Sometimes it is alleged by some quarters that Islam does not guarantee adequate level of human or fundamental rights. This misgiving has become quite widespread and has been further intensified by the absence of enough clarification and publicity of Islamic viewpoints. Moreover, some extreme manifestations of Islamists such as some of the activists of the Taliban movement and administration in Kabul have foregrounded and have given supposed theoretical underpinnings to the propagandists against Islam.

However, this perception is not true. Such perception has gained ground mostly because of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the works of mainstream Islamic scholars. In support of the view that Islam has provided for all necessary human rights for all irrespective of gender or religion, I will present three proofs from current works.

In the constitution of Pakistan of 1956 and 1973, a list of fundamental rights has been enumerated which will be available to all citizens, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, men or women. This constitution was in past prepared and fully supported by the Ulama of all groups in Pakistan.

In the constitution of Iran, which was prepared by the Ulama of Iran, a similar list of fundamental and human rights have been provided for and this constitution was adopted by a referendum with 98% majority. The lists of rights in the aforesaid 2 (two) constitutions include almost all rights as may be seen in any other constitution. These rights include right to life and property; right of association and movement; freedom from torture and unjust detention; equality of opportunity, freedom of religion and all other necessary rights.

These constitutions were prepared after long debates in the light of the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah and all other relevant issues by leading Ulama of these countries and we can not accept individual opinion of laymen against such broad majority.

Again many writers have written on human rights and upheld that Islam does give all necessary rights for all persons. In this connection of the many books written on the subjects, I refer to two books: one by Sayyid Abul A'la Maududi (Human Rights in Islam) and the other by Muhammad Salahuddin (Fundamental Rights in Islam in Urdu. It is therefore clear from the above discussion that Islam does give all basic human rights to all though there are some violations in some places and some groups have misunderstanding about it. It is the duty of the mainstream Islamic scholars to clarify the issue in details to all.




Shah Abdul Hannan

Salaam,

Brother, thanks for sharing this with us. According to me the perspectives of people are driven by contemporary events rather than prescriptions in Islam. (Because they don't read the prescriptions of Islam. They just look at the live applications of Islam: Muslims.)

Actions speak louder than words. Is that constitution being implemented in our country to justify your point?

The ideology of Pakistan is Islam. Hence, it is a practical application of Islam. When there are human rights violation in the country the west finds it convenient to villify Islam rather than Pakistan. So much for the guardians of Islam.

www.jamaat.org

This site has a good article on Human Rights in Islam by Maudoodi. The friday issues thread in Islamiat has several articles on the aforementioned subject.

Thanks!

Regards,
Adil Memon

__________________
"The race is not over because I haven't won yet."

Adil Memon
Police Service of Pakistan (P.S.P)
37th Common Training Program

well, there is no supect in it, that islam is the 2nd name of providing facilities and all the privilligies to the entire humanity
the word islam means easy ness it doesnot give the lesson of hard ship life
As from commence of the world Islam came in the form of different religion whether it is christanity or jewisim, their teachings r same as islam have.
Now i come to the point that what does islam say abt the human rights.so the answer comes by the pact of Medina(manshoore madina or meesaq-e-medina.Which is the comprehensive and valid document of human rights
And in the formation of UN's constitution same principles were followed
+the last summon of holy prophet in which holy prophet gave the historical speech that ,no body will be superior except the person who follows Taqwa
no priority will be given to white than black.As i m mentioning the things this is only surface guidence.
To get the knowledge and for knowing the vastness of islam ,Quran is the best model book
U can follow this
n will come to know that
THE SLOGAN OF ISLAM AND THE SLOGAN OF THE ORGANIZATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS R NOT DIFFERENT,BUT THEY R SAME