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_001.jpg) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights deals with many
issues. It attempts to ensure humankind treat each other with respect and
dignity. Islam is a religion that holds respect, dignity and tolerance in very
high esteem and the rights and responsibilities inherent in Islam are a
declaration of human rights.
One of the most important principles in Islam is that
God created humankind to be fully accountable for his actions. Each human
being has certain rights and responsibilities and no human being has the right
to restrict the freedom of another. Anyone who dares to take away the God
given rights inherent in Islam, including the right to human dignity, is called
a wrongdoer or an oppressor. God calls on those who obey Him to stand up for
the rights of the oppressed.
“And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the cause of
God, and for those weak, ill treated, and oppressed among men, women, and
children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people
are oppressors; and raise for us from you one who will protect; and raise for
us from you one who will help!” (Quran 4:75)
In article four of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
it states that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the
slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. More than 1400 years
ago Islam also tackled the issue of slavery.
In the 7th century CE, slavery was entrenched
in Arabian society, just as it was in other societies and systems of law. Slaves
were acquired easily via, warfare, debt, kidnapping and poverty; thus, prohibiting
slavery outright would have been as useless as trying to outlaw poverty itself.
Therefore, Islam placed restrictions and regulations on slavery designed to
bring about its eventual abolishment.
There are no texts in the Quran, or in the traditions
of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, that
enjoin the taking of slaves but there are countless texts calling for their
freedom, including Muhammad’s simple yet deeply profound words, “Visit the
ill, feed the hungry and release the slaves”. Islamic law
recognized slavery as an institution but restricted the sources of acquisition to
one method only, captured prisoners of war and their families. Muslim leaders
were encouraged to free prisoners of war or exchange them for ransom.
The principle of dealing with slaves in early Islam was a
combination of justice, kindness, and compassion. Muslims pay a small portion
of their yearly, accumulated income in compulsory charity and one of the lawful
ways this money may be used is to free slaves. Freeing slaves is also the
expiation for many sins, including breaking vows and accidental killings.
Over the past 200 years, Western culture has slowly
abolished slavery but the trade of human beings has not abated. National Geographic
estimates worldwide that there are 27 million men, women, and children who are currently
enslaved. Although man made declarations and treaties have denounced slavery,
ironically, on the open market, a slave is worth less today then he was 200
years ago.
Modern day “slaves” who are physically confined or
restrained, or forced to work, or controlled through violence have no legal way
to purchase their own freedom nor is there any legal body to oversee their
treatment. Slavery exists under the radar and is usually associated with
drugs, prostitution, and other illegal activities.
The restrictions imposed by Islam gave slaves rights and
protection from ill treatment. The act of freeing a slave is a very virtuous
act that will bless a person in this life and in the next. Islam has the
inherent ability to recognise and regulate the undesirable characteristics of
human nature.
Slavery and servitude will not be successfully abolished
until humankind recognizes that God’s laws are the true embodiment of human
rights. The same can be said of torture, and cruel and inhuman punishments. These
detestable actions will not cease to exist until humankind as a whole realizes that
there is a God and the worship of Him goes beyond coveting the life of this
world. Torture exists today even though treaties and declarations including
article five of the Universal Declaration of Human rights, call for the
abandonment of such ill treatment.
Cruelty, including excessive punishment is forbidden in
Islam. Each member of the human race is treated with due respect and dignity,
regardless of race, colour creed, or nationality. Prophet Muhammad expressly
prohibited cruel and unusual punishments even in times of war. He made it
clear that no one should be burned alive or tortured with fire, and that
wounded soldiers should not be attacked and prisoners of war should not be
killed. He said to his followers, “you are neither hard hearted nor fierce
of character”,
and he warned his people of being unjust, “for injustice shall be darkness
on the Day of Requital.”
Even prisoners of war in early Islamic history spoke
highly of their captors. Blessings be on the men of Medina', said one of these
prisoners in later days, 'they made us ride while they themselves walked; they
gave us wheaten bread to eat when there was little of it, contenting themselves
with dates."
The second Caliph of Islam, Omar Ibn Al Khattab said, “A person would not be
held responsible for his confession, if you inflicted pain upon him or scared
him or imprisoned him [to obtain the confession].”
The Cairo Declaration of Human Rights in Islam states in
article 20 that “No one is to be arrested or his freedom restricted, exiled, or
punished without adequate legal action. Individuals must not be subjected to
physical or psychological torment or any other humiliating treatment.”
The enforcement of human rights in Islam is linked
inextricably to the implementation of Islamic law. Islam promises that those
who follow God’s rules and regulations will be rewarded with His guarantee of
eternal Paradise. However choosing to restrict or take away rights given to
humankind by God is a punishable offence. “On the Day of Requital, rights
will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)...”
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