We praise our Lord, Allah the Creator of heavens and the earth. And we sent greetings and salutations to our noble prophet. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Aameen.
Equality is defined as…a world where all people have equal opportunities. Equal access, control over resources, benefits and services to all people. It is through equitable processes in which people obtain equality.
It is true, many people do not have a home (a house, an apartment, etc.) to live.
It is true, many people do not have enough nutritious food to eat, no clean water or goods (clothings and shoes).
It is true many people have no access to a basic education, as a result, many have not learned how to read and write. Many people do not have a college or university degree or diploma.
It is true, many people do not have an internet connection.
It is true, many people have no television or radio or computer etc.
While identifying different kinds of inequalities that exist in society, various scholars, thinkers and ideologists have highlighted three main dimensions of equality namely, political, social and economic.
The Qur’an 49:13 does not make any distinction on the basis of sex and believes in human equality: O Mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). The Qur’an advocates equality between all men and women, and says that it is the only “good deeds” that may raise the status of one human over another.
First, women and men are created from the same entity (Qur’an 4:1), and for that reason they are of equal standing. Second, both women and men have the obligation to live good lives and to do good works (Qur’an 16:97). Third, women and men have the same right to be rewarded for their works (Qur’an 33:35).
Once a year, the month of Hujaj (Hajj period), Muslims of every ethnic group, colour, social status, and culture gather together in Mecca and tawwaf the Kaaba praising Allah together. It is a ritual that is designed to promote the bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood by showing that everyone is equal in the eyes of the Creator.
The rights bestowed upon mankind include the right to life and peaceful living as well as the right to own, protect, and have property protected Islamic economic jurisprudence. The Qur’an also defines the rights for minority groups and women, as well as regulations of human interactions as between one another to the extent of dictating how prisoners of war ought to be treated.
Allah says in Qur’an 17:70 “We have honoured the children of Adam, and provided them with rides on land and in the sea. We provided for them good provisions, and we gave them greater advantages than many of our creatures.
Its also says in the Qur’an 49:13 “O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes that you may recognise one another. The best among you in the sight of the Creator is the most righteous. Allah is Omniscient, Cognisant.
God almighty says that mankind are the descendants of one man Adam and one woman. Therefore, they are brothers to one another. This is Human rights in Islam. The Qur’an emphases on equality and justice. The duty of a Muslim is to be just and truthful and enjoys a high priority status. It is described Qur’an that “O you who believe! be maintainers of Justice, bearers of witness of Allah’s sake, Though it maybe against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do”. The Qur’an, also unequivocally restricts its believers from aiding someone in need of their help only where they intend to deceive or carry out an act of aggression by stating “help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression”. Furthermore, the Qur’an teaches its followers that treating followers of other religions justly, and kindly is an article of faith. So, the Christians and their churches must be protected, so also the Jews. There is no compulsion in religion the Qur’an say in 2:256, however, the truth is clear from error. Allah has indeed defended His religion.
Life is a divine bestowal on humankind. It should be secured and defended by all. According to the Qur’an, it is the individual and universal duty of Muslims to protect the dignity of merits and virtues of others. Life in Islam is attributed tremendous value. The Qur’an says that “whoever slays a soul, it is as though he slew all men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men;”. The Creator forbids the taking of life without due process of the law, and He also obligates Muslims to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. The right to life is conferred by the Qur’an even on one’s enemy during the war as Muslims are forbidden from using force except in self-defense. Also protected by Allah are the Elderly, women, and children of the enemy and to these, there are no exceptions.
Allah bestows upon mankind the right to own property as well as, the freedom to deal and trade as they please in what they own provided they do so fairly. Moreover, throughout the Qur’an the feeding of orphans, the poor, and the needy are an article of faith that signal one’s true devotion to the teachings of Islam. The message is very clear and unambiguously in the following verse “Those, who, Should We establish them in the law, will keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and enjoin good and forbid evil; and Allah’s is the end of affairs”. The principles of justly protecting the rights and property of those in need of such protection, i.e. orphans, windows and elderly are brought together effortlessly in the holy Qur’an when it says “And give to the orphans their property, and do not substitute worthless (thing) for (their) good (ones), and do not devour their property (as an addition) to you own property; this is surely a great crime”.
The holy Qur’an 18:29 says “This is the truth from your Lord, “then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve. And further says “Do you know who really rejects the faith? That is the one who mistreats the orphans. And does not advocate the feeding of the poor. And woe to those who observe the contact prayers (Salat) – who are totally heedless of their prayers. They only show off. And they forbid charity (Qur’an 107:1-7).
As to women’s rights the Qur’an dedicates a chapter to women which is evident from the very name of the chapter, An-Nisa (the women). The Qur’an in that chapter states that whoever does good deeds, whether they are male or female, shall enter Paradise and not the least bit of injustice shall be dealt to them. The same message is repeated in chapter sixteen…”Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, we will most certainly make him live a happy life, and We will most certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did”. The ability of women to bear children is a significant attribute used by the Qur’an in a number of verses to uplift the status of women. For example, “And We have enjoined man in respect of his parents (mother) bears him with fainting upon fainting and his weaning takes two years…Allah says “Be grateful to Me and to both your parents; to Me is the eventual coming”.
Economic rights of women, the Qur’an says “And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result”. Women have also been given the right to inherit in the Qur’an. Allah in one particular verse creates an additional obligation on men to provide, protect, and generally take care of women as their guardians and not as superiors. The most valued status as regards to women, is that of a mother in the Qur’an as it illustrates this point by binding the reward of paradise to those who satisfy the needs of their parents.?
The holy Qur’an advocates equality between all and says that the only good deeds may raise the status of one human over another. The world is yet to be balanced. Palestinians are still struggling and suffering to live in their own lands as normal human beings. The Ukrainians are fighting wars that can be avoided. The Afghanistans women are still struggling to be recognised as women stated by the holy book prophet (saw). The properties of the orphans are taken from them. The weak are still oppressed by the strong, many women are being raped and abused, many widows are not catered for. Many pregnant women have no good health care system. Life and Properties have been destroyed, and many injustices are committed in the name of justice.
The world and the UN have not done enough to protect the “equity laws” they created. There is shortage of food, clean water, education, healthcare services, orphanage facilities etc. Wars and destructions are still going on, in Sudan, Ethiopia, Jidbuti, Somalia, Nigeria, Korea, South America, etc. In these areas people cannot afford to live equally and a prosperous lives. The IMF is not responsibly releasing funds, they are making it hard for all these nations to access funds. Unemployment is increasing, young people are living their countries to die in the Mediterranean Sea.?Hunger is in every lands except the western countries. The western nations have more access to IMF than the third world countries. Is that equality? The UN and the IMF have to make adjustments. There will not be equity until wars are stopped, until agriculture is increased, until education funds increase, until healthcare systems are available and affordable in every country, the rich countries are causing environmental pollution but the poor countries are suffering the consequences, until justice and security services become accessible to everyone, and not until these are done, the world will be far from peace.
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