Dr.Obaidur Rahman Nadwi

The U.N. General Assembly declared December 10 as Human Rights Day in 1948. On this day it is pertinent to revisit the preaching of human rights in Islam.
It is the religion of an equilibrium between body and soul. It solves every issue of human life and leads to such a way in which human beings may live with peace and amity. The last sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is the first charter of human rights in Islam.

After the French Revolution of 1789 and American Revolution of 1775, the concept of Human Rights fostered. Even after the Second World War, the United Nation Organisation (UNO) has set up a Human Rights Commission.

Swami Vivekananda says: “My experience is that if ever any religion approached to this equality (egalitarianism) in an appreciable manner, it is Islam and Islam alone, I am firmly persuaded, therefore, that without the help of practical Islam, theories of veganism, however fine and wonderful they may be, are entirely valueless to the vast mass of mankind.” (Letters of Swami Vivekananda, P. 463)

The similar thoughts are also of G.B. Shaw, he says: “I have always had the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me that possesses that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existing which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him- the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the saviour of humanity.

Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi says, “Socially, a most epoch-making change was brought about by the Islamic notion of human equality and brother-hood. There was no division of society into permanent classes and no such community as the untouchables among the Muslims: Their belief was that no one born unclean into the world nor predetermination ignorant and debarred by the very fact of his birth in a certain class from the acquisition of knowledge.

No trade or occupation was reserved for any particular section of humanity. On the other hand, they fraternised freely with each - other at all levels, the rich strove with the poor in the pursuit of learning and there was freedom of profession for all. The idea of brotherhood and a call to renewed thinking did a lot of good to the country.

The bonds of the then existing class-ridden society were relaxed to a considerable extent and thus witnessed a widespread recoil from the excessive rigidity of the caste-system. The advent of Islam acted as a challenge to social reformers in other fields also.” The well-known Indian freedom fighter and poetess Mrs. Sarojini Naidu has precisely said, “It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque when the call from the minaret is sounded and the worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and the king kneel side by side and proclaim “God alone is great ‘’. I have been struck over and over again this indivisible unity of Islam that makes a man distinctly a brother. When you meet an Egyptian, an Algerian an Indian and a Turk in London, what matters that Egypt was the motherland of one and India motherland of another” (The Ideals of Islam in Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu, Madras 1918, P. 169) Islam regards all human beings alike. Its main plank is to prevail equality and justice in order to create an atmosphere of peace and amity in the world.

The holy Quran says: “We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and repeated with them the scripture and the Balance, that mankind may observe right measure; and revealed iron, wherein is mighty power and (many) uses for mankind....” In the words of Sarojini Naidu: “Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Quran I find these dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conducts of life suited to the whole world.” (LVII: 25). (Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu, Madras, 1918, P 167). If we study Islam and ponder over its contributions and services to humanity, we come across to the conclusion that current misgivings about Islam are unfounded. Suffice it to say that Almighty Allah Himself addressed the Prophet to say: “O Muhammad! Say to people, “To you be your religion, and to me mine. That is why the Prophet never compelled Jews or Christians (109:6) to accept Islam. The Holy Quran strongly advocates that- “There shall be no coercion in matters of faith.” (2:256). It will be in the fitness of things that one should know Islam before levelling any allegation against it. It is time to foster brotherhood and fraternity regardless of caste, creed, colour and region and create an atmosphere of peace and amity throughout the world.

Needless to add that the U.N. General Assembly declared December 10 as Human Rights Day in 1948. So, it is observed on December 10 all over the world. The Assembly proclaimed the declaration as a “common standard of achievement for all people and all nations”. It defines social discrimination as “any distinction based on race, colours or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying the recognition, exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in political, economic, social, cultural or any other fields of public life”.

None can gain say the achievements and contributions made by the UNO in eradicating racism and racial discrimination, racist policies and racist regimes. We may recall the atrocities and oppressions perpetrated by the whites of the ruling class in South Africa. But under the pressure of the UNO, the ruling party had to give up the age-long policy of apartheid or racial discrimination. Consequently Nelson Mandela, the most popular leader of the African people, had been released from jail in February, 1990. Later on, the South African Government had to conduct the first multi-racial elections in South Africa on April 27,1994.

The African National Congress (ANC) got 252 seats out of 400 and formed the first democratic Government in South Africa under Nelson Mandela, the first president of the new Government. Thus, imperialism came to an end in South Africa and so did apartheid. But it is unfortunate that the UNO’s services are one sided. Since the Second World War, the US has attacked 21 countries from Vietnam to Yugoslavia to Nicaragua, killing millions of innocent people. Gulf countries have faced three wars in 1956, 1967 and 1973 after the Second World War and creation of Israel. The recent attack on Iraq dethroning Saddam Husain is most deplorable.

Today the Islamic world including Syria and Palestine is passing through an ordeal. No country raises voice against the atrocities and oppressions being meted out to the people of the Islamic World. It is an open secret that despite all its brutalities, Israel gets all-out support of America.
It is time the UNO should get the issues of the Islamic world including Palestine solved friendly and amicably, only then celebration of the “Human Rights Day” will be meaningful and appropriate.

(Dr. Obaidur Rahman Nadwi is Faculty Member, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow)