Human Rights—Justice, Respect, And Fraternity, Are Fundamental to Islam But Why Do Muslims Fail to Uphold Them?

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 16 January 2024 Human Rights Are Fundamental To Islam, But The Issue Lies In Why Muslim Nations Fail To Uphold Them. The Failure Of The Muslim Community To Advance Human Rights Is Equally The Fault Of All Muslims, Not Just Preachers, Ulema, Imams, Or Modern Muslim Intellectuals. Main Points: 1. Islam upholds justice, peace, and safety, implementing strict measures to prevent oppression and prevent individuals from falling into its depths. 2. Mercy is a divine gift from Allah, and treating Earth's inhabitants with kindness will result in His mercy. 3. Allah does not grant mercy to a person who does not show mercy to others. 4. The Prophet's hadiths, along with Qur'anic verses, offer profound lessons against injustice and persecution, urging individuals to refrain from engaging in such practices. ------ The fact that human rights are essential to Islam is not the problem. Everyone is aware of that. The question is why any Muslim nation does not uphold human rights. Muslims disregard human rights, even on an individual basis. It is possible that they are unaware of what human rights are. In this regard, who are the worst offenders? Is it the preachers, Ulema, imams, or modern Muslim intellectuals? I don't hold any particular Muslim group only accountable because the failure of the Muslim community to progress human rights is equally the fault of all Muslims. It also comes up why governments, clergy, people, and societies, have failed to practice Islamic guidelines on human rights, values and principles. Of course, there are honourable outliers in every class—possibly with the exception of governments—but that is unimportant. Although some Muslims proudly claim that Islam is the source of the greatest human rights paradigm, some of us regularly abuse these rights in the course of their daily life. This indicates that although Muslims are required by Islam to uphold human rights and principles, they do not do so. We need to think about these things, educate our Muslim brothers about human rights, and encourage them to practise them. Islam places a strong emphasis on the fundamental human values of love, respect, fraternity, and tolerance. It links these values to social, religious, political, and economic interactions, establishing precise rules and regulations for the well-being and happiness of mankind. Islamic belief holds that everyone has a responsibility to treat everyone with kindness, compassion, love, affection, and support while they are suffering, as Allah Almighty states in the Holy Qur'an: “And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (5:2) “so, fear Allah and maintain friendship among yourselves…” (8:1) “Indeed, Allah decrees the commands of justice and kindness, and of giving to relatives, and forbids from the shameful and evil and rebellion; He advises you so that you may pay heed.” (16:90) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Those who extend mercy receive mercy from the Most Merciful (Allah). The Lord of Heaven will treat you with mercy if you treat the inhabitants of Earth with mercy.” (Sunan Tirmidhi) "He is not one of us who does not respect our elders and extend kindness to our younger ones." (Ahmad Musnad) "Allah does not provide mercy to a person who does not show mercy to people." (Sahih Bukhari; Kitab al-Tawheed) "All creations are the family of Allah, and the one who best serves his family is the most beloved creation to Allah." (Tabarani, Mu’jam Kabeer) Islam forbids injustice and suffering for any creature that exists, and it encourages safety and peace. Islam necessarily takes strict steps to stop oppression and keep individuals from slipping into the depths of oppression. The Almighty Allah condemns the oppressors and says: “And had Allah willed, He could have made them all upon one religion, but He admits whomever He wills into His mercy, and the unjust do not have any friend nor any supporter.” (42:8) “neither you cause harm to someone, nor you be harmed.” (2:279) The Holy Qur'an places such a high value on human life that killing a person is considered a crime equivalent to the annihilation of all of humanity. This alone should give you an idea of how serious sin cruelty is. This sin is regarded as the Major sin in Islam. The Almighty Allah says: “Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.” (5:32) This brings us to the important question: Given that Allah Almighty is the Creator, Owner, and Ruler and that He detests oppression and does not tolerate it, how can governments, rulers, and other human leaders justify mistreating people? Along with the Qur'anic verses, the Prophet's hadiths are replete with illuminating and thought-provoking lessons against injustice and persecution. People are strongly discouraged from participating in oppression or transgression by these lessons. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) is reported to have said, "Oppression will be a darkness on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 627) The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen and said, "Be afraid, from the curse of the oppressed as there is no screen between his invocation and Allah." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 628) The Prophet (peace be upon him), "Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 629) Hazrat 'Aisha, the Mother of Believers, narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The most hated person in the sight of Allah is the most quarrelsome person." (Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 43, Number 637) On the authority of Abu Dharr al-Ghifaree (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from his Lord, that He said: “O, My servants! I have forbidden dhulm (oppression) for Myself, and I have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another…” [Collections of Forty » Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi » Hadith 24] The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one”. People asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “By preventing him from oppressing others”. (Bukhari, Hadith 2444) Islam also urges Muslims to emulate the Prophet (peace be upon him), who was well known for his compassion and generosity. To do this, Muslims must give up all behaviours that damage Islam's reputation, such as extremism and violence, and embrace moderation and tolerance as a way of life. The Almighty Allah says, “There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful”. (9:128) There is truly nothing better than following the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and preventing oppression, violence, extremism, and accepting the ideas of justice and moderation because these are the routes to safety and righteousness. Shirk and Kufr are serious faults in Islam, but those who commit them are not deprived of human rights, decent treatment, or compassion in this life. They are eligible for special benefits, such as financial assistance for the impoverished and needy. It is recommended that everyone show the same kindness to everyone, regardless of religion, caste, culture and race. Islam forbids Muslims from harming or harbouring animosity against others under their care, either verbally or physically. Islam considers it essential to defend its inhabitants from injustice occurring within its borders. In the Hereafter, Allah Almighty either permits oppressors to undergo double punishment or exacts revenge upon them in this life. He does not love or guide oppressors. Many verses in the Quran and Hadiths emphasise how destructive, offensive, and prohibited oppression is in all of its forms. A multitude of Ahadith expressly forbids abuse or persecution of any non-Muslim who is under Muslim protection or who has a peace accord in place. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "On the Day of Judgement, I am that person's enemy, who wrongs someone with whom the Muslims have a treaty, denies them their rights, and burdens them beyond what they can bear, or takes something from them against their will." The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said about the dhimmis (the non-Muslim citizens of the Muslim State): "One who kills a man under covenant (i.e. a dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise" (Bukhari and Abu Dawud). In summary, Islam has treated all people equally, regardless of their religion, and has upheld their human rights without showing any bias or discrimination. They have all been deemed honourable, and just like Muslims, they now enjoy the same rights concerning equality in social, political, and private spheres. While keeping these human rights and values, we must consider why Muslims disobey them. We also need to come up with strategies for educating Muslims about these ideas so that they will adhere to them. ----- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-human-rights/human-rights-justice-fraternity-muslims/d/131527 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism