The “Right to Life” in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): a comparative study between the UDHR and the Qur’an and Sunnah
The “Right to Life” has been articulated in the third article of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948”. The Qur’an and Sunnah had also instructed about it centuries before. But the right has been violated throughout the world with impunity despite clear declaration and stern prot...
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Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
UTM Press
2023
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/107346/1/107346_The%20%E2%80%9CRight%20to%20Life%E2%80%9D.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/107346/ https://jurnalumran.utm.my/index.php/umran/article/view/639 |
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Summary: | The “Right to Life” has been articulated in the third article of the “Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR) 1948”. The Qur’an and Sunnah had also instructed about it centuries before. But the
right has been violated throughout the world with impunity despite clear declaration and stern protection
by the UN and paramount emphasis in the Qur’an and Sunnah for protecting it. The aim of this study
therefore, is to explore how this “Right to Life” has been articulated in the UDHR and in the Qur’an
and Sunnah; how it is being protected by UN and by the Qur’an and Sunnah; and whether this right is
compatible with the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah of prophet (PBUH). It would also look into how
this right is violated and how it can be alleviated. This study has followed descriptive, analytical, evaluative
and critical methods to describe this fundamental human right in the UDHR and in the Qur’an, to analyse
and evaluate its stance in the light of the sacred texts and provide critical evaluation whenever necessary.
The study found that this “Right to Life” has been drafted in the UDHR wherein no clause appears to
be contradictory with the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. The incompatibility issue is raised by
some Islamists claiming that it is for abolishing death penalty. In reality, it does not state to abolish the
death penalty; rather it stresses to abolish genocide, murder and unauthorised killings. The Quran and
Sunnah also keep the room of diyyah or blood money open to encourage forgiveness instead of death
penalty. Also, despite protection of the UN for this right, the violations of it, such as homicide, democide,
genocide, extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and detentions, are common
across the world. The study recommends that if the Qura’nic teachings and protecting mechanisms that
clearly bestowed regarding this right be recognised, the violations of it certainly be alleviated. |
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