ভূমিকা

Human Rights from the Viewpoint of Imam Sajjad (1) - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief Human Rights from the Viewpoint of Imam Sajjad (1) 2021-06-22 464 Views Imam Sajjad , Treatises on Rights , Human Rights The following article taken from the famous book entitled Risalat al-Hoqouq or the Treatise of Human Rights as dictated to one of his disciples by Imam Zain al-Abedin (PBUH), the 4th Infallible Successor of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH&HP).

The term Rights is the plural of right, which when used in singular form has a different meaning. Rights’ is a way of behaviour that defines one’s respect for fellow humans that others are also duty bound to observe. The most important characteristic of human rights is that it is a must and not the outcome of others’ favors. Every one of us has rights, and even our own bodily parts have rights of their own, which we ought to observe.

According to Imam Zain al-Abideen (PBUH) the rights that the All-Merciful Allah has granted us bestows covers our entire life, for whatever we possess is from the Wise and Omnipotent Creator. If we can move, talk, see, hear, or associate with others, these are all divine favors and for each of these blessings we have a right that should be observed. Each right, however, insignificant in the eyes of the individual, has its own important status.

The 4th Imam says the right of the Almighty upon, His humble creatures, is the most important one. Accordingly, whenever a right of a fellow human is violated, one has to ask the forgiveness of Allah, in addition to request from pardon from the person wronged. For instance, one who accuses another for no fault or speaks ill of him, has to apologize to that person since his right of respect has been violated. This does not mean that if the wronged person forgives, the matter is resolved.

No, we should simultaneously beseech Allah for forgiveness as well, since we had disobeyed Allah by wronging a fellow human. Imam Zain al-Abideen (PBUH) defines in a beautiful and rational manner that the ignoring of the rights of a person is tantamount to violation of the rights of Allah, Who is the source of all-good, and Who so wisely defined our respective rights.

The point worth noting is that without proper cognizance and consciousness of Allah, Who is nearer to us than our jugular vein, one cannot have a proper understanding of fellow humans and cannot claim to have found the path of perfection.