The document discusses human rights and the right to life in Islam. It makes 3 main points: 1) In Islam, life is a sacred trust from God and taking another person's life is strictly forbidden unless through legal means like capital punishment. All humans are equal in dignity and rights. 2) The Quran establishes the right to life and prohibits killing others unjustly. It also obligates Muslims to provide for those in need and protect vulnerable groups. 3) Muhammad established the first Islamic society which respected freedom of religion, women's rights, and eliminated discrimination. Human rights in Islam stem from the principles of dignity and equality for all people.

1. “Any basic right or freedomtowhich all human beings are entitledandin
whose exercise agovernment may not interfere, including rights tolife
and liberty as well as freedomof thought and expressionandequality
before the law”
In Islam, life is a sacred trustfromGod and the most basic
right of a human being. No individual is permitted to take the life of another,
unless it is for justiceadministered by a competent court following due process of
law.
The right to life is a moral principle based on the belief that a human being has
the rightto live and, in particular, should not to be unjustly killed by another
human being. The concept of a right to life is central to debates on the issues of
capital punishment, war, abortion, euthanasia and justifiable homicide.
Not only do human beings have the right not to be harmed, they have the right to
be safeguarded fromharm, physicalor otherwise. For instance, under Islamic law,
people are legally liable for not preventing a blind man from dying of a perilous
fall, if they were in a position to save him. A person has to be just with all people
whether he likes them or abhors them:

2. “On that account : We ordainedfor the childrenof Israel that if any one slewa
person_unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief inthe land_It, would
be as if he slewthe whole people:”“Andif any one savedthe life of the whole
people. Then Althoughthere came tothemOur Apostles withclear Signs, yet,
evenafter that, many of themcontinuedtocommit excesses inthe land.”
(Surah Al_Maidah:32)
This verseis related with the story of Cain in order to tell the story of Israel. When
Allah Almighty withdraw His favour fromIsrael, becauseof their sins, and
bestowed it on another nation, the jealously of Israelplunged deeper into the sin.
To kill an individual is to kill all the humanity and to save an individual is to save
humanity.
A basic standard of life includes the minimum essentials
necessary for survival, such as food, clothing, shelter and medical attention.
Anyonedeprived of these necessities is entitled to receive aid in order to meet
their needs. Itis the duty of every Muslim with adequate means to give fromtheir
wealth, in order to eradicate poverty fromsociety.
Describing the righteous believers in the Quran, God reminds that they are those
who give a “rightful share of their wealthtothe beggar and the deprived”
(51:19).
The Islamic state is also obligated to spend fromits treasury to supportthe poor
and disadvantaged.

3. “And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just.” (Quran, 49:9)
The Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: “People, beware of injustice, for injustice
shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.”
“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)
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. 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, except in piety.”
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.”
Abolitionists believe capital punishmentis a violation of
the rightto life. Abolitionists believe that capital punishmentis the worstviolation
of human rights, because the right to life is the mostimportant, and capital
punishmentviolates it without necessity and inflicts to the condemned a
psychologicaltorture.

4. Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL
DECLARATIONOF HUMANRIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of
society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall striveby teaching and
education to promoterespect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive
measures, national and international, to securetheir universaland effective
recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States
themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.
 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one
another in a spirit of brotherhood.
 Everyoneis entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this
Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made
on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the
country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be
independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of
sovereignty.
 Everyonehas the right to life, liberty and security of person.
 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade
shall be prohibited in all their forms.
 No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
 Everyonehas the right to recognition everywhereas a person before the
law.
 All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination
to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against

5. any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and againstany
incitement to such discrimination.
 Everyonehas the right to an effective remedy by the competent national
tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the
constitution or by law.
 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile
 Everyoneis entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an
independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and
obligations and of any criminal chargeagainst him.
The Quran states that all humans are the descendents of one
man Adam and are therefore brothers to one another. The emphases on
equality and justice in the Quran appears throughoutthe text and even include
one's enemy. The duty of Muslims to be justand truthfulenjoys a high priority
status, in the Quran, and is described in the following manner, that "O you who
believe! be maintainersof Justice, bearersof witness of Allah's sake, Though it
maybe againstyour own selves or (your) parentsor near relatives; if he be rich
or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do notfollow
(your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah
is aware of whatyou do" (4.131).
According to the Quran, life is a divine bestowalon
humanity that should be secured and defended by all means (Islamic bioethics).
Itis the individual and universalduty of Muslims, according to the Quran, to
protect the human merits and virtues of others. Life in the Quran is attributed
tremendous value, in fact the Quran says that "whoever slays asoul, it is as
though he slewall men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept
alive all men "(5.32).
The Quran forbids thetaking of life without due process of
the law, and it also obligates Muslims to providefor those who cannot provide
for themselves. The right to life is conferred by the Quran even on one's enemy
during war as Muslims are forbidden fromusing force except in self-defense.

6. Also protected by the Quran are the Elderly, women, and children of the enemy
and to these there are no exceptions.
Regarding equality, God (Allah in Arabic) clearly declares that in His sight, the
only distinguishing factors between humans arerighteousness and piety:
“People, We createdyouall from a single man and a single
woman, and made you intoraces and tribes sothat you shouldrecognize one
another. In God’s eyes, the most honoredof you are the ones most mindful of
Him: God is all knowing, all aware” (49:13).
God promises in the Quran, “If any do deeds of righteousness –be they male
or female – and have faith, they will enter Heaven, andnot the least injustice
will be done to them”(4:124).
God recognizes this right in the Quran, “Nor take life – which Allahhas made
sacred – except for just cause”(17:33). Healso says, “if anyone kills a person –
unless inretributionfor murder or spreading corruptioninthe land – it is as if
he kills all mankind while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all
mankind” (5:32).
Muhammad(P.B.U.H), thefinal prophetof Islam, established the very first
Islamic society which eliminated the spiritual and social problems rampantin
the Arabian Peninsula. Freedom of religion was instituted in Medina; women
were honored and respected as equals; racial discrimination was practically
eliminated; tribal warfarewas replaced with united ties of brotherhood;usury
and alcohol were completely forbidden.
Human rights in Islamstemfromtwo foundational principles:
dignity and equality. Dignity is a fundamental right of every human being
merely by virtue of his or her humanity. As God states in the Quran, “We have
honoredthe childrenof Adam and carriedthemby land and sea;we have
providedgood sustenance for themand favoredthem specially above many
of those We have created”(17:70).
Regarding equality, God (Allah in Arabic) clearly declares that in His sight, the
only distinguishing factors between humans arerighteousness and piety:

7. “People, We createdyouall from a single man and a single woman, and made
you intoraces and tribes sothat you shouldrecognize one another. InGod’s
eyes, the most honoredof you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all
knowing, all aware” (49:13).
The diversity of humanity into many races and ethnicities is a testament to
God’s majesty and wisdom. Therefore, racial superiority and discrimination is
prohibited in Islamand contradicts its essence. This concept is exemplified in
the final sermon of ProphetMuhammad (P.B.U.H) who proclaimed:
“No Arab hasany superiority over a non-Arab, nor doesa non-Arabhave any
superiority over an Arab. Nor doesa white man have any superiority over a
black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the
children of Adam, and Adam wascreated from clay”.
Ethics and right to life:
Some utilitarian ethicists arguethat the "right tolife," whereit
exists, depends on conditions other than membership of the human species. The
philosopher Peter Singer is a notable proponentof this argument. For Singer, the
right to life is grounded in the ability to plan and anticipate one's future. This
extends the concept to non-human animals, such as other apes, but since the
unborn, infants and severely disabled people lack this, he states that abortion,
painless infanticide and euthanasia can be "justified" (butare not obligatory) in
certain special circumstances, for instancein the case of a disabled infant whose
life would be one of suffering, or if its parents didn't wish to raise it and no one
desired to adopt it.
Rights and Mutual Responsibility:
Fromthe foregoing discussion, itis clear that Islamic law has
divinely mandated rights for individuals in their specific roles as spouse, parent,
child, relative, neighbor, friend and even foe. In its distribution of rights and
responsibilities, Islamhas addressed thesocial, racial, gender, and sectarian
issues plaguing our global society. Indeed, the model of rights and mutual
responsibilities enshrined in Islamhas a tremendous potential for individual and
social reform in the world.

8. The Right To Basic Necessities of Life:
Islam has recognized the right of the needy people for help and assistance to be
provided to them:
"And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and the
destitute." (51:19)
Lastly, it is to be made clear that Islam tries to achieve the above mentioned
human rights and many others not only by providing certain legal safeguards but
mainly by inviting mankind to transcend the lower level of animal life to be able to
go beyond the mere ties fosteredby the kinship of blood, racial superiority,
linguistic arrogance, and economic privileges. It invites mankind to move on to a
plane of existence where, by reason of his inner excellence, man can realize the
ideal of the Brotherhood of man.