Concept of Human Rights in Islamic Teachings

Human rights is among the issues welcomed by the various nations following the ratification of the universal declaration of Human Rights. Since adopting any issue in international level and in the level of Muslim communities is contingent upon seeking the Islamic perspective towards it, it is necessary to study the concept of human rights in its Islamic perspective. The present article first surveys the concept of right and its correlation with duty. Then it deals with certain issues of human studies necessary for understanding human rights such as the creator and lord of human being, human essence, his nature, position of human being in the universal existence, his relation with the universal existence, and the ultimate goal of creation of human being. Finally human rights from the perspective of Islam is defined as the common, lasting, and stable facts in all humans, the things human beings possess them and should have them due to their creation as human beings. These rights are granted to human being since his birth by the creator.