The Security Of Life And
Property:
In the address which the Prophet delivered on the occasion of the Farewell Hajj,
he said: "Your lives and properties are forbidden to one another till you meet
your Lord on the Day of Resurrection." The Prophet has also said about the
dhimmis (the non-Muslim citizens of the Muslim state): "One who kills a man
under covenant (i.e., dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise."
The Protection Of Honor:
The Holy Quran lays down:
"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 has laid down the injunction:
"Do not spy on one another." (49:12)
"Do not enter any houses unless you are sure of their occupant's consent."
(24:27)
The Security Of Personal Freedom:
Islam has laid down the principle that no citizen can be imprisoned unless his
guilt has been proven in an open court. To arrest a man only on the basis of
suspicion and to throw him into a prison without proper court proceedings and
without providing him a reasonable opportunity to produce his defense is not
permissible in Islam.
The Right To Protest Against Tyranny:
Among the rights that Islam has conferred on human beings is the right to
protest against government's tyranny. Referring to it the Quran says: "God does
not love evil talk in public unless it is by someone who has been injured
thereby." (4:148)
In Islam, as has been argued earlier, all power and authority belong to God, and
with man there is only delegated power which becomes a trust; everyone who
becomes a recipient of such a power has to stand in awful reverence before his
people toward whom and for whose sake he will be called upon to use these
powers. This was acknowledged by Hazrat Abu Bakr who said in his very first
address: "Cooperate with me when I am right but 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 gives the right of freedom of thought and expression to all citizens of
the Islamic state on the condition that it should be used for the propagation of
virtue and truth and not for spreading evil and wickedness. The Islamic concept
of freedom of expression is much superior to the concept prevalent in the West.
Under no circumstances would Islam allow evil and wickedness to be propagated.
It also does not give anybody the right to use abusive or offensive language in
the name of criticism. It was the practice of the Muslims to enquire from the
Holy Prophet whether on a certain matter a divine injunction had been revealed
to him. If he said that he had received no divine injunction, the Muslims freely
expressed their opinion on the matter.
Freedom Of Association:
Islam has also given people the right to freedom of association and formation of
parties or organizations. This right is also subject to certain general rules.
Freedom Of Conscience And Conviction:
Islam has laid down the injunction:
"There should be no coercion in the matter of faith." (2:256)
On the contrary, totalitarian societies totally deprive the individuals of their
freedom. Indeed, this undue exaltation of the state authority curiously enough
postulates a sort of servitude, of slavishness on the part of man. At one time
slavery meant total control of man over man - now that type of slavery has been
legally abolished but in its place totalitarian societies impose a similar sort
of control over individuals.
Protection Of Religious Sentiments:
Along with the freedom of conviction and freedom of conscience, Islam has given
the right to the individual that his religious sentiments will be given due
respect and nothing will be said or done which may encroach upon his right.
Protection From Arbitrary Imprisonment:
Islam also recognizes the right of the individual not to be arrested or
imprisoned for the offenses of others. The Holy Quran has laid down this
principle clearly:
"No bearer of burdens shall be made to bear the burden of another." (35:18)
The Right To Basic Necessities of Life:
Islam has recognized the right of the needy people for help and assistance to be
provided to them:
"And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and the
destitute." (51:19)
Equality Before Law:
Islam gives its citizens the right to absolute and complete equality in the eyes
of the law.
Rulers Not Above The Law:
A woman belonging to a high and noble family was arrested in connection with
theft. The case was brought to the Prophet, and it was recommended that she
might be spared the punishment of theft. 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:
"And their business is (conducted) through consultation among themselves."
(42:38)
The "Shura" or the legislative assembly has no other meaning except that the
executive head of the government and the members of the assembly should be
elected by free and independent choice of the people.
Lastly, it is to be made clear that Islam tries to achieve the above mentioned
human rights and many others not only by providing certain legal safeguards but
mainly by inviting mankind to transcend the lower level of animal life to be
able to go beyond the mere ties fostered by the kinship of blood, racial
superiority, linguistic arrogance, and economic privileges. It invites mankind
to move on to a plane of existence where, by reason of his inner excellence, man
can realize the ideal of the Brotherhood of man.