Islam 102

Lesson 3: Quran and Human Rights

Quran and Rights to Life

Life: It is the basic right of man. Human blood is sacred. It is thought to be valuable in Islam. Islam condemns killing, violation, abuse of power and terrorism. Killing a soul without reason is condemned in Quran and it equates it to the killing of the entire mankind. Quran says

“Who so slays a soul, not to retaliate for a soul slain, nor for corruption done in the land should be as if he has slain mankind altogether.”(5 :32)

In Islam, the sanctity of life was established by rooting out female infanticide. Oppression of children, women, old people, the sick or invalids is a heinous act, in fact Quran has stressed the feeding, clothing, and kind treatment of the suffering ones whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. The Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) said

“The greatest sins are to associate someone with Allah and to kill human beings.”

Islam teaches to respect the sanctity of life of all, whether a person is from one’s own nation or of another nation. In the last sermon delivered by Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H), he emphasized the sanctity of the lives of people,

”Your lives and property are forbidden to one another till you meet your Lord on the day of resurrection.”

Islam condemns taking one’s life in any way, whether as an act of retaliation. In such a case, one can go to the court of law for justice. Islam genuinely emphasizes the rights to life of man regardless of race or nation. Few centuries before, some nations badly violated the rights of less powerful primitive humans living in this world. Some were hunted for slavery whereas in other areas people were killed for the occupation of land. These cases are related to ancient Africans and the Aborigines of Australia. Around 60 years before, a large portion of the population of Japan was brutally cleared off by one of the most deadly and destructive weapons. Likewise the present atrocities in Afghanistan and Iraq are the latest example of the breach of human rights where thousands of innocent people lost their lives. Quran says

“And whosoever saves a life, it is as though he has saved the lives of all mankind.” (5:32)

There are many ways of helping and saving people. It can be through medically treating the wounded or rescuing the dying or by sharing one’s own piece of bread with the starving ones. The Quran says

“Anyone who kills a believer deliberately, will receive as his reward (a sentence) to live in Hell forever. God will be angry with him and curse him and prepare dreadful torment for him.”(4:93)

Sanctity of life varies in many ways. Abortion is one of the disliked acts which Quran condemns in Surah Bani Israel as,

“And kill not your children for fear of poverty - we provide for them and for you. Surely the killing of them is a great wrong.”

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