HUMAN RIGHTS

Arshad Gamiet

Muslims everywhere are always deeply distressed by any acts of violence against their brothers and sisters, whether it be in Iraq or Kosovo, in Kashmir or Palestine. The Ummah is one single body. When one side hurts, they all feel their pain and suffering, and they agonise because they appear to be so helpless. If only they could stop those Cruise missiles and so-called “smart-bombs”. Their pain is increased by the weak explanations that are offered for these carnages. They cannot help comparing the eagerness to bomb Iraq, with the indifference to the slaughter of Muslims in Bosnia and Kosovo, and the continued injustice in Palestine and Kashmir over so many years.

Let us rather look at the wider issue of human rights, and ponder, what each one of us can do, to promote Islam’s message of Peace with Dignity and Justice.

Where did the idea of Human Rights begin? What is the Islamic view? Is it achievable, or merely an impossible dream? And what should the Muslims do to promote human rights? In these few lines, it won’t be possible to cover all these questions in detail. So, we’ll have to be brief.

Throughout history, man has struggled to be freed from oppression by his fellow man. When the Pharaoh Ramses oppressed the Bani Israel, Prophet Moosaa led them out of Egypt. Thousands of years later, the Conquistadors, who were really, militant Catholic Fundamentalists, drove Muslims and Jews out of Spain. Who can forget the fall of Granada? More recently, our Palestinian brothers and sisters were driven from their homes to make way for the state of Israel. Similar atrocities are being committed in Kashmir. Indeed, the whole story of human rights is linked to the story of refugees and minority groups around the world.

200 years ago, long-suffering French peasants overthrew their monarchy and declared a Republic. “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” was the slogan of the French Revolution. In North America, a civil war gave birth to the Constitution of the United States, with its Bill of Rights, and it took another two centuries before Martin Luther King, won those same rights for Black Americans.

After the Second World War, the United Nations set out the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. It proclaimed the right to life, liberty, and security of person; to freedom of conscience, religion, association, speech, expression, political association, and so on. It includes the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty; to travel from a home country at will and return at will, and so forth. It sets out in broad terms, what basic human rights must be safeguarded in all countries.

If we look at the attitude of Western governments, and sadly, even some Muslim governments, concerning human rights, the record is disappointing. Their observance of human rights is based on expediency. It’s OK, as long as it doesn’t hurt their own economic interests. Today, the United States, is not even subtle in its disregard for fair dealing with other nations. In US foreign policy, their criteria is not universal justice or even-handedness, but: “our national self-interest.” It does not matter who gets hurt, how many lives are lost, how many millions have to suffer ill health, injustice, or an early death. As long as a policy serves their own advantage, their own narrow self-interest, there is no room for moral or ethical considerations. Closer to home, it has also been the policy of successive British governments, to sell arms to any cruel dictatorship who has the means to pay, despite the customer’s Human Rights record. While in opposition, one heard many cries of righteous indignation from New Labour, but once in government, these principles were quickly forgotten. When asked about the so-called “Ethical Foreign policy” that he promised while he was shadow Foreign Minister, the Robin Cook’s excuse is: “Well, if we don’t sell them these weapons, somebody else will!”

So much for Western Liberal democracy! What is the Islamic view on human rights?

In Islam, Justice is not there, only for the convenience of Muslims. It is not based on expediency, to be observed or ignored as we please. Muslims, unlike Jews, do not claim to be God’s chosen people, with one law for ourselves, and another law for others. They earn their way to Allah’s pleasure, with effort and sacrifice, every day. No prophet died for sins of Muslim, and each one of them carries his own burden. They are urged to stand up against oppression. So often, today’s victim can be tomorrow’s oppressor. Islam therefore goes beyond other ideologies in its pursuit of justice. Muslim are urged to be just, even to their enemies:

In Surah Al-Maaidah, verse 8, they are told: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing; and let not your hatred of a people, lead you to act unjustly towards them. Be just: that is next to Piety: and fear Allah for Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.”

And, in Surah An-Nisaa, they are told:

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves or your parents or your kin and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest you swerve. If you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do.”

Islam also teaches absolute equality before the law:

A woman belonging to a high and noble family was arrested for stealing. She was brought to the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam), and it was recommended that she might be spared the punishment because of her status. Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) replied: 

“The nations that lived before you were destroyed by Allah, because they punished the common man, and let their dignitaries go unpunished for their crimes. I swear, by the One Who holds my life in His hand that even if my daughter, Fatimah, had committed this crime, I would have cut off her hand.”

Perhaps the Islamic view on Human Rights is best explained, in that historic last sermon of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) during his Hajj. I will not quote it in full, but here are some points that he made:

“O People! Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today…..O People! Just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will meet your Lord, and that He will reckon your deeds.”

Further on, the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) said…”O People! You have certain rights over your women, but they also have rights over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.……. Every Muslim is the brother of every other Muslim. You are one brotherhood. All are equal. No one has superiority over others except in piety and good actions…….”

Further on in his sermon, Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) said:

“Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone…….O People! No prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People! And understand these words, which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quraan, and my example, the Sunnah. If you follow these you will never go astray…….All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness oh Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.”

Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) delivered Islam’s own International Declaration of Human Rights, 1316 years before the United Nations did! Soon after the Hijrah, he also produced in Madinah, Islam’s first written agreement in which the rights of every group in the society, majority or minority, were guaranteed. He is reported in one Hadeeth to have said:

“Whomsoever kills a Zimmi, [a non-Muslim living under protection of Islamic government], he will not even smell the fragrance of paradise.”

Let us therefore make certain, that when non-Muslims live within the midst of Muslims as Zimmis not as Harbi (fighting with Muslims), they are shown respect and fairness, and are made to feel welcome and safe. The noble ancestors of Muslim Ummah were the protectors of those who were persecuted in Europe. That is why major Muslim cities like Istanbul, Fez and Cairo, still have Jewish and Christian quarters. One Hadeeth says: 

“A Muslim is he from whose hands and tongue, other Muslims are safe; and a Mu’min [a believer], is he in whom Mankind has a sanctuary for its life and property.”

Human Rights also imply Human Obligations. This is the other side of the coin. ......

So often in life, today’s victim becomes tomorrow’s oppressor. The Jewish people are said to be suffered cruelty before and during the Second World War. But today, somehow they seem to have forgotten those lessons in their dealings with Palestinian Muslims.

One can realise from the last sermon of Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam), that Muslims bear a great responsibility. They must carry forward the Message of Islam to others. Perhaps they should add one more right to the list of Human Rights which all people are entitled to: the Right to know the truth about Islam. It’s the duty of Muslims, as Allah’s ambassadors, to make sure that the message of Islam reaches everyone on this planet. If they do not carry forward this message, they are then partly responsible for their oppression.

Muslims must not see Human Rights as some nebulous idea, out there, somewhere, that concerns someone else. Human Rights actually begin with them, individually. It is intimately connected with their idea of the Ummah, of community life, of our families, of how they see themselves. They can all start, by treating their wives and children better, by improving their attitude towards parents, brothers, sisters, neighbours, colleagues at work and on the campus. They should remember they are Islam’s ambassadors. They must strive for excellence in everything they do.

They all have a tremendous challenge and responsibility, to dispel the lies and propaganda, and to reveal the truth of Islam to the modern world.

If they do their best to fulfill this noble task, they will be fighting the most important Jihad, the battle for hearts and minds. And if Allah, the Most Gracious Wills it, they could be instrumental in building a strong and permanent presence for Islam in throughout the world including Europe and Americas.

History has shown that nothing, not even Cruise missiles and smart weapons, can resist an idea whose time has come. Communism and Apartheid have vanished. Both are today in the rubbish-bin of history. The influence of Christianity is also now in terminal decline. Islam is the last big idea, the last great challenge to Secular Materialism. The battle has already begun. Muslims know who will win. But it won’t come without effort, their effort. If they fail in this effort, Allah will choose another people to carry His message. He promised this many times in The Holy Quraan.

If they succeed, as they must, InshaaAllah, it would be their privilege and honour to be chosen for Allah’s great mission. When the final outcome of this war of ideas is decided, [and it may not be in our lifetime], then the meaning of that wonderful verse 81 of Surah Al-Israa will once again be clearer: 

“and say: Truth has come, and falsehood has perished, for falsehood is, by its nature, bound to perish.”

Let everybody pray: O Allah! Help Muslims to defend their human rights, and also with the same vigour and determination, let Muslims defend the human rights of others. Let Muslims never be among those who demand justice for themselves, but are unwilling to dispense justice for others. O Allah! Help Muslims to develop their full potential as individuals and as a community living in any corner of the world. O Allah! Help Muslims to become that wonderful band of people described in Sura Aale-Imraan, verse 104:

“Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain success.”

O Allah! Grant Muslims forgiveness for their sins, and let them enter the company of those whom you have blessed.

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