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Social Rights in Islam:
Islam is a complete way of living and it covers all aspects of human life. It has the honor to create and introduce the first modern balanced society of the world 1400 years ago. Basically Islam is a religion of rights & duties. It has out lined certain rights & duties for every one, as the members of Islamic society, and made it individual and collective social & religious obligations to them. The following are some key features of social rights in Islam.
Key Features:
1) Equality in Rights 2) Equality Before Law 3) Freedom to Express 4) Religious Freedom
5) Social Justice
6) Rights of the Weak
1) Equality in Rights: One of the basic concept of Islamic ideology is oneness of mankind, which means all human beings are equal in front of the Law of God. There is no superiority for one race over another. God made us of different colors, nationalities, languages and beliefs so as to test who is going to be better than others. No one can claim that he is better than others.
The Quran says: "O Mankind! We created you from a single pair of male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other. Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you." (49.13)
In his last sermon on the occasion of fare well pilgrimage the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: 'O People! You are all children of Adam and he was created with the dust. Arabs and non-Arabs, Blacks and Whites all are equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good actions.'
This concept drives out the theory of "Equality in Rights" for every one, as all human beings are equal and they must be treated equally. They all have equal needs to sustain and they must have equal rights to exercise, like right to live, right of freedom, right to express etc.
Islam gives full protection to all the members of society regardless
their faith. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic society
are considered sacred whether a person is Muslim or not.
2) Equality Before Law: According to Islamic teachings all human beings are equal in front of law whether they are rich or poor, ruler or ruled, mighty or weak and rustic or a gentleman. Whoever commits a crime will be liable to punishment regardless class or status.
The Quran says: "If thou judge judge in equity
between them; for Allah loveth those who judge in equity."
(5.42)
3) Freedom to Express: Islam has given the freedom of conscience and freedom to express to all the members of society. In an ideal Islamic society every body is free to share views and thoughts about the matters of concern, specially to point out misdeeds, crime and injustice without fear. Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Quran itself,
The Quran says: "There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error"(2.256)
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'The
best fighting (Jihad) in the path of Allah is (to speak) a word of justice
to an oppressive ruler, without fear.'
4) Religious Freedom: In an Islamic society all it's members enjoy freedom to practice their faiths regardless to their religion. Islam protects all the religious communities and their places of worship.
The Quran says: “God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just”. ( 60.8)
The Quran says: "There
is no compulsion in religion. The right
direction is henceforth distinct from error"(2.256)
5) Social Justice: As all the human beings are equal in Islamic ideology, therefore it calls to provide equal opportunities to all, in Islamic society, to progress according to their abilities.
The Quran says: "Allah commands you deal with justice."
The Quran says: "Allah doth command you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between man and man that ye judge with justice." (4.58)
The Quran says: "Allah has bestowed His gifts of sustenance more freely on some of you than on others; those more favored are not going to throw back their gifts to those whom their right hands possess so as to be equal in that respect." (16.71)
Islam warns the people against causing social injustice by using their approaches and by offering bribes to authorities to gain personal or benefits.
The Quran says: "And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully. " (2.188)
The Quran says: " The blame is only
against those who oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress
beyond bounds through the land defying right and justice: for such there
will be a Penalty grievous." (42.42)
6) Rights of the Weak: Islam has given the right of equal opportunity to all the member of society. But if some members of the society can not find means to sustain due to their weakness, incapability or child- age than to help them is an Islamic obligation generally to all and specially to the rich members.
To help the poor and weak members of the society Islam has introduced a purifying tax called "Zakat". This is an annual compulsory payment of a certain percentage of Muslim's property which he/she posses after meeting his/her expenses. The prescribed amount is is distributed among the poor and other rightful beneficiaries whom God has entitled to receive the amount. The purpose of Zakat (purifying tax) is that the poor members of the community should receive help only out of obedience to God and not as a favor in a manner that the donor does not feel superior nor the receiver feels the a sense of inferiority.
The Quran says: " He shell be saved from Hell fire who is God fearing and who gives riches to other for the purification of his soul."
Islam not only demands it's followers to help the weak members of the society but it also persuades to treat them affectionately.
Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: 'If anyone strokes (in affection) an orphan's head, doing so only for Allah's sake, he will have blessings for every hair over which his hand passes; and if anyone treats well an orphan girl or boy under his care, he and I shall be like these two in Paradise (putting two of his fingers together).'
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: 'The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person, is like a warrior fighting for Allah's Cause or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all the night.'
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