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Speech of Dr. Ahmed Kamal Aboul Magd
( Commissioner for Dialogue between Civilizations of Arab League )
Page (5)
1.
Under Islamic principles enunciated in the Quran and the Sayings
and Practices of the Prophet, non-Muslims living in a Muslim
community enjoy a status, as far as human and civil rights are
concerned equal to those enjoyed by Muslims.
Contrary to what many well-intentioned people in the West are
made to believe, Muslims are expressly enjoined to treat
non-Muslims in fairness, justice and benevolence.
In Verse 8 of Surrah 60 (Mumtahana), the believers are reminded
that "Allah does not prohibit you from being kind and just
towards those who do not fight you on the ground of your
religions, and who do not oust you from homes. Allah likes those
who are just".
On his immigration to Medina, the Prophet established a body
politic of Muslims and non-Muslims, governed by a charter known
as the Constitution of Medina giving equal rights to both
groups.
Under Islamic principles, the "human" is honored and elevated be
he a Muslim or a follower of a different faith. This elevation
is based on the mere fact of human hood.
In Verse 70 of Surrah 17 (Alissraa), this elevation is stated as
follows :
"ولقد كرمنا بني
آدم وحملناهم في البر والبحر ورزقناهم من الطيبات وفضلناهم على كثير
ممن خلقنا تفضيلا"
"We have honored
the children of Adam and carried them on land and sea, and we
have sustained them with good things, and preferred them to many
of those whom we created."
It is this elevation and honoring of the human race that is the
basic source of the Islamic concept of human rights. Those
rights are viewed as "duties" and "obligations" befalling on
each and every individual, thus guaranteeing the protection and
respect of the other individuals' rights.
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