| Other Rights
Surah 2: Al-Baqarah: 229
Surah: Al-`Imran: 17,77
Surah 5: Al-Ma'idah: 1
Surah 17: Al-Isra': 34
Surah 67: Al-Mulk: 15
The Qur'an upholds the right of the human
being not only to life but to "the good life." This good life,
made up of many elements, becomes possible when a human being is living in
a just environment. According to Qur'anic teaching, justice is a
prerequisite for peace, and peace is a prerequisite for human
development.
In a just society, all the
earlier-mentioned human rights may be exercised without difficulty. In
such a society, other basic rights also exist... ie:
right to a secure place of residence
right to the protection of one's personal possessions
right to protection of one's covenants
right to move freely
right to social and judicial autonomy for minorities
right to protection of one's holy places
right to return to one's spiritual center
Since Qur'anic teaching embraces every
aspect of human life, it contains references to more human rights than can
be mentioned in this short summary. According to Surah 3: Al-`Imran: 96,
Surah 5: Al-Ma'idah: 97, and Surah 22: Al-Hajj: 25, the "Ka'ba"
in Mecca is the spiritual center of all humankind. It was here that the
Prophet Ibrahim proclaimed the pilgrimage to all humankind, as pointed out
by Surah 2: Al-Baqarah: 125, Surah 3: Al-`Imran: 96, and Surah 22:
Al-Hajj: 26.
There are indications from across the world
of Islam that an increasing number of Muslims are beginning to reflect
seriously upon these teachings of the Qur'an as they become disenchanted
with capitalism, communism, and Western democracy. As this reflection
deepens, it is likely to lead to the realization that the supreme task
entrusted to human beings by God, of being God's deputies on earth, can
only be accomplished by establishing justice which the Qur'an regards as a
prerequisite for authentic peace. Without the elimination of the
inequities, inequalities, and injustices that pervade the personal and
collective lives of human beings, it is not possible to talk about peace
in Qur'anic terms. It is important to note that there is more Qur'anic
legislation pertaining to the establishment of justice in the context of
family relationships than on any other subject. This points to the
assumption implicit in much Qur'anic legislation, namely, that if human
beings can learn to order their homes justly so that the human rights of
all within its jurisdiction --children, women, and men -- are safeguarded,
then they can also order their society and the world at large, justly. In
other words, the Qur'an regards the home as a microcosm of the "ummah"
and the world community, and emphasizes the importance of making it
"the abode of peace" through just living.
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