islam recognized it and what efforts have been adopted to maintain the superiority of man? (16)

introduction
Human dignity is pivotal for any society and for the concept of morality. Without the recognition of dignity, there is no difference between a beast and a human. although the basics of human dignity are as old as the mortal himself, it has been recognized only recently.

Human dignity
Webster’s dictionary defines dignity as “ respect, excellence of character and nobility”. It is All the international organizations and institutions acknowledge the recognition of human dignity as the basis of human rights. human dignity distinguishes a man from a robot. While a robot is only a physical entity, human being is a complex creation with mental and spiritual aspects apart from a corporeal existence.

Human dignity is interrelated with human rights. In a society, where slaves are considered bonded human individuals and are not given respect, the concept of human rights is a mockery. Similarly, the societies that consider women to be mere tools of reproduction and pleasure, the mere idea of human dignity is not applicable.

Islamic concept of human dignity:

Before the advent of islam, society was engulfed in the darkness of ignorance. Human beings were nothing more than animals. The society was divided on the basis of races, ethnicity, sex, colour and were treated, likewise. Islam has recognized the importance of human dignity and at any places in the Quran has stressed upon the elevated status of a man. Quran has explicitly acknowledged dignity of human beings in the followings word

“ we have given great dignity to the children of adam and granted special favours above the greater part of our creation”

The high pedestal of human being in islam is on the basis of the following factors
a) Vicegerency

ALLAH has elevated the status of man over all other creations and has made man his viceregent on this earth. Quran says in surah baqarah

“ indeed! I will create upon earth a successive authority”

b) Superior Creation of ALLAH
Human being enjoys the distinction of being created by Allah himself with his own hands. This is also illustrated in the following verse of the quran

“ Allah said o iblis! what restrained you from prostrating before that which I have created with my own hands”
At another place it says in the holy book

“we have indeed created man in the best of moulds”

c) Sanctity of human life
The concept of human dignity in islam arises from the importance laid on the preservation of a human life. This concept is applied not only on the muslims but also on the non-muslims as holy prophet p.b.u.h said ,

“ one who kills a dhimmi will not smell the perfume of paradise”

The idea of human sanctity is not sensitive in islam that a man is forbidden from not only injuring others physically but also emotionally. Holy prophet (p.b.u.h),

“ a muslim is one from whose hand and tongue other muslims are safe”

d) Prostration of angels
Allah has given man superiorty over angels and asdked them to prostrate before man as mentioned in the Quran,

“ and remember when he ordered angels to prostrate before adam and all prostrated except iblis”

e) Intellectual abilities:
Allah at multiple places in Quran has stressed upon the intellectual abilities of the man. Surah alaq of quran says,

“read! Read in the name of thy lord. Read and your lord has created you from a clot of blood. and taught you the use of pen and taught man what he knew not”

Surah baqarah says,

“and Allah the exalted taught the names of all things to adam”

f) Purpose of the creation of universe
The creator of the universe, himself acknowledges in the sacred book that the universe was created for man. It says

“ it is HE who has created for you all that is in the earth”

g) Brotherhood:

In the pre Islamic era, society was divided into many sections on the basis of class, caste,colour creed etc. with the advent of islam, such ignoble practices no longer held any ground. Islam does not recognize the division among human beings on the basis of petty issues. In islam, slaves and masters are equal, they offer prayers together in a row, shoulder to shoulder. Anyone from any strata of the society has the right to lead the prayers. This concept of brotherhood is the foundation of human dignity.

h) Equality:

islam does not encourages sex discrimination. It has stressed upon the equality of both the sexes, males and females in terms of religious, political, and social rights quran says about women,

“ and they have rights similar to those of men over them and men are a level above them”

The relatively higher status of man is due to the emotional nature of the fair sex.

i) Will of man: human beings have the characteristic that ALLAH has given them free will. He has given man a guideline and given him the freedom to perform his actions accordingly.


Efforts to maintain human dignity

Till 20th century, little efforts were made to recognize human dignity at the international level. however, in the middle of 20th century, u.n passed a charter which stated

“ we the people of united nation determine to reaffirm fundamental human rights and the dignity and worth of human persons, equality of both male and females and nations larger or smaller”

On the basis of the charter, universal declaration of human rights was passed which stated ,

“ and the recognition of inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of every member of the human family which is the basis of freedom, justice and peace”.

International convention of politics and economics also recognizes human dignity as the basis of human rights. All the world leaders are divided on multitude issues, however they have a unanimous approach towards the concept of human dignity.

Even international financial instituitions stress upon the recognition of human dignity and subsequent human rights. All the regional and global organizations, saarc, asean, E.u stress upon the importance of human rights which is the fruit of seeds of human dignity.

Conclusion: human dignity is of paramount importance. Although many human right activists take the concept for granted and do not consider it worth discussion. The fact remains that it is the recognition of human dignity which leads to the ultimate recognition of human rights. All the countries at national and international level stress upon the importance of the human dignity.