Human rights provisions in the holy Quran and in international human rights declarations: a critical analysis

• Main Authors: Islam, Aminul, Yahyea, Khalid, Osmani, Noor Mohammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Department of Al-Qur'an & Islamic Studies, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh 2015
• Subjects: KBP Islamic Law
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/50002/1/5002.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/50002/; http://www.iu.ac.bd/

Human rights are rights inherent to all human being, whatever the nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. It is the most complicated and challenging issue for the 21stcentury whichappeals forwide discussion in all countries and religions. The Quran has guaranteed some fundamental rights for the whole humanity, without any discrimination that allows to be practiced under all situations. In the circle of lawyers, it is generally and widely believed that the Magna Carta of 1215 was the predecessorof the declaration of human rights in written constitution. The French revolution of 1776 and the American declaration of independence of 1779 borrowed a lot from the Magna Carta in the avowed declaration of the entrenchment of human rights in written constitutions. Therefore, the West claimed to be the founder of human rights due to which the people of the world are blessed with all human rights; otherwise they were steeped in ignorance! Accordingly, the valid question arises –whether human rights are absolute and bestowed on men by God or theyare caused by the development of society or created by the society itself? Basically to answer this question, the present research is conducted by making a comparative study of the human rights guaranteed by Allah (SWT) in the Quran. It is infer that it is a misconception to believe that the Magna Carta was the oldest document entrenchment of human rights. There are copious references in the Quran and the practices of prophet Mohammad (PBUH) which lay down immutable provisions on various rights as later enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. The objective of this study is to explore the prospect and notion of the Quranregarding the protection and promotion of human rights. After a detailed study it is clear that the Quran has laid down a comprehensive charter ofuniversal fundamental rights forhumanity 1400 years ago. Furthermore it is evident that there is no substantial difference between the provisions of world leading human rights instruments and that of the Quran, whereas, there is difference in their approaches. On the basis of research it is concluded that the inherent dignity of man and his fundamental freedom tracing its origin back to God or divine inspiration.