Q. No. 2. Explain the concept of Human Rights in Islamic thought in specification of "Status of Women in Islam".
سوال نمبر 2: اسلام میں انسانی حقوق کی تعلیمات بالخصوص
خواتیں کے مقام و مرتبہ پر مدلل بحث کریں۔
Imam Ghazali (1058-1111) outlined five basic human rights from Holy Quran as Maqasid e Sharia (objectives of the Islamic law): Right of Religion (belief), Life, intellect, lineage & property.
Religious Wars between Muslims and Christians (Crusades):
1st: 1096
4th:
1202
Magna Carta: 1215
Father of Liberalism a British philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) outlined basic human rights as; life, liberty and property.
In Western political system, majority of people is sovereign. As we know that sovereign makes law. Hence, the majority of people can pass a bill/law according to their wishes. Like LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights and laws permitting homosexuality. On the other hand, in Islam sovereignty rests in Allah Almighty, Who makes laws. These laws are made under the guidance of Quran and Hadith. Islam gives liberty (freedom) in only those matters which are not contrary to the Islamic Law. Constitution/Treaty of Medina (non-Muslim Rights), Last sermon of Prophet (PBUH) / Khutba Hujjatul wida (equality, rights of wives, women, servants etc.) are examples of human rights in Islam.
According to
the concept of western right of liberty, they are free to disrespect any human
being, even prophets, divine personalities, religions and beliefs, which has
long term consequences. But Islam does not allow to humiliate other human
beings, their belief, religion, divine personalities, etc.
Islam gave
basic human rights to all humans irrespective of gender, class, caste,
religion, or color within a boundary to protect the basic rights of humankind.
یٰۤاَیُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقْنٰكُمْ مِّنْ ذَكَرٍ وَّ
اُنْثٰى وَ جَعَلْنٰكُمْ شُعُوْبًا وَّ قَبَآىٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوْاؕ-اِنَّ
اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَتْقٰىكُمْؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِیْمٌ خَبِیْرٌ
ترجمہ: اے لوگو!ہم نے تمہیں ایک مرد اورایک
عورت سے پیدا کیا اور تمہیں قومیں اور قبیلے بنایاتاکہ تم آپس میں پہچان رکھو،
بیشک اللہ کے یہاں تم میں زیادہ عزت والا وہ ہے جو تم میں زیادہ پرہیزگارہے بیشک
اللہ جاننے والا خبردار ہے۔
“O mankind,
indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes
that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of
Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
Islam gave women the right of inheritance, marriage, property, dower, choosing husband, khula, maintenance, etc. since the first day. But sadly, in Muslim countries, majority of Muslim women are deprived of these basic rights.
Causes: weak spiritual
relation, lack of Islamic teachings, sectarianism/disunity, self-interest, etc.
That’s why we cannot blame religion but believers.
Social
restriction, half share in inheritance, half witness, hijab, veil, polygamy,
etc. are very controversial topics among secular/liberals. Women has half share
than men, but right to dowry and no obligation to run household expenditures.
Hijab is obligatory to secure her from harassment. Polygamy is not encouraged
in Islam, but allowed only in case if you can do justice. In war of Uhad dozens
of Muslims were martyred leaving behind widows and children. Muslims were given
permission to marry two, three or four women if they could do justice to
orphans and women.
Polyandry is not allowed, because the right of
lineage will be abused.