Is There a God?

Consider this : An archaeologist digs deep into the desert sand and finds a piece of an old clay pot. After his investigations, this archaeologist can tell us, from this little old piece of dusty clay, so much about the civilization that existed thousands of years ago that produced it; he can tell us about the types of ovens, temperatures, and dyes that they worked with, the raw materials that they used, and thus assess the level of their artistic skill and technological ability, etc. All this from a small piece of clay lying in the desert.

Did this archaeologist ever see the civilization that produced this pot ?

How does he know that it ever existed ?

He knows because he saw that the piece of clay was produced by someone who designed it, and shaped it, and had the intelligence to be able to heat it and produce the pot, and not only that, they also had the ability to colour it and make it look beautiful.

Design ==> Designer.

To the archaeologist the existence and intricacy of the piece of pottery is conclusive proof of the existence, intelligence and ability of the people who made it.

Look around you: at the beautiful sunset on a summer evening, at the moon and the stars on a cloudless night, at the water that you drink, at the trees and how they grow from tiny seeds.

Think about yourself: your eyes with which you see, your ears with which you hear, your tongues with which you taste and talk, your hands and your feet, your heart and your brain.

Consider how these things are so complex in themselves and yet work together in such perfect harmony.

From the movement of the galaxies to the complexities of the interaction of molecules, from the dynamics of eco-systems to the intricacies of DNA, all lead to the obvious fact of the existence of the great Wisdom, Knowledge and Power that allows our Universe to exist and function.

To any perceptive person the existence and intricacy of creation is conclusive proof of the Existence, Knowledge and Wisdom of the One who creates, organizes and sustains it.

Most people naturally recognize the existence of the Creator, and we find reference to the Creator in all cultures and religions. Even the atheists, communists and (disbelieving) scientists cannot avoid this reality, but avoid the term 'creator', for phrases like 'Mother Nature' and 'the amazing way nature has designed...'

How strange in the face of this, that many today reject the belief in the existence of the Creator. Perhaps this is due more to fashion and the desire to justify a materialistic attitude to life rather than real observation and comprehension of reality.

Something stranger still, and perhaps another reason for the trend to deny the Creator, are those who claim that a man, or men, who walked on the earth, breathed air, who had bodies and souls subject to the Laws of the Universe, are the Creator, or manifestations of the Self-Subsistent One.

This is of course a complete contradiction in terms. Something cannot be the Creator and created at the same time, needing air, food and drink and being self-sufficient, being temporary and eternal!

If you are one of those who believe that a man such as Buddha, or Krishna, or Jesus is the Creator and Controller, then think again.

We were created from a drop of despised fluid, in which was a microscopic sperm, which in turn fertilised a microscopic egg and we grew in our mother's womb in stages predetermined, over which we had no control. We came from our mother's womb, urinating and defecating, needing constant attention and care. Without food we will die, without air we will die ... and then such a one is God?

Indeed any intelligent person would recognize exactly how dependent life, the universe and everything is on its Creator. Our dire need for His help makes itself plain in times of great distress.

Imagine yourself in an aircraft and you know it is going to crash...

Who do you turn to for help then ?

Or on a ship in the sea, thrown helplessly up and down by towering waves ...

There will have been a situation at one time or the other in your life when you called upon your Creator alone, forgetting everyone and everything else, hoping, trusting, wishing that the Being you know in your heart and soul that has power and control over all things would help you. The only One you know can save you!

O creature of God, contemplate upon these verses:

" Behold! In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth; In the alternation of the night and day; In the sailing of the ships through the Oceans for the profit of mankind; In the rain which God sends down from the skies, and the life that He therewith to an earth that is dead; In the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the Earth; In the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth -Indeed these are signs for a people that are wise." [The Qur'aan 2:164]

"It is He who has made the sun a shining glory and the moon a light of beauty and has measured out their stages, that you might know the number of years and their reckoning.Allah did not create this but in Truth. He explains His signs in detail for people who understand.[The Qur'aan 10:5]

"He has created the heavens and the earth with Truth. Far is He above having the partners that they ascribe to him. He has created mankind from a sperm drop; and behold this (same) man becomes anopen disputer! And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them is warmth (warm clothing) and numerous benefits, and of them you eat." [The Qur'aan 16:3-5]

"Blessed be He who sent down the Criterion to His servant that it may be an admonition to all creatures. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; no son has he begotten, nor has He any partner in His dominion; It is He who created all things and gave them their due proportions.Yet they have taken besides Him gods that can create nothing but are themselves created; that have no control of hurt or good to themselves; nor do they control life nor death nor Resurrection."[The Qur'aan 25:1-3]

"Were they created by nothing or did they create themselves? Or did they create the heavens and the earth ? No, they have no firm belief."[The Qur'aan 52:36]

"He it is who enables you to travel through land and sea, until, when you are in the ships and they sail with a favourable wind and you are glad about that. Then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to you from all sides and when you think that you are encircled by them, you call upon God making your faith pure for Him alone saying :'If You deliver us from this we shall truly be grateful.' But when He delivers you, behold! you rebel in the earth wrongfully. O mankind, your rebellion against God is only against your own selves - a brief enjoyment of this worldly life, then in the end unto Us is your return We shall inform you of that which you used to do." [The Qur'aan 10:22-23]

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---- Islam Vs Communism ---- [ Are they Compatible? ]

Intro:

Islam is a universal religion which is embraced by one quarter of the population of the world. In fact the followers of Islam are spread all over the world from the Far East to the Far West.

Many thinkers in the world who studied Islam carefully believe that Islam is a natural barrier against communism

Principles of communism


The main principles on which communism is founded are:


1. — The Denial of the existence of God.

2. — Life is absolutely materialistic and has no spiritual background.

3. — Abolition of private ownership.

4. — Nationalization of all resources and its control by the State.

5. — Replacing the inland trade by rationing cards.

6. — The adoption of Lenin’s theory of wages which says:

"Form everyone according to his ability to everyone according to his needs."





In light of Islam


Hence, It is thus clearly shown that the idea of communism is based on a purely materialistic basis.

According to communism the whole universe has no supreme power behind it. It has no God who created it.

The denial of the existence of God is a common belief for all communists. All the Russian pioneers to the space denied the existence of God.

Karl Marx as one of the founders of communism declared that there is no God and that the message of communism is to abolish religions.

Hence, as Muslims who believe in God Almighty, we can clearly see that by the denial of the existence of God, communism contradicts and ignores real morals and spiritual values and kills the incentive in man to evaluate and respect all non-materialistic ideas.

It thus makes man nothing but a tool in a big factory and kills the humane side in him!

Thus we see that communism is based almost and foremost on a very false assumption, namely, that man is nothing but a body without a soul.

In so doing communism is defeating its own aim and is anti-nature itself.

Islam does NOT support anything that is "anti-nature"

Man is composed of a body and. a soul and any regime who ignores anyone of those two sides of man is apt to fall. Human beings can never tolerate to be treated as animals, nay, but as tools in a big factory!

Hence, In this respect, we find that communism is quite alien to Islam, which is based on a belief in one Almighty God Who created. both our eternal souls and mortal bodies. Islam as such caters for both the soul and the body.



In fact, according to Islam, we are humans due to our souls rather than to our bodies! Correct?

So, the essence of life for a Muslim is his strong belief in God, the Most Merciful the Most Beneficent. He is the Lord of the worlds and the Creator of the universe, to Him everything belongs and unto Him everything ends.

It is beyond communists to appreciate the great effect of the belief in God on human souls. Even to the present day after these long years of spreading communistic principles in Russia, the communists were unable to extinguish completely the instinct of belief in God among all the Russians.

Moreover, in communism this world is the ultimate goal of every communist. All his deeds end by his death.

He is only responsible to the human authorities and is governed by human laws.

The Muslim, on the other hand, like I said: believes that this world is only a beginning to an eternal life. To him it is like a farm for the other world and he is going to reap in the other x world what he cultivated in this world. His incentive to behave properly and act correctly and to be noble in all his deeds is not due to the human laws as much as it is due to the fear of God and the great hope to lead a peaceful and decent life in this world an in the hereafter.

Like I said, that is a big reason for Islam to reject communism or any such systems because it goes against the religious doctrine God Almighty has ordained us with and also goes against the very values of human society, weakens the very fabric of human justice and so on....who better knows whats good for us and whats bad for us as human beings than God Almighty?

Thus we see that the motive to act properly in Islam is within the human being himself. For this reason the individual in Islam is more conscientious and his behavior is governed by more eternal, continuous and spiritual values.

From the above mentioned facts we see how Islam stands clear from communism and would lead, to bring up more humane individuals!

Now tell me, isn't that more important, constructive and "JUST" to this world and the wonderful human beings that inhabit it, rather than creating superpowers that bring nothing but threat and harm?

In fact a true Muslim is not only a good citizen of his own country but also a good citizen of the whole world. To him the human society at large is nothing but a great international family of the whole universe as im sure you know!

Moreover, taking an even closer look at all this, we'll see tht Communism is quite contradictory to Islam because in the Islamic society there is no room for any other "ism" may it be communism, Nazism or Fascism.

Any system of these various systems of government can never thrive under the rule of Islam, as it is in great conflict with its principles. The reason for this conflict is not far to seek.

According to Islam all the Islamic laws derive their existence and power from the wisdom of the Creator of the whole universe. In the meantime the communistic laws derive their existence from those fallible creatures who worked them and thought them over!

The 5 "Heart Corrupters" and their Effects

* The 5 Heart Corrupters *

The Five Heart Corrupters are :


1. Excessive socializing

2. Wishful thinking

3. Attachment to others besides Allah (swt)

4. Excessive eating till the stomach is full

5. Excessive Sleep

These five factors are the greatest corrupters of the heart. In this article we shall look at the effects that are common to all of them as well as those effects that are unique to each of them!* The 5 Heart Corrupters *

Written by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Madaarij as-Saalikeen, vol. 1, pp. 443-9

The Five Heart Corrupters are :


1. Excessive socializing

2. Wishful thinking

3. Attachment to others besides Allah (swt)

4. Excessive eating till the stomach is full

5. Excessive Sleep

These five factors are the greatest corrupters of the heart. In this article we shall look at the effects that are common to all of them as well as those effects that are unique to each of them!

1st Corrupter : "Excessive Socializing"

The effect of frequent socializing is that it fills the heart with the smoke of anfaas of humans until it becomes black, causing it to be scattered, torn apart, worried, upset, and weak. It causes it to carry what it is unable to from mu’nat evil companions and waste what is beneficial for it, by becoming too preoccupied with evil companions and their matters to attend to what is beneficial. (The heart instead is busy with) scattered thoughts in the valleys of their requests and wishes. So what remains of it for Allaah and the life to come?

How many adversities has mixing with people brought and how many blessings has it repelled? [How many] trials has it caused and opportunities disabled, raziyyah caused to fall in baliyyah. Is aafah the downfall of people caused by other than people? Did Aboo Taalib at the time of his death have anything more harmful to himself than evil companions? They remained with him until they blocked him from the one statement that would have guaranteed him eternal pleasure.

This socializing based on love in this world, the fulfillment of desires from others, will change into enmity when the realities become manifest, and some of those who socialized will bite their hands in regret as the Almighty said:

"On the Day when the sinner will bite his hands saying: If only I had taken a way to the Messenger. Woe to me, if only I hadn’t taken so-and-so as a close friend. He misguided me from the Remembrance after it came to me.’ And Satan is forever a deserter of humans in their time of need" (Soorah al-Furqaan, 25: 27-9)

He also said:

"Close friends on that Day will be foes of each other except the God-fearing" (Soorah az-Zukhruf, 43: 67)

Allah (swt) also says in the glorious Quran:

" Indeed what you have taken besides Allaah is only idols. Love between you is only in this world, but on the Day of Resurrection you will disown each other and curse each other and your abode will be the fire and you will have no helpers. (Soorah al-‘Ankaboot, 29: 25)


The useful defining principle in the matter of socializing is that one should mix with people in [acts of] goodness like Jumu‘ah, the ‘Eeds, Hajj, learning knowledge, Jihaad, giving advice; and avoid them in [acts of] evil, as well as unnecessary permissible things. If necessity requires mixing with them in evil and avoiding them is not possible, then beware, beware of agreeing with them. And be patient with their harm, for they must harm him if he does not have power or a helper. However, it is harm followed by honor and love for him, respect and praise for him from them, the believers, and from the Lord of the worlds.

Thus, patience with their harm is a better ending and a more praiseworthy conclusion. If necessity requires mixing with them in unnecessary permissible things, he should strive to transform the gathering into one of obedience to Allaah if it is possible, he should encourage himself and strengthen his heart, and not pay attention to the satanic whisper of discouragement which will prevent him from that, that this is riyaa showing off, a love of displaying one’s knowledge and state, etc., he should fight it and seek help from Almighty Allaah and try to affect them as positively as he can.

The 2nd Heart Corrupter: "Wishful Thinking"

Riding the Sea of Wishes

It is a sea without shores. It is the sea ridden by the bankrupt of the world. It is said: Wishes are the capital of the bankrupt, and its travel provisions are the promises of Satan, and impossible imaginations and falsehood.

The wealth of false wishes and false imaginations continue to play with one who rides them the way that dogs play with a jeefah corpse. They are the supplies of every maheenah disgraced, khaseesah humiliated, low soul, having no conviction to achieve external realities.

So it i‘taadat turned away from them with mental wishes. And everyone has it according to his state: From a wisher for power and authority, or travel and international travel, or wealth and valuables, or women and mardaan, The wisher imagines an image of what he desires in his mind, and he succeeds in creating it and takes pleasure in capturing it. While he is in this state he suddenly awakes to find his hand and al-haseer.

The one who has lofty/high conviction himmah his hopes pivot around knowledge and faith and deeds which will bring him closer to his Lord, and yudeenuhu min jiwaarih. These wishes are faith, light and wisdom, while the wishes of those are deception and delusion.

The Prophet Muhammad (Saws) praised the one who wishes for good, and made his reward in some things similar to that of the one who actually does it, like the one who says: If I had money I would do as so-and-so does who fears his Lord regarding his wealth, strengthening family ties with it, and extracts from it what is required.

He said: “Regarding reward, they are equal.”

The Prophet (saws) wished in the Farewell Pilgrimage that he was doing Hajj Tamattu‘ and khalla and that he did not take a sacrificial animal with him, as he was doing Hajj Qiraan.

So Allah gave him the reward of Qiraan which he did and the reward of Tamattu‘ which he wished for and combined for him both rewards.

3rd Corrupter: "Attachment to Other Than Allah"

This is the absolute worst of the corrupters. There is none more harmful than attachment to other than Allaah, nor more able to cut the heart off from Allaah, and block it from what is beneficial to it and what will bring it true happiness. If a heart becomes attached to other than Allaah, Allaah makes him dependent on what he is attached to and he will be betrayed by it and he will not achieve what he was seeking from Allaah as long as he is attached to other than Allaah and turning to others besides Him. Thus, he will not obtain what he sought from Allaah nor will what he was attached to besides Allaah bring it for him

"And they have taken gods besides Allaah that they might give them honor, power and glory. No. But they will deny their worship of them and become opponents to them" (Soorah Maryam, 19: 81-2)

"And they have taken besides Allaah gods hoping that they might be helped. They cannot help them but they will be brought forward as a troop against them" (Soorah Yaaseen, 36: 74-5)

The person most betrayed is the one who is attached to other than Allaah.

For what he missed of benefits, happiness and success is far greater that what he obtained from those to whom he was attached, and it is exposed to disappearance and loss. The example of one attached to other than Allaah is like one seeking shade from the heat and cold in a spider’s web (home), the weakest wahn of homes.


In general, the basis of idolatry and the foundation on which it is built is: Attachment to other than Allaah, and for the one who does so there is condemnation and betrayal, as stated by the Almighty:

"Do not set up with Allaah any other god or you will sit down reproved and forsaken" (Soorah al-Israa, 17: 22)


“Reproved” without anyone to praise you, “forsaken” without anyone to help you. As some people may be forced while being praised, like one is forced by falsehood, and he could be forsaken while being helped [by Allaah], like one forced and falsehood has gained the upper hand over him, and he could be praised and supported like one becomes established and gains dominion by way of the truth. The idolater attached to other than Allaah, his is the vilest category, neither praised nor supported.

The 4th Corrupter: "Excessive FOOD"

The corrupter of the heart is of two types:

One of them is that which corrupts it by itself like the forbidden which are two types:

* Forbidden relative to Allaah like carcasses, blood, pork, wild animals that kill with the canine tooth [6]and birds that kill with claws.

* Forbidden relative to Allaah’s slaves, like stolen, maghsoob, kidnapped, and what is taken without the permission of the owner either by force or by shame and blame.


The second is what corrupts as a result of its quantity and its exceeding limits, like wasting permissible things, excessive filling of the stomach, for it makes acts of obedience burdensome and it preoccupies the heart with muzaawalat mu’nat al-batnah chasing after belly desires and trying for it until it captures it. If it captures zafara it he becomes preoccupied with muzaawalat following its tasarruf activities and protecting the self from its harm, and being hurt by its weight, and it strengthens the elements of desire. It paves paths for Satan and expands them, for he moves among humans in the veins. Fasting narrows its passages and closes his paths and filling the stomach paves paths and widens them. Whoever eats a lot, drinks a lot, sleeps a lot and loses a lot.

In the famous Hadeeth, the Prophet Muhammad (saws) has said:

"No human fills a container worse than his stomach. Two small portions of food to straighten his backbone are sufficient. If he must [eat more], then let it be a third for food, a third for drink and a third for breathing" ( Sahih Muslim )

Example of Yahya (A.S)

It is said that [on one occasion] Iblees – may Allaah curse him – met Yahyaa, son of Zakariyyaa – peace be upon them – and Yahyaa asked him: “Did you take anything from me”

He replied: “No, except one night when food was presented to you, I made it so desirable to you that you ate your fill and you went sleep without making your regular supplications.”

Yahyaa said: “I swear by Allaah that I will never eat my fill again.” Iblees then said: “As for me, I swear by Allaah that I will never advise another human again.”

The 5th Corrupter: "Excessive Sleep"

Excessive sleep is a barbaric heart corrupter! It deadens the heart, makes the body heavy, wastes time, and gives birth to a lot of negligence and laziness.

Some [types] of sleep are extremely disliked, and some are harmful to the body. The best form of sleep is what takes place when there exists a strong need for it. Sleep at the beginning of the night is more praiseworthy and beneficial than at the end of the night, and sleep in the middle of the day is better than at its beginning and end Tarafayhi. The closer sleep is to the beginning and ending of the day the less the benefit and the more the harm. [This is] especially the case for sleeping in the after noon (‘Asr) and sleeping at the beginning of the day, except for one who stayed awake all night.


And among the disliked aspects, according to the scholars, is sleep between Salaatul-Fajr and sunrise, for it is a time of special reward.

For that time escape, among the saalikeen (travellers), is a great loss maziyyah. Even if they traveled all night they would not allow sitting down from the journey sayr at that time until sunrise, because it is the beginning of the day and its key. [It is] the time for provisions to be sent down [and distributed], the time for obtaining portions and the descent of blessings, and from it the day is established. The ruling regarding the whole day is [based on] the ruling regarding that portion.

One should only sleep at that time if one is forced.

Hence, In general, the most balanced/moderate (a‘dal) and beneficial form of sleep, is sleep during the first portion of the night and the last sixth of the night. According to medical practitioners, the length of the most balanced form of sleep should be eight hours. In their view, more [sleep] than that or less than that will cause deviation in one’s natural disposition according to it bihasabihi.


Among the forms of sleep that are not beneficial also, is sleep in the first part of the night shortly after sunset until fahmatul-‘ishaa the darkness of ‘Ishaa goes.

The Messenger of Allaah (saw) used to dislike it. So it is disliked according to the Sharee‘ah and naturally.


As excessive sleep causes these defects aafaat, putting aside sleep and abandoning it causes other major defects like bad temperament, yabsihi dry personality and a warped disposition, as well as drying up of the humors which aid in understanding and work, and it leads to illnesses mutlifah which will prevent one afflicted from benefiting either with his heart or body.

Conclusion:

Therefore dear brothers and sisters, we as Muslims must realize, recognize and rectify ourselves to believing that the very Existence of the world was established on the basis of justice (‘Adl), so whoever adheres to moderation has grabbed his portion of the confluence of good.

The 5 Heart Corrupters are a struggle we must face and conquer with flying colors, within our own existences! It is the greatest victory a Muslim can attain within himself.

Afterall, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saws) himself made clear the importance of eradicating a corrupt heart by making it pretty concise in saying :

" Indeed, there is in the body a morsel of flesh, if it is sound and wholesome, then the whole body will be sound and wholesome and if it is corrupt, the whole body will be corrupt. Indeed it is the heart."

[Sahih Bukhari and Sahi Muslim ]

May Allah (swt) guide us all to the correct path, May Allah (swt) bless our lives, our sheer existences, the depths of our hearts, the core of our souls and may he protect the very boundaries and our minds with the truth, glory, beauty and compassion of his remembrance and may we all live, sacrifice and die for Allah (swt) for that is what being a "Muslim" is about -- "Submission to the will of Allah (swt)"!

Ameen!

Allahu Akbar

*** Islam and Human Rights ***

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem

"In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful".

Asalam Alaikum!

In the following posts we shall look at the central and most profound importance Islam gives to Human Rights in every form, level and shape!

May Allah (swt) guide us all! Ameen

Human Rights and their Importance In Islam


Since God is the absolute and the sole master of men and the universe, He is the sovereign Lord, the Sustainer and Nourisher, the Merciful, Whose mercy enshrines all beings; and since He has given each man human dignity and honor, and breathed into him of His own spirit, it follows that, united in Him and through Him, and apart from their other human attributes, men are substantially the same and no tangible and actual distinction can be made among them, on account of their accidental differences such as nationality, color or race.

Every human being is thereby related to all others and all become one community of brotherhood in their honorable and pleasant servitude to the most compassionate Lord of the Universe. In such a heavenly atmosphere the Islamic confession of the oneness of God stands dominant and central, and necessarily entails the concept of the oneness of humanity and the brotherhood of mankind!

Islam the Torchbearer for Human Rights

Although an Islamic state may be set up in any part of the earth, Islam does not seek to restrict human rights or privileges to the geographical limits of its own state. Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances whether such a person is resident within the territory of the Islamic state or outside it, whether he is at peace or at war. The Quran very clearly states:

"O believers, be you securers of justice, witness for God. Let not detestation for a people move you not to be equitable; be equitable - that is nearer to God-fearing." [ Quran 5:8 ]

Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. And if anyone violates this sanctity of human blood by killing a soul without justification, the Quran equates it to the killing of entire mankind.

"...Whoso slays a soul not to retaliate for a soul slain, nor for corruption done in the land, should be as if he had slain mankind altogether." (5:32)

It is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, the sick or the wounded. Women's honor and chastity are to be respected under all circumstances. The hungry person must be fed, the naked clothed and the wounded or diseased treated medically irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or are from among its enemies.

Concept of Human Rights In Islam

When we speak of human rights in Islam we really mean that these rights have been granted by God; they have not been granted by any king or by any legislative assembly. The rights granted by the kings or the legislative assemblies, can also be withdrawn in the same manner in which they are conferred. The same is the case with the rights accepted and recognized by the dictators. They can confer them when they please and withdraw them when they wish; and they can openly violate them when they like!

But since in Islam human rights have been conferred by God, no legislative assembly in the world or any government on earth has the right or authority to make any amendment or change in the rights conferred by God. No one has the right to abrogate them or withdraw them. Nor are they basic human rights which are conferred on paper for the sake of show and exhibition and denied in actual life when the show is over. Nor are they like philosophical concepts which have no sanctions behind them.



The charter and the proclamations and the resolutions of the United Nations cannot be compared with the rights sanctioned by God; because the former are not applicable on anybody while the latter are applicable on every believer. They are a part and parcel of the Islamic Faith. Every Muslim or administrator who claims himself to be Muslim, will have to accept, recognize and enforce them. If they fail to enforce them, and start denying the rights that have been guaranteed by God or make amendments and changes in them, or practically violate them while paying lip service to them, the verdict of the Holy Quran for such government is clear and unequivocal:

"Those who do not judge by what God has sent down are the disbelievers." [ Quran 5:44 ]



---- * Human Rights In An Islamic State * ----

1. 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 to one 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."

2. 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)

3. 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)



4. The Security Of Personal Freedom:

Islam has laid down the principle that no citizen can be imprisoned unless his guilt has been proven in an open court. To arrest a man only on the basis of suspicion and to throw him into a prison without proper court proceedings and without providing him a reasonable opportunity to produce his defense is not permissible in Islam.

5. The Right To Protest Against Tyranny:

Among the rights that Islam has conferred on human beings is 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 of such a power has to stand in awful reverence before his people toward whom and for whose sake he will be called upon to use these powers.

This was acknowledged by Hazrat Abu Bakr who said in his very first address: "Cooperate with me when I am 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."

6. 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 spreading evil 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 inquire 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.

7. Freedom Of Association:

Islam has also given people the right to freedom of association and formation of parties or organizations. This right is also subject to certain general rules.

8. Freedom Of Conscience And Conviction:

Islam has laid down the injunction:

"There should be no coercion in the matter of faith." (2:256)

On the contrary, totalitarian societies totally deprive the individuals of their freedom. Indeed, this undue exaltation of the state authority curiously enough postulates a sort of servitude, of slavishness on the part of man. At one time slavery meant total control of man over man - now that type of slavery has been legally abolished but in its place totalitarian societies impose a similar sort of control over individuals.

9. Protection Of Religious Sentiments:

Along with the freedom of conviction and freedom of conscience, Islam has given the right to the individual that his religious sentiments will be given due respect and nothing will be said or done which may encroach upon his right.

10. Protection From Arbitrary Imprisonment:

Islam also recognizes the right of the individual not to be arrested or imprisoned for the offenses of others. The Holy Quran has laid down this principle clearly:

"No bearer of burdens shall be made to bear the burden of another." (35:18)

11. The Right To Basic Necessities of Life:

Islam has recognized the right of the needy people for help and assistance to be provided to them:

"And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and the destitute." (51:19)

12. Equality Before Law:

Islam gives its citizens the right to absolute and complete equality in the eyes of the law.

13. Rulers Not Above The Law:

A woman belonging to a high and noble family was arrested in connection with theft. The case was brought to the Prophet, and it was recommended that she might be spared the punishment of theft.

The Prophet (saws) replied: "The nations that lived before you were destroyed by God because they punished the common man for their offenses and let their dignitaries go unpunished for their crimes; I swear by Him Who holds my life in His hand that even if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad, had committed this crime, I would have amputated her hand."

14. The Right To Participate In The Affairs Of State:

"And their business is (conducted) through consultation among themselves." (42:38)

The "Shura" or the legislative assembly has no other meaning except that the executive head of the government and the members of the assembly should be elected by free and independent choice of the people.

Lastly, it is to be made clear that Islam tries to achieve the above mentioned human rights and many others not only by providing certain legal safeguards but mainly by inviting mankind to transcend the lower level of animal life to be able to go beyond the mere ties fostered by the kinship of blood, racial superiority, linguistic arrogance, and economic privileges. It invites mankind to move on to a plane of existence where, by reason of his inner excellence, man can realize the ideal of the Brotherhood of man.


My Final Words and Conclusion :

-- Conclusion --

Islam is by the grace of Allah Almighty, the very fabric of society that if implemented, practiced and legislated in the right way, is a blessing to Humanity in more ways than one.

Violation of Human Rights, is one of the most profoundly obliterated atrocities committed today in the world.

Islam stands against this barbaric and cruel humane treatment and provides "Hope" to the ones oppressed, "Justice" to the ones violated, "Equality" to the ones deprived and most of all a sense of utter and complete "Belonging" to each and every single human being on the face of the earth regardless of religion, race, cast, creed or nationality and social standing.

Islam is a mercy to "All Mankind" in every meaning of the word!

We as Muslims must recognize, realize and proactively stand for these basic human rights and implement them under the banner of Islam as a shining beacon, glorious testament and unequivocal benchmark for human justice, compassion, equality and most of all giving "Hope" to each and every deprived and oppressed human being on earth for a better tomorrow.

Because, a True Muslim is he who submits to the will of Allah Almighty, which automatically makes him a true "Human Being" in every meaning of the word as well. Hence, being a true human being, it is our moral, social, religious and most of all "Humane" responsibility and utmost duty to fulfill the very requirements our creator God Almighty requires of us to adhere and fulfill not just for ourselves but for every single human being on the face of the earth as well.

That is what Islam is all about.

That is what "Human Rights" are all about.

And that is what being Me, You and most of all "Us" as Human Beings and Muslims...is all about!

May Allah (swt) guide us to the path of those he cherishes.

Ameen!

Allahu Akbar!