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Human Rights in Islam

Islam guarantees individual human rights. The following are some of these human rights that Islam protects:

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not.

Islam protects one's honor by prohibiting cursing and ridiculing other. Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Qur-an speaks of human equality in the following terms:

"O mankind!  We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other.  Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.  Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Qur-an, 49:13)

Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored over others because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings equals and distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said:

(O people!  Your God is One and your forefather (Adam) is one.  An 'Arab is no better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is no better than an 'Arab, and a red person is no better than a black person and a black person is no better than a red person, except in piety).

One of the major problems facing mankind today is racism. The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be eliminated.

The Criteria For Truth

How do you know if your belief system is true?

Are the teachings of your belief system rational?
Do they conform to the norms of human reason and intellect?

Is the creator of your belief system perfect?

Does your belief system contain superstitions or myths? Islam presents humanity with only true knowledge.

Can your belief system withstand the discoveries and claims of modern science? Islam can and does.

How accurate are your belief system's prophecies and predications?  Islam's are always completely accurate.

Could a person have devised your belief system?
No one has ever been able to imitate the Noble Qur-an, although many have tried over the centuries.

What they say about Islam

Here are some of the opinions of non-Muslim scholars who have studied Islam.  Such comments show that they are beginning to appreciate the faith of Islam:

"It (Islam) replaced monkishness by manliness. It gives hope to the slave, brotherhood to mankind, and recognition of the fundamental facts of human nature."

Canon Taylor,
Paper read before the Church Congress at Walverhamton, Oct. 1887 Quoted by Arnoud in The Preaching of Islam, PP. 71-72

"Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur-an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world."

Lectures on "The Ideals of Islam" See Speeches and Writings of of Sarojini Naidu, Madras, 1918, P. 167

"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated."

De Lacy O'Leary
Islam At The Crossroads, London, 1923, P. 8

"The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam, and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue."

A. J. Toynbee
Civilization on Trial, New York, 1948, P. 205

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