Badshahi Mosque Lahore

When the Western World was passing through a period of intellectual darkness and religious bigotry, Islam was the torchbearer of liberty, fraternity, and freedom even in that day and age. The injunctions laid down in the Quran and in the last sermon of the Prophet of Islam became the foundation base for the future accords on human rights.

The Magna Carta of 1200s, the declaration of independence by America, the French revolution and the United Nations’ universal declaration of human rights bears testimony to the fact that Islam has been the founder of modern concept of individual freedom and human rights even though Islam differs with some of the modern so-called ethics which are against the nature of human intellect.

Now we are going to explore point by point the teachings that Islam has prescribed for its followers to employ in their lives regarding the observance of Civil liberties and human rights.

Freedom of living

Islam guarantees freedom of life for all human beings without exception of race, color, creed, race or religion etc. Even this concept of Islam extends to other creatures of the earth strictly binding on humans not to hurt them.

The Holy Quran says, “Whoever kills a person other than for manslaughter or corruption on the earth; it is as if he has killed the whole humankind” (Surah Al Maidah).
Similarly, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) says,” Whoever kills a dhimmi (Non-Muslim in the Islamic state) will not even smell the fragrance of Heaven”.

Freedom of Religion

Though Islam prescribes complete rules and regulations for Muslims to follow in their lives but never binds those regulations on Non-Muslims even up to the extent that Non-Muslims are considered free to follow their religious edicts in their family and legal matters.  The Holy Quran clearly says,” There is no compulsion in religion” (Surah Baqarah).

Equality of men

Islam denounces the concept of superiority and believes in the equality of mankind irrespective of religion, caste, creed, color or origin etc. The Holy Quran clearly sets the only standard for superiority and that is “piety” by saying,” O mankind, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest among you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. ”(Surah Al-Hujurat) [1].

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) in his last sermon said,” All humankind is from Adam and Eve, neither an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; neither a white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety”.

This equality of mankind also extends to the jurisdiction of the court where all will be treated equally without any distinction. Once Hazrat Umar (r.a) has to present himself in the court to in a legal case when Hazrat Umar (r.a) entered the courtroom, the judges stood up in respect of the Caliph Umar (r.a). Upon seeing this the caliph suspended them from the job on the pretext that no distinction should be made in the application of law to the citizens.


Freedom of speech and action

 Islam guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of action in each and every aspect within a certain ambit of law. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) used to consult his companions before carrying out a plan. This fact is clearly elucidated by the adoption of the plan to dig a trench around Medina to break the morals of the Meccan Army on the counsel of Salman Farsi (r.a).

Similarly, once the second Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Umar (r.a), was addressing a gathering with an intention to change the alimony amount. A woman stood up and reminded the Caliph that it is purely women’s prerogative. Hazrat Umar (r.a) instead of scolding her talked to her in a polite manner and afterward told the gathering that I was wrong in my perceived decision.

Right to property

The right to property of a person is one of the basic rights that a man possesses in the Islamic law and no one can deprive a person of his property even the state has no right to usurp the citizen’s property rights.
The Quran clearly says,” O you who have believed, do not devour one another's wealth unjustly but only in business by mutual consent” (Surah Al-Nisa).

Right to honour and dignity

Islam gives an immense importance to the honor and dignity of a person and is evident from the punishments that Islam has prescribed for the violators of the dignity of others.
Quran says,” And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after “(Surah Nisa).[2]

Right to privacy

The right to privacy is an important element of human rights that modern day intelligentsia stresses upon a lot but Islam has recognized and prescribed it 1400 years ago. Quran says,” O believers! Don’t enter the houses of others, without seeking permission of their occupants; this is the conduct enjoined upon you” (Surah Al-Nur).

Right to movement

The Islamic law gives the freedom of movement to all the human beings within the ambit of law.
The Holy Quran says,” Travel throughout the earth, and see how Allah did originate creation” (Surah Al Ankabut ).

Islam deals with almost all the rights that the modern day intellectual takes credit for. Some of the other rights that Islam has stressed upon include: the right to earning a livelihood, the right to healthcare, the right to get knowledge, Right to participation in public affairs and right to be provided other basic needs of life by the state.

To sum up the discussion I would quote the Second Caliph of Islam, who said,” Even if a dog dies out of hunger on the bank of the River Euphrates, Umar (r.a) will be responsible for that”.

Reference:

1. https://quran.com/49/13
2. https://quran.com/24