Human Rights And Democracy In Islam

[Freeman]

Human rights in Islam have many aspects.

Human Rights and Justice in Islam
Islam provides many human rights for the individual. 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 also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad

said: {Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.}1

Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms:

O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious.2 Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

(Quran, 49:13)

Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad

said: {O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person,3 except in piety.}4

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 the Prophet Muhammad

, Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.

Islam is a religion of justice. God has said:

Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice....

(Quran, 4:58)

And He has said:

...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just.

(Quran, 49:9)

We should even be just with those who we hate, as God has said:

...And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety....

(Quran, 5:8)

The Prophet Muhammad

said: {People, beware of injustice,5 for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.}6

And those who have not gotten their rights (i.e. what they have a just claim to) in this life will receive them on the Day of Judgment, as the Prophet

said: {On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)...}7
Islam Guide: Human Rights and Justice in Islam

In politics.

Muslim democrats, including Ahmad Moussalli (professor of political science at the American University of Beirut), argue that concepts in the Quran point towards some form of democracy, or at least away from despotism. These concepts include shura (consultation), ijma (consensus), al-hurriyya (freedom), al-huqquq al-shar'iyya (legitimate rights). For example, shura (Al Imran - Quran 3:159, Ash-Shura - Quran 42:38) may include electing leaders to represent and govern on the community’s behalf. Government by the people is not therefore necessarily incompatible with the rule of Islam, whilst it has also been argued that rule by a religious authority is not the same as rule by a representative of God. This viewpoint, however, is disputed by more traditional Muslims.

Islamic democracy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[aris2chat]

why don't they practice what is preached?

 

[Freeman]

why don't they practice what is preached?

Very good question!, because most of those countries are governed by dictatorships backed by USA.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are dictatorships who just use religion slogan but never applicate islamic rules: persecution of opposition and lack of human rights.

Turkey and Indonesia are the most democratic countries.

 

[aris2chat]

why don't they practice what is preached?

Very good question!, because most of those countries are governed by dictatorships backed by USA.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are dictatorships who just use religion slogan but never applicate islamic rules: persecution of opposition and lack of human rights.

Turkey and Indonesia are the most democratic countries.

Mosques in the US have equal rights and tolerance for all, or speak only for peace. Too many have and still do advocate war on infidels both elsewhere and in the US. Many still practice honor killing and abuse or death of gays. That particular mosque Obama went to plotted to bomb federal buildings.

Human rights? Democracy? Peace?

Not all mosques in the US are saudi.

 

[Freeman]

why don't they practice what is preached?

Very good question!, because most of those countries are governed by dictatorships backed by USA.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are dictatorships who just use religion slogan but never applicate islamic rules: persecution of opposition and lack of human rights.

Turkey and Indonesia are the most democratic countries.

Mosques in the US have equal rights and tolerance for all, or speak only for peace. Too many have and still do advocate war on infidels both elsewhere and in the US. Many still practice honor killing and abuse or death of gays. That particular mosque Obama went to plotted to bomb federal buildings.

Human rights? Democracy? Peace?

Not all mosques in the US are saudi.

What is the relation with subject?
There is also some muslims who are corrupt or drink, does it mean that Islam tolerate corruption or alcohol?!
Most mosques have a moderate speech.

 

[Agit8r]

The essential attribute of a functional democracy is pluralism. Hopefully more Islamic countries can embrace that example.

 

[Freeman]

The essential attribute of a functional democracy is pluralism. Hopefully more Islamic countries can embrace that example.

The dictators don't recognize pluralism nor human rights.