By the same token...

By the same token, the relationship between one person to another must be one of justice, because God has decreed that each person has rights over humankind. Life is a state of mutual rights among human beings, and none has absolute rights-even the prophets. The prophets' rights over the rest of humankind is that people should believe in them, accept their message, and assist them.

The rights of humankind over the prophets are that the latter should call them to righteousness, guidance, direction, attestation, instruction, and the like. Therefore, God requests from the Prophet that he observe the right of the umma in propagation. This is derived from the words: " * O Messenger, proclaim that which has been revealed to you from your Lord; for if you do not do, then you have not delivered His message " (al Maidah,*5:67).

This means that the call to God's way and the responsibility thereof constitute the rights of humankind over the Prophet in respect of guidance, instruction, and attestation. This is equally true of the Imams, saints, and ulama. We may even go to the highest limit, for God who has the absolute rights over humankind and none has rights over Him-has honored His servants by giving them a right over Him, according to His words: " Observe my covenant, and I will observe yours " (al-Baqarah, 2:40).

Based on the above, each one who observes the rights of the other person is being just with him. And every person who does not observe the rights of the other is a wrongdoer. It follows that the issue of rights applies to every aspect of determining justice and wrongdoing. When we direct the relationship of the human being to life, the environment and the earth, we find that people are sometimes good, sometimes evil.

This is because there is a responsibility to advance life as God wants life to advance. This means that life has as much right over humankind, as humankind has over life, in the aspect of creation.

This is what we understand from the Qur’anic verse: " We have sent our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed unto them the Book, and the Balance so that humankind may persevere in justice " (al-Hadid, 57:25), as we find that all the religions, scriptures, and the messengers operate within the guidelines of justice.