Human Rights and Islam - III

End of terrorism and declaration of peaceful coexistence

In the days of ignorance, that in lieu of the murder of 1 person, several people were killed and this course of vengeance would continue for several centuries. Fighting for a trivial, unimportant reason and taking each others’ lives was no difficult task. Thus, the wars would go on. When a war would start, there would be no end in sight and they would continue for years and years. One war was carried for 120 years. The end result of these long drawn wars was that there was no peace in the society at all. Terror and barbarity were prevalent and there would be an atmosphere of fear and anxiety.

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ended this inhumane, terroristic custom; He said:

Lo! There will be no revenge-killings for the bloodshed of the days of ignorance

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared human life as sacred; He said:

O People, indeed your lives, your properties and your honor are sacred and inviolable to you

With these words, He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ended terrorism and gave the universal message of peaceful coexistence.

Rights of slaves

From the ancient times, slaves were denied basic human rights. Their status was not more than something kept in the house or a product out of a factory. They would be made to work day and night and they would be allowed to rest where animals were kept. There would be a yoke of metal around their necks.

In the European law, the master of the slaves had the right to whip the slave and in some cases, could kill the slave as well. The slave did not have the right of even using a name of choice. It was a crime to educate the slave.

In this atmosphere, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) urged people to treat their slaves nicely and ordered them to grant the slaves their rights, even to the point of instructing people about their food and dress. In the Sermon of the Last Hajj, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

Take care of your slaves! s. Take care of your slaves. Give them what you yourselves eat and clothe them in what you wear.

Along with giving them the right of education and the right of life, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also gave them the right that if the slave had politicial ability and acumen, the slave could even become the ruler and obedience to the slave would be Wajib (Compulsory) on all people. In this connection, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: O People! Listen and obey to the command of your leader, even though an Abyssinian slave is your leader, who has a snub nose as long as he enforces the Book of Allah Ta'ala in your affairs.