Human Rights in Islam

... do not judge bywhat God has sent down are the disbelievers."
(5:44)Human Rights In An IslamicState The Security Of Life And
Property: In the address which the Prophet delivered on the occasion
of the Farewell Hajj, he said: "Your lives and properties are
forbidden toone another till you meet your Lord on the Day of
Resurrection." The Prophet has also said about the dhimmis (the
non-Muslim citizens of the Muslim state): "One who kills a man under
covenant (i.e., dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of
Paradise." The Protection Of Honor: The Holy Quran lays down: "You who
believe, do not let one (set of) people make fun of another set." "Do
not defame one another." "Do not insult by using nicknames." "Do not
backbite or speak ill of one another." (49:11-12) Sanctity And
Security Of Private Life: The Quran has laid down the injunction:"Do
not spy on one another." (49:12) "Do not enter any houses unless you
are sure of their occupant's consent." (24:27) The Security Of
Personal Freedom: Islam has laid down the principlethat no citizen can
be imprisoned unless his guilt has been proven in an open court. To
arrest a manonly on the basis of suspicion and to throw himinto a
prison without proper court proceedings and without providing hima
reasonable opportunity to produce his defense is not permissible in
Islam. The Right To Protest Against Tyranny: Among the rights that
Islam has conferred on human beingsis the right to protest against
government's tyranny. Referring to it the Quran says: "God does not
love evil talk in public unless it is by someone who has been injured
thereby." (4:148) In Islam, as has been argued earlier, all power and
authority belong to God, and with man there is only delegated power
which becomes a trust; everyone who becomes a recipient ofsuch a power
has to stand in awful reverence before his people toward whom and for
whose sake he will be called upon to use thesepowers. This was
acknowledged by Hazrat Abu Bakr who said in his very first
address:"Cooperate with me when Iam right but correct me when I commit
error; obey me so long as I follow the commandments of Allah and His
Prophet; but turn away from me when I deviate." Freedom Of Expression:
Islam gives the right of freedom of thought and expression to all
citizens of the Islamic state on the condition that it should be used
for the propagation of virtue and truth and not for spreadingevil and
wickedness. The Islamic concept of freedom of expression is much
superior to the concept prevalent in the West. Under no circumstances
would Islam allow evil and wickedness to be propagated. It also does
not give anybody the right to use abusive or offensive language in the
name of criticism. It was the practice of the Muslims to enquire from
the Holy Prophet whether on a certain matter a divine injunction had
been revealed to him. If he said that he had received no divine
injunction, the Muslims freely expressed their opinion on the matter.
Freedom Of Association: Islam has also given people the right to
freedom of association andformation of parties or organizations. This
right is also subject to certain general rules. Freedom Of Conscience
And Conviction: Islam has laid down the injunction: "There should be
no coercion in the matter of faith." (2:256) Onthe contrary,
totalitar...