—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
 
JAMAICA, New York (March 2, 2013) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) issued a press release today on the escalating violence in Bangladesh.
 
The current regime has introduced one-party rule in Bangladesh by silencing opposing views, and the country has quickly descended into anarchy. Extra-judicial killings, abduction, and murders of journalists and opposition figures are rampant.

The regime has created the International Crimes Tribunal under the guise of trying those responsible for 1971 war crimes. Instead, this court is being used to silence opposition figures such as well-known religious scholar Delware Hossain Sayedee, who was recently condemned to death without proper trial.

The regime has also organized massive rallies, utilizing the government apparatus to pressure judges for the death penalty while opposition rallies are being crushed. Just days ago police shot and killed 35 peaceful protestors who were protesting against unjust verdicts.

Ambassador-at-large Stephen Rapp, the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the International Bar Association and numerous other agencies have expressed serious concern that courts such as the International Crimes Tribunal are in violation of international laws.

ICNA President Naeem Baig appealed to the Obama administration and particularly the U.S. Department of State saying, “The International Crimes Tribunal is in serious violation of human rights. We must pressure the Bangladesh government to reconstitute the tribunal based on international standards and recommendations by Ambassador-at-Large Stephen Rapp.”

The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the application of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts.

—END—

Islamic Circle of North America
E-mail:
Office: (718) 658-1199

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The most important factor in any political system is the relationship between the governing entity and the people. This relationship sets down the rights of the ruler and the people, as well as their responsibilities towards each other.

The Obligations of the Ruler

One of the oldest scholars who addressed the issue of the Islamic political system, ElMawerdy (972-1058 AD), tackled the issue of the rights and obligations of the Muslim ruler in his book AlAhkam AlSultaniya. He began addressing the matter by discussing the ruler’s duties and responsibilities, listing the protection of the religion as the first responsibility of the Muslim ruler. He stated that the ruler must protect the religion from any innovations, using logic and proof to refute falsehood and innovations, and using his rights and the limits Islam imposes on the people to protect Islam and the nation from any harm.

ElMawerdy mentioned that the resolving of conflicts between disputants was the Muslim ruler’s second responsibility. (Of course in modern political system, the judicial authorities are delegated with this responsibility.)

According to ElMawerdy, the ruler is responsible for the protection of the people from harm, the execution of the hudood (the punishments for transgressing the limits Allah has imposed in Islam), the fortification of the borders of the nation, jihad against those who oppose Islam, the collection and distribution of the spoils of war and charity, the appointment of executive officials, and directly engage in the affairs of the nation.

The Andalusian scholar and judge, ibn-AlAzraq(1427-1491 AD), listed 5 duties a ruler is obligated to perform:

1. The protection of the fundamentals of the religion
2. The execution of judgement between disputants
3. The execution of the hudood
4. The punishing and rebuking of those who deserve (to be punished)
5. The caring of ahl aldhimma (non-Muslims who agreed to live peacefully within a Muslim nation under Islamic rule)

Another Andulisian scholar, ibn Radwan alMalaqy (died 1381 AD), stated in his book AlShohob AlLame3a fe AlSiyasa AlNafi3a (The Illuminated Stars of Effective Politics) that there are 10 responsibilities and duties that must be performed by a Muslim ruler. Those 10 responsibilities are directly identitcal to ElMawerdy’s list, and go as follows:

1. The protection of the religion based on the things agreed upon by the scholars.
2. The execution of judgments and verdicts between disputants.
3. The protection of people from harm.
4. The execution of the hudood.
5. The fortification and protection of the frontlines and borders of the nation.
6. Jihad against those who oppose Islam.
7. The collection of the spoils of war and charity.
8. Managing the distribution of wealth.
9. The delegation of authority and the appointment of advisors.
10. The direct engagement in the affairs of the nation.

The late contemporary scholar AbdelAziz Ezzat AlKhayyat, mentioned in his book AlNizam AlSiyasy fe AlIslam (The Political System in Islam) 6 of the 10 ibn Radwan listed. He placed both the collection of the spoils of war and charity and the managent of the distribution of wealth as one item. He also paired the fortification and protection of the frontlines and borders of the nation with jihad against those who oppose Islam. The execution of judgements and verdicts was also joined with the protection of people and the execution of the hudood as one item in his list.

AlKhayyat states in AlNizam AlSiyasy that the scholars of Islam summarized the obligations of the ruler in the following phrase: The guarding of the religion and the management of worldly affairs. (Heraset aldeen wa siyasit elduniya.)

The Rights of the Ruler

After addressing the obligations of the ruler, AlKhayyat addressed the matter of the rights of the ruler. The first of these rights, he mentions, is the obedience of the nation to the ruler except when ordered to sin.  The Quranic verse AlKhayyat refers to with regards to this right is verse 59 of Surat AlNisa, which is translated (Yusuf Ali) as follows:

O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you.

AlKhayyat then goes to list what he considers being other rights of the ruler: The right to be advised privately or publicly, The right to be supported and aided, The right to be respected, The right to legislate (so long as it is within the limits of the shariah  and the consensus of the Muslims), The right to know the progress of his delegates, subjects, and workers and hold them accountable, The right to obtain permissible wealth from the national treasury, The right to declare war, and The right to appoint delegates and workers.

AlMawerdy stated that if the ruler fulfills his 10 duties (mentioned earlier), then the people are obligated to obey him and aid him, so long as his status does not change.

AlMawerdy then mentions that in the event that his justice becomes flawed (mainly when he performs actions clearly forbidden in Islam), the nation will no longer be obligated to obey nor aid him. He also mentioned a number of cases in which bodily (physically and mentally) defects may also render a ruler’s status as a ruler void.

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Concept of human rights

Human rights are those kinds of rights to which every person ineligible as a human being. Obviously every individual is entitled to rights in accordance with the laws of human rights as defined by the state. Human rights are said to be same for everyone everywhere. Generally these kinds of laws are followed internationally. Another key player is non- governmental organizations which have roles to play in human rights and their implementation. Specifically if, we talk about those developed countries where there are much of focus on human rights, we would talk about the United Kingdom as one of those countries. In the UK human rights were defined in the bill of rights in 1689 which announced that this law would be a common law. As a citizen of United Kingdom, every individual resided in the country should follow the laws defined by the state. According to these laws as a law abiding citizen one must meet the standards defined by the government. Human rights can be said as the relationship between the state and the citizen. On the other hand, one must have some knowledge about the rights as a citizen. There are law enforcement agencies that have a bigger role to play in the implementation of the laws.

Addition of new clause

There are always some scenarios in which there are violations of human rights. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned human rights activists also play their part for a better the society. But there are imbalances in the society that creates the violance.When there is unequal distribution of the facilities between the individuals there would be human rights violation.When you are allowed to have the freedom speech, you must make sure that you use it wisely. In some cases, some individuals use this freedom without bothering about the fact that it may create problems in the societies, and for the same reason there are some additions in the clauses of the laws related to the human rights.

The purpose of amendment in the laws is due to the fact that there are some policies to be implemented in order to avoid the situation that create imbalance in the society. The street crime rate has drastically increased for the last two years or so and human rights conditions have a deeper role to play. There are some measurements taken by the United Kingdom government to ensure that there would be no more violations. The law of the United Kingdom provides protection to the individuals as far as the human rights are concerned. But there are some changes that are required by time. These changes are extremely beneficial to maintain a normal situation because when there is an inequality in the society that definitely affects the balance of the society.

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Transgender is a group of people created in the same way that males or females are, but the only difference is that due to biological concerns, they develop physical features of both sexes. This genetic difference has not only segregated them from societies but has also led people to treat them as an inferior creed.

Allah has created every human equal and all human beings rise very respectably in the eyes of Islam, where it gives them equal opportunity, rights and freedom. Also, it does not discriminate between them. Transgender are called Makhannathun in Arabic which means effeminate ones, they have always been present in our religion, society and culture as they are also the creation of Allah, and their existence has been mentioned clearly in the Holy Quran:

Chapter 42, Surat I-Shura, Verse 49, 50:

“To Allah belongs the dominion of  heavens and earth; He creates what he wills. He gives to whom He wills female, and He gives to whom He wills males. Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He knows and Competent.”

Islam supports the right and existence of those who fit the picture of Makhannathun. Islam possesses equal opportunities for men, women and transgender, so that they may realize their full individual potential according to their wish keeping in mind the right path prescribed to them. This can include taking part in public, financial and educational developments and benefiting equally from the results. Gender equality does not essentially mean ‘indistinguishable rights’ as the conditions may vary from gender to another, but one can be assured that equal rights are served when it comes to Islam.

Our prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) also treated makhannathun with respect. He did not look down upon them, once he was asked to put a makhannathun to sleep where he refused and said that he was not allowed to kill anyone who prays. The only issue that arose with them was that they were involved in singing and dancing which was forbidden in Islam.

In light of the facts provided by the Shari’a, several Muslim countries have started giving these transgender their due rights as per Islamic Laws. Now, they are stepping up to acknowledge their being and accommodating them as whom they are. Also they are provided with the chance of living and earning as a respectable citizen.

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Human rights ensure the dignity to which every human being in this world is entitled. Moreover, human rights are also about the rule of law that has been designed to offer a great deal of respect to all human beings no matter what caste, color or religion they might belong to. Stemming tyranny, extremism and all forms of violence is the prime reason for which these rights have been formulated. Here, the rising violence against the Muslims also undermines the fact that The Great Prophet Muhammad PBUH was the first one to introduce the human rights into the lives of millions of Muslims and Non-Muslims during his rule.

Human rights protect those who have moved to any part of the world in order to save themselves and their children from tyranny and persecution. Moreover, the refugees also include those people who have been the victims of unjust discrimination in any part of the world. The modern world seems to lay a great deal of emphasis on human rights, but when it comes to Muslims, then all the human rights start to erode. Now this is indeed a clear cut sign about the rising discrimination and prejudice against the Muslims. There are a number of organizations in the United States of America that are working for the protection of those who belong to African. Mexican or any other ethnicity in the world. In lines to their views, they prefer to seek justice thorough the use of courts and other governing bodies which are responsible for protecting the rights of the people and for ensuring that justice is always served in an unbiased manner. But yet again, these court houses have failed to offer their best for the Muslims in those regions.

It is the need of the time that the Government should come into play in order to offer some protection to the Muslims and to deal with the times of hardship from which they are going through. The United States of America considers itself to be the ultimate leader in human rights, but when it comes to Muslims, all of these claims seem to fade out. There is another program that has been designed to turn down the acts of discrimination against the minorities that started to emerge in the United States, especially after the 9/11 attacks. The program has been named The Fighting Discrimination program and it has been offering its services since 2002. Core functions of the program involve fighting the rising waves of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and other forms of racial violence in the United States. In terms of their reports and surveys, the religion that is most hated and undermined in the United States is Islam. Moreover, with the passage of time it is said that there will come a time when no single Muslim will be allowed to stay in the domains of the country, which is an indicator about the involvement of various Non-Muslims extremist organizations. The only solution to this problem lies in the elimination of terrorism all over the world, in which the Muslim countries should join hands.

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writer @Omniya_Fareed on Twitter
Hope you all enjoy my work! :)

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Islam is the religion that not only guides man towards worship but also guides man how he should be towards others. The religion of Islam came as a blessing for men, women and children as it informed every individual of his rights and duties, so that if each of them fulfills them receives his due rights, and then a happy & peaceful society is formed.

Islam also informed the people about some aspects of marriage. It gave a completely different meaning to marriage, as compared to the practice of people in the days of ignorance. It limited the number of women that a man could marry and gave strict orders on equal treatment of each of them. Rights of wives on husbands and rights of husbands on wives were set, so that if each spouse fulfills the due rights of the other, then no bond can be as good as that between a husband and wife, and there would be no need for divorce. Where Islam has laid special rules and special instructions about the treatment of women, it has also set a few rules and informed women of their duties towards their husbands. The husband is the head of the house, and he demands respect that accompanies that role. He earns money and comes home tired. He is of the utmost importance for the house and the family, so Islam set the rights of husbands on wives.

Husband can demand from his wife to give him respect and protect his house, his belongings, property, and children in his absence. The wives must obey their husbands. If a husband does not permit his wife to do something, the wife should refrain from such a thing, because it makes her husband unhappy. Similarly, if a husband asks his wife to do something she should do it. Obeying his orders is essential, and in fact compulsory, as far as he does not give any orders against the rules set by God.

While the man is away, the wife should protect his house. She should not allow anybody in her husband’s house without his permission, give good care to his children and get all her work done before her husband comes home. She should spend time with her husband, and support him in good or bad.  It is advised she is friendly with his parents and his family, and give them respect, so if the husband asks his wife to serve his parents, she should do that happily, as this is a part of obedience of husband.

Thus, if a woman fulfills all the obligations put on her by  Islam, she is surely going to get good returns from her husband. If she shall be good, the spouse would also be good towards her, thus, a good everlasting bond would be formed.

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I love to write creative articles. I have been writing on different social and religious topics for 2 years now. Give me a creative topic and I will write it for you.

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A new bill on the amendment to Poland's animal rights law to make kosher and halal slaughter legal in Poland has been submitted for public consultation, a spokesperson for the Ministry of agriculture has announced.

Spokeswoman Małgorzata Książyk says the public consultation period will last one week, following a Constitutional Court ruling late last year which said that ritualised slaughter of animals for religious purposes was inconsistent with Polish animal rights law.

The court concluded that a 2004 amendment that introduced exceptions to an animal protection law that forbade the slaughter of animals without prior stunning was "unconstitutional."

Last week, the new draft law, which would make Polish law compatible with European Union regulations, was considered by the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the bill has now been passed on to social and trade union organizations for consultation.

TheNews.pl, 24 January 2013

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Westerners tend to be very hard on the Muslim world for its lack of recognizing women’s rights. However, I want to point out that a century ago the women’s rights movement was at the forefront of the Western world. Many Westerners were appalled at the idea of women having the same rights as men. They felt that women should not be allowed to vote, hold a job, or travel on their own because they are less intelligent than men. The adage was, “The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.” In other words, women should stay at home. Even today, there are still struggles in the West over women’s rights.
The fight for women’s rights has reached the Muslim world. Two and a half years ago, Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian mother of two, was imprisoned on charges of sending out propaganda, violating the hijab, and “acting against national security.” While serving her six-year sentence, she went on a 49-day hunger strike to protest that her daughter was not allowed to travel internationally. Her hunger strike ended December 5, when authorities gave her daughter permission to travel.
Women’s rights in the Muslim will be one of the major struggles for this century, but there are many victories to report on. A few years ago in Yemen, Nujood Ali became the first child bride to be granted a divorce. She was only ten years old. Human rights agencies have assured that she will have the resources to attend school and eventually college, so that she can follow her dream of becoming a lawyer for women’s rights. In large cities in the Middle East, such as Basra, Beirut, Amman, and Cairo, many women are going to college or holding full-time jobs. Nasrin Sotoudeh’s hard-won victory is to be cheered by all who are concerned about women’s rights.
I am not a “feminist” in the traditional sense of the word. Women and men are different. Men tend to be physically stronger, while women tend to be more nurturing (by tend, I mean that most are this way, not all). However, we all have equal capacities for intelligence and the ability to contribute to society. Women and men should have equal rights, and respect for each other’s differences.

About the author

I grew up in conservative Christian circles in the American South, and majored in theology at an Alabama Southern Baptist college. Without really understanding why, I believed that Muslims were to be avoided at all costs, and we have to unilaterally support Israel. Like many young adults, after college I wasn't sure at all of what I wanted to do with my life, so I traveled to the Middle East for a year and a half. Most of the people I met were descendants of the Palestinian refugees forced out of their homeland in 1948, when Israel was recreated. I fell in love with Arab culture, and realized that on the world scene, Arabs have no voice. Living in the Middle East gave me fresh new eyes to read the Bible, and interacting with Arab Christians, especially Palestinian Christians who live in Jordan, caused me to question all the dogmas regarding Israel with which I had grown up.

Living in the Middle East also gave me the courage I needed to pursue my lifelong dream of being an author. My first book, A Theology of Chaos, will come out this next spring. I plan to use the profits from it to support organizations in the Middle East that are fighting for justice. I have written some short stories as well, which you can find on smashwords.com under my full name, Margaret Elysia McColley.

I now live in New York City, where emergency procedures for a potential terrorist attack are constantly updated, and where the sharp divide between Christians, Muslims, and Jews can be clearly seen on posters in the subways. My goal in life is simple: to end terrorism in my lifetime, by giving a voice to social injustices that compel terrorists to violence.

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Muslims hold a very prominent position in Islam and women are considered as very noble and lofty. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the primary lecturer in the edifice of a righteous society. Women are the most respectable and honored personality in Islam.

In Islam, men and women are considered equally in every aspect of life but when we talk about rights, men and women are given different rights. Women rights according to Quran and Islam have been discussed in various books and in Quran, Surah Nisa. Surah Nisa is only surah in which each and every verse is related to women. In other Surahs of Quran, women are also discussed.

A man came to Allah’s Messenger and said: O Messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me? He replied: “Your mother.” The man asked: Then who? So he replied: “Your mother”. The man then asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: “Your mother.” The man then asked: then who? So he replied: “Then your father.” So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment as the father. [2]

Some of the Women rights according to Quran and Islam are discussed below:

1. Education

The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) once said:

“Acquiring knowledge is compulsory for every Muslim. (At-Tabarani)

This description applies equally to men and women. It is the right of every Muslim woman to acquire and strive for knowledge. Throughout Islamic history, men and women both earned respect as scholars and teachers of the Faith. The books of Rijal (Reporters of Hadith) contain the names of many prominent women, beginning with Aishah and Hafsah.

2. The Right to Own Wealth and Property

A woman possesses the right to keep her property or wealth, whether earned or inherited and she has the right to spend it according to her wish.

The Holy Quran says:

“And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you excel the others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.” (V. 4:32)

There is no constraint in Islamic law that says a woman cannot work or cannot be a professional. Women rights according to Quran and Islam state that women are completely given freedom to work outside and earn money and help her husband.

3. Freedom to Choose Her Husband

In Islam, a woman is given complete authority and the right to choose her life partner or refuse or reject her parents’ proposal.

A woman named Khansa Bint-e-Khidam once came to the Prophet and complained:

“My father has forced me to marry my cousin in order to raise his own status (in the eyes of the people).” The Prophet told her that she was free to dissolve this marriage and choose whomever she wished to marry. She replied, “I accept my father’s choice, but my aim was to let the women know that fathers have no right to interfere in the marriage.” (Ahmad, Nasa’i and Ibn-e-Majah)

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Osama

I am 20 years old from Karachi, Pakistan. I am doing graduation from Karachi University. Right now, doing freelance writing for Muslim Academy.

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“And worship Allah, and do not associate anyone with Him and do good to parents, and to relatives and orphans, and the needy, and the near neighbor and the distant neighbor and the companion of your side and the wayfarer.” (Surah Nisa, verse 36)

Neighbors are generally taken as those families or persons that reside in the houses near to you.  If you don’t live in a joint family system, then your neighbors are more closely located to your place of residence than your relatives. Your every single act is capable of producing impressions upon the lives and routines of your neighbors. For this reason, in Islam, a very high value has been allotted to the rights of neighbors.

You all must agree to the fact that your neighbors are close to you in some way in which not even your relatives are close to you. At the time of need, the first ones who you will call or expect help from will obviously be your neighbors. If you have established good relations with the people who live near your residence, then no doubt, at the time of need, they will come to your aid without any hesitation. In addition to this, you and your neighbors share the same area and will have to interact frequently with each other. For this reason, it is very important that an atmosphere of mutual understanding and cooperation should exist between you. This is very important for the peace and harmony of your life.

Rights of Neighbors in islam

It has been mentioned by our beloved Prophet PBUH that:

“I swear in the name of One in Whose custody is my life, the rights of neighbors can be rightly paid by one on whom Allah showers His Mercy. And few among you know about the rights of neighbors. (The rights of neighbors include),Help them in fulfilling their necessities, give them loans, if they are happy greet them, and if they are sad, share their sorrow, if they are sick, visit them to help them and if they die, offer funeral Prayer for them (Namaz e Janaza) and be with them until they are buried.” (Tafseer Roohul Bayaan,part 5/page 530)

From the above instructions of our Holy Prophet PBUH, it can easily be judged that a great value and responsibility lies upon the shoulder of every Muslim in relation to the rights of neighbors. Till the day of buruial, you need to stay attentive towards the rights of neighbors, and this is surely an indication of a huge responsibility. In relation to the rights of neighbors, our beloved Prophet said that:

“There are three kinds of neighbors. Some have three rights, some have two rights and some have one right. A neighbor who is a Muslim as well as being a relative has three rights .The right of neighborhood, the Islamic right and the right of a relative. A neighbor who is a Muslim has two rights, the right of neighborhood and the right of Islam. The non-Muslim neighbor has only one right that is the right of a neighbor.”

From the above discussion, the importance of being attentive towards the rights of neighbors can easily be judged. So Muslims, stay attentive towards your responsibilities as neighbors.

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Islam is a unique religion, and Muslims are the followers of this religion. In Islam, there is no distinction between the status of men and women. The Holy Qur’an and Hades show a clear picture of women’s rights in Islam. Islam teaches every man to respect the rights of Muslim women in the forms of Daughter, Wife and Mother.

Rights of Muslim Women as Wives

A wife has many rights over her husband. The first basic right that Islam provides to the wife is the amount of ‘’Maher’’ at the time of marriage. The amount of the “Maher”, or dowry, is obligatory for every man to pay his wife at the time of “Nikah”, the wedding. In ancient days, the amount of ‘’Maher’’ was not given to the wives, but the father of the wife. Islam stressed the issue that the amount of ‘’Maher’’ must be given to the wives through her husband at the time of marriage. The amount of ‘’Maher’’ is not fixed; it is adjusted according to the status of the husband.

Rights of Muslim Women as Daughters

Islam gives some basic rights to Muslim daughters. As a daughter, women have more rights than the son. Before Islam, there was no concept of a daughter’s rights in any religion. The parents buried their newborn daughters alive. Islam gives rights to the women as a daughter. According to Islam, the daughter is the symbol of ”Rehmat”, or blessing from ALLAH ALMIGHTY. Islam also gives daughters the right to receive 1/3 of the parent’s property.

Rights of Muslim Women as Mothers

There are many rights regarding mothers in Islam. Motherhood is the most precious gift that ALLAH ALMIGHTY  can give. Motherhood is the best blessing of Allah. In Islam, motherhood is considered the shape of God on the Earth. It is the duty of every Muslim man and woman to treat their parents well. Disrespect is especially prohibited towards mothers.

Hades of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shows a clear picture of the mother’s rights.

‘’Paradise lies under the feet of Mother’’.

This Hades quote shows the important of the mother. It is the duty of everyone to treat their mothers in the best way possible according to the teaching of Islam. In childhood it is the mother that teach how to stand, how to walk, how to speak and how to eat. It is the mother that protects her children from harm. In return, it is the duty of everyone to keep their parents happy and provide them protection regarding any matter.

Above, the rights of Muslim women are listed according to the teachings of Islam, which provides firm guidelines for good treatment of women.

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Islam is the religion of peace and love. It was the bright light of this glorious religion that illuminated the deserts of Arabia, which were darkened by ignorance. It was due to the teachings of Islam that the brutal people of Arabia changed into the most civilized nation of the world. They were changed to such an extent that even the people of west adopted their ways of spending lives. Before the arrival of Islam in Arabia, there was no such thing known human rights. Mankind was treated like animals by their fellow races. Superiority based only upon wealth, color, and creed. Servants and women in particular were given no importance and had no respect. But then the golden Principals of Islam arrived. Guided by the light of Holy Quran our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWW) told the people living at that time about the concept of human rights in Islam.

Islam is a religion that has been devised by the supreme creator Allah almighty his self and that is the reason it is in accordance and matches well with human nature. A lot of importance is placed on human rights in Islam. Being the only religion that focuses upon peace and brotherhood, Islam is very strict about the rights Muslims have upon each other. The rights of humans that are highly valued in Islam are the rights of property, wealth and life. It is bounded upon every Muslim to show respect towards the rights that other human have. One thing that Islam stresses in particular is that no one is superior to another on the bases of color, creed and wealth. In the eyes of Allah, only one who respects others can be respected by Allah almighty, himself.

If anyone wants to have a look at the details of human rights allotted by Islam, then the best example can be found from the life of Holy Prophet PBUH. In fact he presented a complete charter of human rights during his speech that he made in Makah at the event of Hajj. In that speech, great emphasis was laid by Prophet Muhammad PBUH upon the importance of human rights in Islam. The best example of equality among mankind that has been supported by Islam can be seen during the annual Pilgrimage of Makah where Muslims belonging to different colors, races, regions and backgrounds wear the same dress and perform Hajj.

Humans are all considered equal and no concept of superiority exists. The killing of a fellow human is strictly prohibited in Islam and is considers as a very bad act. Women are given special rights and their importance has been made prominent. Hence one can say that the human rights listed Islam are a complete package that gives every man and woman their due respect.

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Islam has given various human rights to every individual. Below is an overview of these:

An Islamic state ensures human rights by securing the life and property of every citizen, Muslim or non Muslim. It safeguards their honor, so that they are not to be insulted or ridiculed by anyone.  The Holy Prophet (PBUH) clearly mentioned this fact by saying:

“Surely your blood, property, and honor are unbreakable.” (Narrated by Sahih Bukhari and Musnad Ahmad)

Islam deeply condemns Racism and stresses human rights and equality.

“O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you.” (Holy Quran 04:01)

Therefore it is very important that one must pay attention to human rights as this  has been mentioned in our religion many times. Unlike other religions, Islam is a strong supporter of human rights  and believes in justice and equality.

Islam is against giving extra favors to any individual on the grounds of power; possession or race. God has created all humans as equal, and their superiority over one another is only due to piety. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said in his last sermon:

“All mankind is children of Adam and Eve, and there is no superiority for an Arab over a non Arab or a non Arab over an Arab; similarly there is neither any superiority for a white over a black nor a black over white except by piety.”

Racism is amongst the greatest troubles, mankind is facing today. The developed nations are powerful enough to send a person on the moon but are powerless to stop a tiff between the two. Islam has laid so many wonderful examples since the era of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), to favor human rights and to eliminate racism. Hajj or Pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the best examples of Muslim brotherhood, where millions of Muslims across the globe gather at one place, irrespective of nation or race.

Islam is the most just religion. God commands us be just with enemies as well by stating:

 “…And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice.  Be just: that is nearer to piety….”

(Quran 5:8)

Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:

“There are seven categories of people whom God will shelter under His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His.  [One is] the just leader.”(Sahih Muslim)

Holy Prophet (PBUH) ensured those who are not dealt justice or are deprived of their rights in this world, to be compensated on the Day of Resurrection, by saying:

“On the Day of Judgment, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)…” (Sahih Muslim # 2582, Musnad Ahmad 7163)

About the author

Typical food lover Die Hard cricket fan specially Pakistan Cricket Team. Hipster-friendly twitter guru. Music ninja. Freelance writer.

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In this Podcast, Chris Speaks with Walaa and Allison about women’s rights in Islam.  Allison gives the perspective of an American non Muslim woman, with Walaa giving the perspective of an Egyptian Muslim woman.

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Muslim civil rights groups and community organisations have condemned a series of anti-Islamic advertisements that will be appearing in New York's subway stations next week.

The ads had initially been rejected by the city's Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) but were later allowed after a legal appeal ruled them to be expressions of freedom of speech. One ad reads: "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad."

The ads are set to appear in at least 10 of the city's 400 subways stations and have been designed and paid for by the controversial American Freedom Defence Initiative, which is led by outspoken anti-Islamist activist Pamela Geller. The AFDI has been termed an "active anti-Muslim group" by the civil rights watch dog organisation the Southern Poverty Law Centre.

"You are talking about people like me being called a "savage"," said Linda Sarsour, the executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. "It is all bubbling up. I know there is freedom of speech, but with freedom of speech comes responsibility. This promotes hate."

The AFDI first came to prominence during a prolonged fight about the building of an Islamic cultural centre in downtown Manhattan. Its critics dubbed the project a "Ground Zero mosque" and waged a high-profile campaign against it that many said was Islamaphobic. The SPLC termed Geller "the anti-Muslim movement's most visible and flamboyant figurehead."

Ads similar to the ones set to appear in New York have already been put on buses in San Francisco. However, the local transport authority in the city, known as Muni, donated the funds raised by the ad to the city's Human Rights Commission and also ran their own ad next to it that stated: "Muni doesn't support this message." The AFDI has also sought to run the ads in Washington DC but authorities there have delayed them for public safety concerns.

Muslim civil rights groups said the ads were coming at an especially sensitive time as world politics are already being rocked by violent protests and attacks on American embassies in the wake of the production of an anti-Islamic film made by an Egyptian Coptic Christian living in California. It also comes after several high-profile incidents in the US, including the burning of a mosque in Joplin, Missouri. "They add to the overall picture of anti-Muslim feeling that is growing up in our nation," said Ibrahim Hooper, a director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The renewed controversy over the ads also comes on the same day as a major global report by the Pew Research Centre identified a rise of religious intolerance worldwide, including in the US. On the two measures the survey used – called "social hostility" and "government restrictions" - the US moved up the scale for the first time in both areas. When it came to official restrictions the US went from a low category to moderate, but when it came to the social hostilities index the country went from the lower end of the moderate scale to the upper end.

Guardian, 20 September 2012

See also "Controversial 'Defeat Jihad' ad to appear in NYC subways", CNN, 19 September 2012

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A widespread misunderstanding in the West about Muslim women is that Islam oppresses them. This is certainly not right. Islam exalted the position of the women unlike any other religion. Before the advent of Islam, the baby girl was considered a burden and was even buried alive. Islam banished all such brutality. According to it, girls are to be considered a mercy of Allah Subhana WA Ta’ala. The Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi WA aalihi wasallam declared that whoever brings up three daughters, gives them good education, and is merciful to them until they get married would surely be in heaven. A man asked; “what if there are two?” The Prophet said; “Although they are two or even one.” This explains that daughters are a huge blessing and are never to be considered a burden anyway.

A girl is free to choose her husband by her own will. It is prohibited to force her into marriage. She can even seek divorce from her husband if she wants. Although she is not bound, but she can even earn for her family provided she keep up with the limits prescribed by Islam. She has a share in her husbands’ earnings. He is to provide her food, shelter, and clothing. Islam ordains the husbands to provide sustenance for their wives. They are to take care of them and are strictly forbidden to beat them. The Prophet said:” The best amongst the men are those who are good to their wives.” This explains how much Islam emphasizes the good behaviour with wives and how highly it regards good behaviour with ones wives

As a mother she has a status three times as that of a father. Once a man came to the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi WA aalihi wasallam and said: “Who deserves my best behaviour amongst all of my kinship?” The Prophet replied; “Your mother”. The man said; “Who next?” The Prophet replied; “Your mother”. The man again asked; “Who next?” The Prophet replied; “Your mother”. He then again asked the same question, then the Prophet replied; “Your father”. This explains how much regard Islam has for a mother as she bears the child in her womb for nine months, then brings it up and spends countless nights awake. Islam recognizes the difficulties with which a woman brings up child and hence has stored excellent rewards for her thereby. A woman who dies during her virginity, pregnancy, and childbirth is considered as a martyr and all her previous sins are to be forgiven. Such rewards are unheard of in any other religion.

Islam gave women the right to vote and choose their leaders fourteen hundred years ago, a right that West only gave them recently. Islam has also given them full liberty to participate in all the political, economic, and financial matters of their household as well as of the state. Moreover, women are given a share from the property. All of this is proof enough that Islam offers the most liberty to women than any other religion.

About the author

Typical food lover Die Hard cricket fan specially Pakistan Cricket Team. Hipster-friendly twitter guru. Music ninja. Freelance writer.

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A Muslim man is suing a security company, claiming his religious rights were violated when its guards demanded he remove his cap before entering Nashville's Juvenile Justice Center.

Rashid al-Qadir claims security guards violated his First Amendment right to the free exercise of his religion by telling him he could not wear the small, brimless cap called a kufi. Al-Qadir says he offered to remove the kufi for inspection but then wanted to put it back on. The guards refused and demanded he leave the building.

In a motion filed Tuesday, attorneys for G4S Secure Solutions (USA) Inc. do not dispute al-Qadir’s account of the April 11, 2011, events. Instead, they argue the suit should be dismissed because al-Qadir cannot prove his claim that the guards were acting on behalf of the government.

Al-Qadir initially asked the federal court for an emergency order that would allow him to enter the Juvenile Justice Center, where he was fighting a child custody dispute. Two weeks later, the juvenile courthouse adopted a policy allowing religious headwear to be worn in the building once it had been inspected.

"I'm an American. I was born in America, and I’m going to be treated like an American," al-Qadir said in an interview. "I have a right to practice my religion freely as long as I'm not hurting anyone, and a kufi is not going to hurt anybody."

Associated Press, 30 August 2012

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No other religion guarantees and safeguards the human rights more than the religion of peace, Islam. Islam has this distinguished status that as soon as it arrived many centuries ago, it has brought the revolutionary change in people’s lives. Before the advent of Islam, daughters were slaughtered, inequality of law was prevailing, human lives were not secured, women were deprived of their basic rights, and it was the time of anarchy, and disorder. Islam made sure that people’s rights were protected, without making any discrimination among various religions, genders, tribes, sects, races, colors, castes, etc. An Islamic state was formed by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) and the world witnessed that no other state or society has ever been established in the history other than that Islamic state which was a model of a society where people’s welfare, social security and the dominance of human rights were prevailing at their best.

Islam makes sure that human rights are well preserved and people have the freedom to lead their lives without any danger, or unnecessary compulsions. Here we are going to highlight a few of basic human rights among many which are dignified and perceivable in the view of Islam.

Human rights of life and property:

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) said while addressing the people on the farewell pilgrimage, that ‘your lives and your properties are prohibited to each other until the doomsday when you will meet your Lord’.  Here it is clear that Islam preserves the lives and properties of the people. In Islam, no one is allowed to even kill a non-Muslim, if someone does so, according the prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) fragrance of the paradise will not come to him.

Right of honor:

Islam makes sure that the dignity and honor of every human being is well secured and respected. The almighty Allah forbids the Muslims to defame each other. Likewise, according to Islam, making fun of each other, using nicknames, and backbiting etc. are forbidden.

Right of freedom:

Islam makes sure that each human being has access to justice. Islam gives the right to human beings that they have to the freedom to prove themselves right and innocence, in case they have been alleged to commit any crime.

Freedom of association:

According to Islam, each human being has the right to form his personal organization or association. However, Islam imposes certain rules which a person has to follow while forming his association.

Freedom of conviction and consciousness:

Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace. It has clearly been stated in the holy Quran that ‘in the issue of conviction, there is no compulsion’. Islam allows every person to worship according to his beliefs, no matter which religion he belongs to. Moreover, Islam asks the Muslims to respect the non-Muslims’ beliefs and their sacred religious places.

Right to become a ruler:

Islam believes in its own democratic principles. It allows every Muslim to become a ruler of the state, if he has the faith, piousness and the support of the people.

About the author

I am running a freelance company to provide development, designing, seo and writing services.

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BALLWIN — Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious leaders joined civil rights leaders here this morning in denouncing recent attacks against mosques around the country. They say that kind of violence represents intolerance and a hatred of Muslims, and they worry it escalates during election season.

"This is a result of an atmosphere of hate that is being created by a small group of radical Islamophobes within this country," said Faizan Syed, executive director of the St. Louis chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations). Ghazala Hayat, with the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, added: "We also see, usually the year of election, this rhetoric goes up."

At a news conference, they were joined by Barbara Jennings, with the Coalition of Catholic Sisters; Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg, president of the Rabbinical Association; and civil rights leaders including Brenda Jones of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri and Karen Aroesty of the Anti-Defamation League.

A July 4 arson fire damaged a mosque in Joplin, Mo., and a second fire on Aug. 6 destroyed it. The second fire has been labeled suspicious. An investigation continues.

The national group CAIR is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the attempted arson on July 4. Syed said the group had planned Wednesday to announce an increase in that reward to include the Aug. 6 fire, but he said they would wait until officials confirm that it was arson.

Syed said the St. Louis group has contacted Islamic centers in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma to warn them to beef up security measures, during Friday prayers and other times. He said what happened to the mosque outside Joplin underscored the anger sometimes directed toward such centers. He said that mosque had been targeted even before the arson attempt in July. Shotgun shells had been fired at the center's mailbox and people driving by had yelled profanities at children, he said.

Meanwhile, he said the mosque there will rebuild, thanks to a national fundraising campaign. He said about $400,000 had been raised in a short time, but that it will take close to $1.4 million to rebuild in or near Joplin. "We are really heartened by the response by non-Muslims to raise money so quickly," Hayat added.

St Louis Post-Dispatch, 15 August 2012

See also "Joplin, Mo., mosque fire called evidence of hatred", Associated Press, 15 August 2012

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Muslim women

Unlike the women belonging to other religions, Muslim women enjoy a giant respect and dignity. Muslim women carry these distinguished status since their birth as these have been bestowed to them by the Islam. Islam emphasizes a lot on women’s importance, and there are so many rights which women enjoy being Muslims. In addition, Muslim women have always been very responsible and proving themselves to be not less worthwhile than men.

In accordance with the Islam, women and men carry equivalent importance. As the almighty Allah says in the holy Quran, according to which ‘among Allah’s signs one is that from yourself He created companion for you that may bring about the peace and rest of mind for you, and mercy and love between you was predestined by Him. Certainly, for reflective people, herein in fact are signs.’

Similarly, according to the sayings of the last Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him), Muslim women have been given enormous importance. According to the Prophet, treating the wife with kindness indicates the sign of perfect faith. As he said that ‘amongst believers the most perfect in Iman (faith ) is that person who, in the kindest and manners, is most excellent to his spouse.’

Unfortunately in western media and societies, a lot of misconceptions are propagated against Islam that it suppresses the women’s rights. They make such allegations that Muslim women are treated badly and they are not less inferior than the animals in Islam. But in fact, all these misconceptions are baseless and thus do not have any actual evidence. A couple of reasons can be pointed out which lead the western media and societies to make such allegations. One of them is due to their complete ignorance about the true Islamic teachings. Second, they are likely to do so due to the prejudice they have against Islam. Third, unluckily, even in Muslim societies many social practices are performed which do not adhere to Islam. As a result, it gives a bad picture of the Islamic stance on Muslim women to the world.

In fact in Islam, Muslim women are not deprived at all of the rights which are enjoyed by the men. Islam provides the women equal rights. Unlike the other parts of the world where other religions prevail, women in Muslim societies are guaranteed the inheritance rights as well by the Islam. Moreover, Muslim women enjoy certain marriage rights, mother’s rights, daughter rights and so on. Thus, Muslim women being mothers, daughters, wives, sisters or even just being common women are blessed with paramount status and importance by the Islam.

Muslim women play a very important part in the societies as well. The first person who embraced Islam was a woman, Khadija (the Prophet Muhammad’s first wife). Hazrat Ayesha (R.A) another Prophet’s wife, enjoys a dominant status in Islam due to her being an Islamic scholar and a great Hadith source. Likewise, many Muslim women have ruled their respective countries in the past, like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey.

 

About the author

Jawad Ahmad

I am 24 years old and i have done Masters in Business Administration (Finance) from a recognized university.
Right now i am doing freelancing and writing articles on different projects.

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