The Quran and Human Rights
Posted: September 27, 2011 Filed under: Dawah, Islam 11 Comments »The Sanctity and value of life:
On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. (5:32)
Nor take life – which Allah has made sacred – except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand qisas or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life; for he is helped (by the Law). (17:33)
The right to freedom, freedom of belief:
Say: O ye that reject Faith! (Islam) I worship not that which ye worship nor will ye worship that which I worship. And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship nor will ye worship that which I worship. To you be your Way, and to me mine. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion. you shall have your religion and I shall have my religion. (Chapter 109)
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. (2:256)
The right to justice, being free of injustice and oppression
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety. Fear Allah, indeed Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.” (5:8)
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even if it be against yourselves, your parents, and your relatives, or whether it is against the rich or the poor…” (Quran 4:135)
And when you speak, then be just though it be (against) a relative, and fulfill Allah’s covenant; this He has enjoined you with that you may be mindful; (6:152)
Helping the weak and poor of society:
Believe in Allah and His messenger, and spend (in charity) out of the (substance) whereof He has made you heirs. For, those of you who believe and spend (in charity),- for them is a great Reward. (57:7)
and spend something (in charity) out of the substance which We have bestowed on you, before Death should come to any of you and he should say, “O my Lord! why didst Thou not give me respite for a little while? I should then have given (largely) in charity, and I should have been one of the doers of good”. (63:10)
To orphans restore their property (When they reach their age), nor substitute (your) worthless things for (their) good ones; and devour not their substance (by mixing it up) with your own. For this is indeed a great sin. (4:2)
Humans are equal in essence, it doesn’t matter what race or nation your from:
And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors; most surely there are signs in this for the learned. (30:22)
Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in God’s sight is that one of you who best performs his duty. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (49:13)
Salamoalaikum,
How would you explain the freedom of belief under the light of Qur’an 9:29, which says:
Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
Yusuf Ali’s Quran Translation
the context of 9:29 is quite clear, it was in a context of war, we also don’t have any examples of the early Muslims forcing anyone to come into Islam, on the contrary the early Muslims were well known for their examples of tolerance. An example is the Caliph Umar (ra), when the
Muslims captured Jerusalem (during war), he promised to protect all the none Muslims of the land, to protect their places of worship, their men of faith, and so forth and so forth.
We would love to know the context of 9:29?
To this day you can find some of the oldest Churches still standing and preserved in the Muslim world, on top of that you can still find a large Christian community, some of whom are the oldest Christian communities! Their existence is a mere living example and proof of the tolerance of Muslims, if the early Muslims were a bunch of barbaric hateful people who simply wanted to force everyone into Islam, then we wouldn’t expect to find a single Church or Christian community in that land.
Talking of oldest churches, How would you reconcile that it was in Umar’s (raa) treaty with the Christians that they cannot renovate and refurbish their oblivion and decaying church buildings?
The Umar you mention was not the Caliph Umar, this is something people always confuse. It’s very easy to reconcile, are the Churches standing or not? The answer is yes, so therefore we know that the supposed ruling that Churches couldn’t be refurbished etc was not really put into practice, lol, it’s not hard to reconcile at all, we have physical standing structures which we can see with our own eyes. The authenticity of that document is under dispute, and contradicts the many known facts we know from the time that Christians were more than free to practice their faith with no such restrictions.
Umar (raa) different from Caliph Umar (raa) – this sounds to be a new theory, never heard about it? Can you provide any proof to support this claim.
Can you provide proof that the Treaty of Umar (raa) is inauthentic?
The logical fallacy commited by claiming that SOME churches are standing is that I am not concerned about whether churches are standing or not – rather, what does matter is the documented clause in the Treaty of Umar(raa) that Churches cannot be renovated – I need a justification to that. In fact, in a way standing churches put us to question that Muslims are not following the injunctions of the Sahabas (raa)
You are yet to provide the context of surah 9:29
Hmm…. equality extends beyond just race and nationality. Do women not deserve equality? Then why are women prevented from becoming religious scholars? Why is the birthplace of Islam (modern-day Saudi Arabia) a segregated society that treats women like helpless children who are not allowed to walk outside without a man’s permission? Where’s the equality?
Why are homosexuals not treated equal in Muslim societies? What equal rights does the LGBT community have in Islam? Why do they get capital punishment in some Islamic jurisdictions if Islam is such a proponent of human rights? Please elaborate on this.
By the way, there’s a difference between freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. Meaning, one should be able to believe whatever they want, not just believe in whatever religion. So, why do apostasy laws and blasphemy laws exist in parts of the Muslim world? Can you elaborate on all these “human rights” offered by Islam?
@Ex-Muslim,
Thanks for your note brother.
Kindly have your answers below:
Womens do deserve equality and there is not religion or civilization on the face of this earth which provides better equality, as it should be provided, than Islam.
No female religious scholars really!? I think you need to revisit Islamic History to know, that Prophet’s own wife, Mother Ayesha (RAA) was one of the most renowned RELIGIOUS SCHOLAR, who not only teach females Muslims of her time, but also taught males – the companions of Prophet (peace be upon him) himself.
Talking of Saudi – Arabia: Saudi Arabia although birth place of Mohammad (peace be upon him), not Islam (as Islam got birth with advent of Prophet Adam), does not reflect Islam. We do not even have a Khalifa there; there is monarchy in Saudi Arabia. Yet, we are proud that Saudi Arabia (SA) is a segregated society – segregated from most social evils thus, lowest crime rates. And, taking man’s permission, is not to be seen in any negative light, as by informing the man he may arrange for the safety of the lady moving out alone – thus, it is rather a positive trait.
What do you mean when you say homo sexuals are not treated equally in Islam? What equality are you talking about? If, not to recognise a sin as a sin is inequality then Muslims do not treat the homos equal. What is LGBT? Forget about jurisdictions show us capital punishment in Scriptures.
There is not problem with Apostasy law, what are you talking about, elaborate it.
@Question Mark: Stop lying to yourself buddy. Women are accorded much better equality outside of Islam (or any religion for that matter). Patriarchy, subservience, patronizing treatment and sexual repression. That’s what Islam means for women. Islamic patriarchy has made life hell for many Muslim women. Just take another example from KSA, where women do not even have the right to drive their own cars, much less equality with Muslim men.
Segregation prevents crime? Are you serious? If anything, these crimes (such as rape and wife-beating) continue to happen behind closed doors. BUT NO ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Do you think that Muslim women are any safer because of segregation? And you’re PROUD of this stupidity? Wow, you sound like a religious nutjob. At least most Muslim-majority nations don’t mandate sex segregation because it’s a ludicrous idea in the 21st century. No person in their right mind could think sex segregation is something to be proud of in the 21st century.
You are part of the problem. Muslim men perpetuate Islamic patriarchy because it benefits them – and not Muslim women. You pretend to care for human rights but you really don’t. Aisha was a religious teacher? Well then, did she lead men in salat? Do you accept that Muslim women should have the equal right to become imams? Let’s also discuss the hudud laws and how Muslim women are often killed (this happens in places like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, etc) for BEING raped. That’s right. RAPE is treated like ZINAH in these countries and the woman is often killed, all the while the man gets to live. So, stop pretending that there’s equality when there isn’t.
And homosexuality may be a sin in your eyes, but it’s something that’s inherent in human beings. All of the civilized world has accepted that already and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) people have been fighting for their equality for a long time. Are you that dense that you think that human sexuality is a choice? And you really ought to be asking the imposers of capital punishment for homosexuals in Islamic countries where their religious authority comes from. They’ll turn you toward the ahadith and show you the traditions where the death penalty is prescribed. Now, are you denying that too?
You guys have a “Muslim Debate Initiative” as if debating is your biggest problem. But your biggest problem is your own ignorance. You’re ignorant of issues important to women and the denial of ACTUAL human rights under Islamic law. Till you can genuinely address the issues in your own house, don’t even begin to think about debating anyone else.
@ Bro Ex-Muslim,
Thanks for your note.
“Women are accorded much better equality outside of Islam (or any religion for that matter).” I would love to know which religion provides women better status and life than Islam:). I would love to see one – just one Islamic tenet which oppress women into any thing. Hope you would find one.
As far as women not being allowed to drive car in KSA is concerned, then is KSA an Islamic state – which Khalifa do we have there? KSA is not allowing, if they are really not allowing, women to drive cars. In which Islamic Scripture did you found that Muslimahs cannot drive car? Quote it for me, please. On the contrary, it just brushes my mind that mother Aisha (RAA) rode camel to the battle of Siffin. Thus, I request you to criticise Islam with sense than emotion. There is no problem in criticising Islam, but do it for the sake of truth, bro.
Rape and wife beating happens inside closed doors and “BUT NO ONE DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT” Really!? I see a lot of western women doing a lot of things about it – ironically even after knowing that they would be so called “raped” and “beaten” they are entering into the fold of Islam in thousands.
” And you’re PROUD of this stupidity? Wow, you sound like a religious nutjob. At least most Muslim-majority nations don’t mandate sex segregation because it’s a ludicrous idea in the 21st century.”
Exactly…those “Muslim-majority nations” aren’t actually “Muslim nations” other wise they would have mandated it – like it was earlier. I will be proud when that happens because it will provide more safety, modesty and respect to my sisters and mothers.
“No person in their right mind could think sex segregation is something to be proud of in the 21st century.”
How can any person in their right mind think the so called LGBT is something even remotely normal. Plus, unnecessary intermingling of sexes is a golden rule. It deters some of the most filthiest of sins like illicit sex, rape etc.
“Aisha was a religious teacher? Well then, did she lead men in salat? Do you accept that Muslim women should have the equal right to become imams?”
Ofcourse, mother Aisha (RAA) was a religious teacher – numerous Hadith literature attest to this fact. Firstly, you asked why can’t Muslim women become religious scholars, “Then why are women prevented from becoming religious scholars?” to it I showed you that mother Aisha (RAA) was…now you ran to another topic why didn’t she lead men in to prayer. Brother, would you first accept that your notion is false that women are debarred to become religious scholars in Islam as I already proved that mother Aisha (RAA) – one of the greatest Muslim women was. Furthermore, what makes one think that a religious leader has to lead men into prayer otherwise she is not a scholar or her rights have been debarred. Can you find me one muslim women who is complaining about the fact. Plus there is logic and reasoning behind why it is not preferable that women lead men in to prayer – it avoids many distractions which would other wise creep in.
“Let’s also discuss the hudud laws and how Muslim women are often killed (this happens in places like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, etc) for BEING raped. That’s right. RAPE is treated like ZINAH in these countries and the woman is often killed, all the while the man gets to live. So, stop pretending that there’s equality when there isn’t.”
If at all, you have only proved (which you havent) that those few countries are barbaric. Show me in Qur’an or in acceptable Hadith where raped women are said to be treated like adulteress. Show me where does Qur’an or Hadith allow rapists to go free.
“And homosexuality may be a sin in your eyes, but it’s something that’s inherent in human beings. All of the civilized world has accepted that already and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) people have been fighting for their equality for a long time.”
Its not inherent in human being, its abnormal to say the least. And, I cannot see which “civilized world” you are talking about which has accepted LGBT since I still see KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Pakistan reject it as filthy culture. And the so called “civilized world” for you have gotten so deep into this sin that sin is no longer sin for them.
“Are you that dense that you think that human sexuality is a choice?” Are you so corrupt that you have to go out of the natural and normal way to accept homos and lesbies as your partners?
“You guys have a “Muslim Debate Initiative” as if debating is your biggest problem. But your biggest problem is your own ignorance. You’re ignorant of issues important to women and the denial of ACTUAL human rights under Islamic law. Till you can genuinely address the issues in your own house, don’t even begin to think about debating anyone else.”
Thank you for the above advice.
sincerely,
Q.M.