And if anyone violates this sanctity of human blood by...

And if anyone violates this sanctity of human blood by killing a soul without justification, the Holy Quran equates it to the killing of entire mankind: “…that whoever kills a soul, without [it is being guilty of] manslaughter or corruption on the earth, is as though he had killed all mankind, and whoever saves a life is as though he had saved all mankind …” (Qur’an 5:32.) It is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, the sick or the wounded.

Women’s honour and chastity are to be respected under all circumstances at any cost. The hungry person must be fed, the naked, clothed and the wounded or diseased treated medically irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or are from among its enemies. When we speak of human rights in Islam we really mean that these rights have been granted by Almighty Allah.

The rights granted by the kings or the legislative assemblies, can also be withdrawn in the same manner in which they are conferred. The same is the case with the rights accepted and recognized by dictators. They can confer with them when they please and withdraw them when they wish, and they can openly violate them when they like.

Nevertheless, since in Islam human rights have been conferred by God, no legislative assembly in the world or any government on earth has the right or authority to make any amendment or change in the rights conferred by God. No one has the right to abrogate or withdraw them. Nor are they basic human rights which are conferred on paper for the sake of show and exhibition and denied in actual life when the show is over. Nor are they like philosophical concepts which have no sanctions behind them.

The charter, the proclamations, and the resolutions of the United Nations cannot be compared with the rights sanctioned by Almighty Allah; because the former is not applicable to anybody while the latter is applicable to every believer. They are a part and parcel of the Islamic Faith. Every Muslim or administrator who claims to be a Muslim will have to accept, recognize and enforce them.

If they fail to enforce them and start denying the rights that have been guaranteed by Almighty Allah or make amendments and changes in them, or practically violate them while paying lip service to them, the verdict of the Holy Quran for such government is clear and unequivocal: “We sent down the Torah containing guidance and light.