Saudishia.com - 30 / 6 / 2010 - 9:18 am

In his newly published book which is entitled "Human Rights Status in Islamic Jurisprudence", Sheikh Hasan Alsaffar refers to Islam's pioneering role in declaring human rights. He, also, reviews how Prophet Mohammad had highly considered human rights in ruling the society politically and socially.

Alsaffar shows how Qur'an confirms human beings' rights and emphasizes that they are all born free and equal in rights and dignity regardless of their ethnic group, position or religion. He mentions that Qur'an adopts many human rights principles such as equality between all human beings, the right to life, right to freedom of belief and expression, right to justice, and right to political participation.

He says that Prophet Mohammad is the best example to be followed in implementing Qur'an's principles and concepts. Sheikh Alsaffar confirms that Prophet Mohammad used to respect all human beings whether men or women, adults or children, and Muslims or non-Muslims. He consulted his companions whether in peace or war time, and adopted the principle of equality in giving or holding responsibilities between all people regardless of their social position.

He expresses his sadness at the poor condition of the current reality which lacks public freedom and political participation. This poor reality had negatively affected the cultural aspect of our life, and, consequently, an alternative culture that justifies tyranny and suppression had been formed. He indicates that most of religious scholars abandoned addressing political fields in their researches and studies to avoid clashing with our tyrannical reality, and some of them constituted their opinions depending on conciliation or intimidation.

He expresses his desire of adopting an educational human curriculum in religious and academic centers, and that scholars should address human rights issues in their higher researches. He calls for re-examining religious opinions that contradict with human rights charters with no reservations.