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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Views On Human Rights: Viewpoints of Iranian Scholars Political Rights Of People In Islam Hujjat al-lslam Muhsin Kadivar Introduction Let us first define key words such as political rights[^1] people and Islam: political rights are part of the human rights, which concern themselves with rights in political area. They include things such as self-determination, political measures and the right to political freedoms.

By people is meant the entire human race regardless of opinion, religion, sect, sex, race, color, language and nationality. Islam embraces the teachings proclaimed to man by Prophet Muhammed the Last Prophet, and the Book and Sunnat[^2] constitute its most important sources. This article discusses the two important Islamic sects: Shi’ite and Sunni.

It attempts to study the political rights of people based upon Islamic teachings without considering the historical differences between the Sunnis and-the Shi'ites.[^3] It might be maintained that the language of religion is the language of obligation. As any discussion on right is non-religious, there is no room for political rights of people in Islam. However, it must be said that the issue of obligation is of great importance in religion.

By religious obligation is meant the divine right towards human beings, which is a unilateral right. Not only does Islam deal with the relationship between God and man but with the relationship between man and man, and man and nature. In Islam, there is the question of obligation and right between these two relationships. Each human person has rights towards other human beings and these rights put some obligations on others.

All human rights (the rights man has towards others and to nature) are bilateral. Obligation is the due right. From any right one can determine an obligation for others. And from the acceptance of any obligation, a right is provided for people. For God religion is an obligation but for men, it is a combination of right and obligation. The Almighty introduces His immutable Word to His servants on the basis of justice, mercy and generosity.

“He has prescribed for Himself mercy.” [^4] (Surah al-Baqarah 2:12) Jurisprudence discusses religious obligations (arising from God's right towards people) and non-religious obligations (political, civil rights) and the jurisprudents have endeavored to recognize religious obligations.