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HUMAN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
At the time of the advent of Islam in 610 CE, kings and tyrants were ruling countries, nations and tribes. There was no idea of human liberty and rule of law, no concept of people having any say in the government. The British Magna Carta, The American constitution and the United Nations Charter of Human Rights present today’s most celebrated documents on human rights.
It is an indisputable fact that human rights have become a vital issue at the international scene. Muslims and non Muslims alike have been carried by this whirl wind of human rights driving for initiated by the western philosophers.
It is often thought that Bacon, Rousseau, Locke and other European thinkers are the heads behind the foundation of modern democracy. Of all the charters drawn by different people and organizations and different times, the Charter drawn by the noblest of all men, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) stands out. A look at his “Farewell Sermon: will prove this fact. The intelligently written human documents seem to fade away and pale in comparison to just one sermon of Muhammad (peace be upon him). On the match is Islam shining with the best constitution laid by the best of all creatures! The Qur’aan had declared in the 7th Century that:
“Now, Indeed, We have conferred dignity on all children of Adam (as their birth right)”
{Qur’aan 17:70}
Pages of history stand witness to the blessings of the Qur’aanic way of life. In the truly Qur’aanic era of Islam, the (emancipated) black slave of Ethiopia, Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him), the poor laborer of Rome, Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him), and the lonely wanderer of Persia, Salman, were equal to, and had the same rights as, the most powerful man of the time. Umar Farooq the great (may Allah be pleased with him) the second Caliph of Islam. Umar (R.A) used to address Bilal (R.A); “O my Master!” He also requested that Suhaib lead the Caliph’s funeral prayer. And the Exalted Messenger (peace be upon him) had himself honoured Salman by calling him a member of his own household. Here is a brief resume of the Qur’aanic Human Rights Charter:
1.
Equal human dignity by birth (Qur’aan 17:70, 95:4)
2.
Gender equity (Qur’aan 4:32’ 33:35)
3.
Superiority by character only (Qur’aan 49:13, 46:19)
4.
Rule of Law, not individuals (Qur’aan 3:79)
5.
Full compensation of work (Qur’aan 53:39, 53:41, 39:70, 37:39)
6.
Provision of basic needs (Qur’aan 20:118,-119)
7.
Security of faith, life mind, honour, and property (Qur’aan 6:109, 6:152, 2:256, 2:269, 17:36, 6:152, 5:32, 17:29)
8. Choice of spouse (Qur’aan 4:3, 4:19)
9.
Freedom of religion (Qur’aan 22:40, 2:256, 6:109)
10.
Freedom of expression (Qur’aan 2:42, 3:71)
11.
Redress of grievances (Qur’aan 4:148)
12.
Right to Privacy (Qur’aan 33:53, 24:27)
13.
Care of handicapped (Qur’aan 4:36, 70:24)
14.
Presumption of innocence (Qur’aan 49:11, 33:4)
15.
Right to residence (Qur’aan 4:100, 2:850)
16. Sanctity of name and lineage (Qur’aan 49:11, 33:4)
17.
Aesthetic choice (Qur’aan 18:31, 76:13-15)
18. Protection of chastity (Qur’aan 17;32, 24;2)
19.
Equality- colour, race, gender, wealth are no criteria of superiority. (Qur’aan 2:212, 49:13)
20.
Degrees of people according to merit (Qur’aan 3:163, 6:132)
POETRY
Footstep
Drag them! Drag them!
Commands the enemy
Into the footsteps
The footsteps of Satan
In the name of democracy
We can drag them
In the name of human rights
We can drag them
In the name of freedom
We can drag them
Into the footsteps
The footsteps of the devil
Enjoy yourself
Drink wine
Enjoy life
Don’t get panic
Abandon the Sunnah
You have rights
Thus deceives the enemy
In effort to lock you up
Into the belly of the accursed
Take out your Hijab
Put on mini skirts
Leave home and work
Be modernised
Don’t be ‘oppressed’
Move with the time
Such are satanic calls
That you may get trapped
Into the pit of disbelief
Watch out my brother
Take care my sister
Be strict my father
Mama be careful
Before you became a Muslim
A Muslim by name not
Accept it with all your inside and outside
In fear of the footsteps
Indeed, the footsteps of the accursed
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