HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM- 3

11- The right to participate in public life

(a)Every individual in the Islamic nation has the right to know what is happening in their lives, in terms of matters related to the public interest, and he is obliged to contribute to it as much as his capabilities and talents allow him to, in accordance to the principle of Shura (consultation):

{who conduct their affairs by mutual consultation}

Every member of the Islamic nation is qualified to assume public posts and jobs when the legal requirements of qualification are met. This qualification is not forfeited or diminished under any racial or class consideration. 

(b) Shura is the basis of the relationship between the ruler and the nation. The Islamic nation has the right to choose its rulers, as its will to select is free. Similarly, the nation has the right to hold rulers accountable and dismissal of rulers if they deviate from the Sharia: 

“I have been appointed over you, and I am not the best among you. So if you see me acting on the truth, then assist me and if you see me doing wrong, then rectify me. Be obedient to me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger, and if I disobeyed, then you do not have to obey me.”

12- The right to freedom of thought, belief and expression

(a) Every person has the right to thought, belief and expression of that thought and belief, in the absence of interference or confiscation from anyone, as long as he adheres to the general limits established by the Sharia. Similarly, it is disallowed for any individual to spread and advocate indecency, lewdness or dishonoring the Islamic nation.

{If the hypocrites, and those with sickness in their hearts, and rumour-mongers in Medina do not desist, We will certainly incite you ˹O Prophet˺ against them, and then they will not be your neighbours there any longer}

(b) Free thinking – in search of the truth – is not only a right, but also an obligation: 

{Say, O Prophet, “I advise you to do only one thing: stand up for the sake of Allah—individually or in pairs—then reflect}

(c) Every individual has the right and duty to declare his rejection of injustice, and moreso deny and resist it, without fear of being confronted by an arbitrary authority, unjust ruler, or an oppressive regime. This is considered the best form of Jihad: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked: “Which jihad is the best? He ﷺ said, “A truthful word with unjust authority.”

(d) It is not prohibited to publish factual and accurate information, except when the act of publishing threatens the security of society and the State: 

{And when they hear news of security or fear,1 they publicize it. Had they referred it to the Messenger or their authorities, those with sound judgment among them would have validated it}

(e) Respect for the feelings of counterparts in the religion is an Islamic moral, so it is not permissible for anyone to ridicule the beliefs of others, nor to antagonise society against them. 

{O believers! Do not insult what they invoke besides Allah or they will insult Allah spitefully out of ignorance}

HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM- 3

13- The right to religious freedom

Each person has the right to freedom of belief and freedom to worship according to his creed: 

{You have your way, and I have my Way}

14- The right to call and report

(a) Every individual has the right to participate – individually and with others — in the life of the larger community, be it religiously, socially, culturally, and politically, etc. He also has the right to form institutions and use the necessary resources to exercise this right: 

{Say, O Prophet, “This is my way. I invite to Allah with insight—I and those who follow me}

(b) Every individual has the right and duty to enjoin good and forbid evil, and to request society to establish institutions that enable individuals to fulfill this responsibility, in mutual cooperation of righteousness and piety.

{Let there be a group among you who call ˹others˺ to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil}

(Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness)

When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him from (doing evil), it is likely that Allah will punish them all.

15- Economic rights

(a) The natural world, with all its wealth and resources, belong to Allah the Almighty.

{To Allah ˹alone˺ belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything within}

It is a gift from Him to mankind, and He has granted humans the right to benefit from these gifts: 

{He ˹also˺ subjected for you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth—all by His grace}

Therefore, spoiling and destroying it is prohibited:

{and do not go about spreading corruption in the land}

It is not permissible for anyone to deprive another or transgress his right to benefit from natural resources.

{And the bounty of your Lord can never be withheld}

(b) Every individual has the right to work and be productive, in order to obtain sustenance from his legitimate means: 

There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah}

{He is the One Who smoothed out the earth for you, so move about in its regions and eat from His provisions. And to Him is the resurrection of all}

(c) Private property is lawful both individually and jointly. Every person has the right to acquire what he has earned through effort and hard work. 

{And ALLAH, He is the One Who enriches and impoverishes}

Public ownership is legitimate which is for the benefit of the nation: 

{As for gains granted by Allah to His Messenger from the people of ˹other˺ lands, they are for Allah and the Messenger, his close relatives, orphans, the poor, and ˹needy˺ travellers so that wealth may not merely circulate among your rich}

(d) The less fortunate and poor patrons of the Islamic nation enjoy an entitled right to a share of the wealth of the rich. This is regulated by the system of Zakah: 

{and who give the rightful share of their wealth, to the beggar and the poor}

Zakah cannot be suspended or prevented and is inexcusable. It is a right that is authorized by the ruler, even if this position leads to the fighting of those who deny Zakah, “By Allah, if they prevented me from wearing a knot that they used to give to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, I would have fought them for it.” 

(e) The use of financial resources and wealth in addition to methods of production for the greater good of the nation is a duty. Therefore, these resources should not be neglected or hindered: (There is no servant whom Allah has entrusted a subject and he does not surround it with advice except that he does not find the scent of heaven). Similarly, investing in what is forbidden by the Sharia, and considered as harmful to the greater good interest of the community is not permitted.

(f) To regulate economic activity and ensure its propriety, Islam has forbidden:

1- Cheating in every form: “He is not one of us who deceives.”

2- Deception and ignorance, and actions which may cause disputes which cannot be subjected to objective criteria: The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of pebbles and the sale of deception and The Prophet ﷺ forbade the sale of grapes until it turns black and the sale of grain until it hardens. 

3- Exploitation and inequity in exchange }Woe to the defrauders! Those who take full measure ˹when they buy˺ from people, but give less when they measure or weigh for buyers{

4- Monopoly, and everything that leads to imbalanced competition: 

None withholds goods till the price rises but a sinner5- Usury, and every form of opportunistic earning that exploits people’s hardships:

5- Usury, and every form of opportunistic earning that exploits people’s hardships:

{But Allah has permitted trading and forbidden interest}

6- False and deceptive advertisements: (The two sales are by choice, as long as they do not show themselves apart. If they are truthful and clear, they will be blessed in their sale, and if they deceive and lie, the blessing of their sale will be wiped out).

(g) Taking care of the general interest of the nation and adhering to the general values of Islam are the only restrictions on economic activity in the Muslim community.

16- The right to protection of property

It is not permissible to expropriate property earned in a lawful manner, except in the interest of the public. 

 {And do not eat up your wealth among yourselves unjustly},  In addition to fair compensation to its owner: (Whoever takes something from the land without his right, it will be swallowed up on the Day of Resurrection into seven earths). 

 “Whoever takes something from the land without his right, it will be swallowed up on the Day of Resurrection into seven earths”. 

The sanctity of public property is greater, thus the punishment for the transgression thereof is more severe, as it is an exploitation and betrayal of the whole society and nation.“And whoever of you we appointed him for a work and we concealed from him a stitch or more, he was a cheat who will bring him on the Day of Resurrection.”

It was said, Oh Messenger of Allah: So-and-so was martyred! He ﷺ said: “No! I saw him in the fire wearing a cloak that he had tied.”