Islam and the Human Rights

Islam and the Human Rights

Al-Haqq (The Truth) is one of the Names of God Almighty and one of His most prominent attributes, as mentioned in multiple verses of the Quran: “That is because God is the Truth…” (Quran 22:6 and others). The Arabic word haqq denotes something that is established, fixed, or deserved—whether for an individual or a group, such as family or society. These include personal rights, family rights, and societal rights, all grounded in justice and fairness.

From this foundation, Islam places special emphasis on human rights in every aspect of life. It underscores the importance of recognizing and upholding these rights while warning against neglect or violation, which constitutes injustice. The Quran highlights this through numerous verses: “Every soul is held in pledge for what it earns” (Quran 74:38), “God forbid that we should seize anyone except the one with whom we found our property; otherwise, we would indeed be wrongdoers” (Quran 12:79), and “Whoever does good deeds—male or female—while being a believer, We will surely grant them a good life and reward them according to the best of what they used to do” (Quran 16:97). Another verse commands: “O my people! Give full measure and weight with justice, and do not deprive people of their goods, nor go about causing corruption in the land” (Quran 11:85), while “Indeed, God commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people, to judge with justice. Excellent indeed is what God instructs you. Indeed, God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing” (Quran 4:58) further emphasizes accountability and fairness.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also highlighted these principles. He said: “You are all from Adam, and Adam is from dust,” and: “One of you may leave out part of his brother’s rights, and he will be held accountable for it on the Day of Judgment.” Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) added: “Then God, the Glorified, assigned from His own rights certain rights that He made obligatory upon people for one another. These rights are linked together—some lead to others, and none are deserved unless others are fulfilled.”

Perhaps the most remarkable and comprehensive text on human rights in Islamic tradition is the Treatise on Rights (Risalat al-Huquq) by the fourth Imam of the Ahl al-Bayt, Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn, known as al-Sajjad and Zain al-Abidin (38–95 AH / 659–713 CE). This document is an outstanding historical record that predates by many centuries modern human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights issued by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, which consists of 29 articles. In contrast, the Treatise on Rights enumerates fifty distinct rights encompassing all aspects of human life.

The rights outlined in Islam are broad and inclusive. They begin with the greatest right—God’s right over His creation—then extend to the rights of the self, including the soul, mind, body, and all its parts. Next, they detail the rights of others: parents, children, family members, relatives, friends, teachers, leaders, imams, prophets, neighbors, and more. Finally, the Treatise includes the rights of nature—plants, animals, resources, and the blessings of the earth.

This document remains a rare and invaluable treasure for anyone seeking to understand and uphold true human rights.

For more details, you can visit the following website: https://www.iislamic.org/rights-risalat-al-huquq/