"What the Devil Doesn't Want You to Know"
Rights of all kinds have always been an important subject since
the beginning of mankind. We talk of "human rights"; "women's rights";
"children's rights"; "parents rights"; "grandparents rights"; "gay
rights"; "taxpayer's rights"; "animal rights"; "victim's rights";
"debtor's rights." Everyone wants their rights. Islam provides those
rights - and more.
DAYS OF IGNORANCE - BEFORE ISLAM
When Islam came to the ignorant Arabs living in the desert over 14
centuries ago, the poor and weak had no one to appeal to for assistance
against the oppression of the wealthy and powerful. Rulers and leaders
took charge by force and ruled according to their pagan customs and
tribal cultures without regard or concern for the women, children,
orphans or poor amongst them.
GOLDEN RULE - OF IGNORANCE
Whoever had the most power and wealth was in control. The only "Golden Rule" in those days was, "Whoever has the gold - rules."
RICH & POOR TREATED SAME
The Quran ordered the redistribution of wealth through "Zakat" and
charity, for all believers. All men were to be treated fairly and
without regard to their worldly possessions. The prophet, peace be upon
him, told his own daughter, if she violated the law then she would be
punished the same as anyone else. This was demonstrated in actual cases
during the life of the prophet, peace be upon him.
WOMEN TREATED LIKE PROPERTY - BEFORE ISLAM
Females were considered as property and could be bought, sold or
traded off or given away without concern. When a girl was orphaned or a
woman was widowed, her estate would be immediately confiscated by some
man, claiming he was now the rightful owner due to his "marriage" to the
poor lady.
WOMEN HAD NO RECOURSE
Women had no recourse against the oppressive and unfair treatment
of the men. The Quran gave women equal status as to ownership of
property and freedom of their person. No longer could they be inherited
against their will or married off in arranged marriages.
MUSLIM WOMEN DON'T PAY
Women of Islam are not tasked to pay for any of their upkeep, nor
are they required to give anything to support the children. All of their
wealth is theirs to keep, yet their male relatives are responsible for
them from the time they are born until the time they die.
Muslim women do however, pay the "Zakat" or charity tax on wealth the same as men.
BALANCE COMES FOR WOMEN
The balance comes in the Quran in the very same verse that orders men to provide for them. Allah Almighty tells us:
- O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women
against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that
you may take away part of the dowry you have given them, unless they
commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If
you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings
through it a great deal of good.
[Noble Quran 4:19]
- O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you
from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife
[Hawa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear
Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the
relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All Watcher
over you.
[Noble Quran 4:1]
- And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr
(obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of
marriage) with a good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure,
remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any
harm (as Allah has made it lawful).
[Noble Quran 4:4]
MEN RESPONSIBLE FOR CARE & SECURITY OF WOMEN
Women's rights do not end after marriage in Islam, they are only
just beginning. A huge emphasis for the responsibility of women is
placed on men to provide for the needs and security of all the females,
including the daughters, sisters, mothers and wives. Men are ordered to
care for the women and protect them at their own expense:
- "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women,
because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they
spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women
are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the
husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity,
their husband's property, etc.)."
[Noble Quran 4:34]
HUSBAND & WIFE HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS TO ARBITRATION
When marital problems get out of hand, Islam is providing
solutions to differences amongst couples by arbitration. Allah Almighty
says:
- "If you fear a breach between them twain (the man and
his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other
from hers; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause their
reconciliation. Indeed Allah is Ever All Knower, Well Acquainted with
all things."
[Noble Quran 4:35]
Men are taken into consideration for their impatience. Almighty Allah says,
- "Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak (cannot be patient to be with a woman)."
[Noble Quran 4:28]
INFANTS AND ORPHANS NO LONGER ABUSED
The children were in not in any better condition as they had no
one to look out for their interests when they were orphaned or killed
without any justification according to tribal or cultural whims. New
born girls were viewed as a bad omen and dealt with in the most
despicable way, by being buried alive in the burning sands at the hands
of their own fathers. This was one of the very first things to be
forbidden by the Quran.
Allah speaks to us clearly on the subject of children, orphans and
handling their estates until they are old enough to take financial
matters into their own hands:
- "And give unto orphans their property and do not
exchange (your) bad things for (their) good ones; and devour not their
substance (by adding it) to your substance. Surely, this is a great
sin."
[Noble Quran 4:2]
- "And try orphans (as regards their intelligence)
until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgment in
them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully,
and hastily fearing that they should grow up, and whoever amongst
guardians is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him
have for himself what is just and reasonable (according to his work).
And when you release their property to them, take witness in their
presence; and Allah is All Sufficient in taking account."
[Noble Quran 4:6]
- "Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of
orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be
burnt in the blazing Fire!"
[Noble Quran 4:10]
CHILDREN ALSO ORDERED TO BE OBEDIENT
Children and family rights are a vital part of Islam. No one can
call themselves a believer and at the same time they are not providing
for the welfare and safety of their family and children.
Allah talks about the "father's advise to his son":
- "O my son! Establish Salat (daily devotions), order
the people to believe in One God and do righteousness and forbid them
form disbelief, polytheism and all evil, and be patient with whatever
comes your way in life. Surely, these are some of the most important
commandments ordered by Almighty Allah with no exemption."
[Noble Quran 31:17]
ESTATES PRESERVED FOR PROPER INHERITANCE
Today there is a big demand for lawyers and legal council to help
sort through financial matters whenever someone dies. What about the
"rights" of those who inherit? Can a person be assured today, that his
or her wealth is being distributed according to their Last Will and
Testament?
Almighty Allah provided for this along with the proper amount to be given to each member of the family, according to His Will:
- "Allah commands you as regards your children's
(inheritance); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if
(there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of
the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth
share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no
children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third;
if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The
distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have
bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents
or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, (these fixed shares)
are ordained by Allah. And Allah is Ever All Knower, All Wise."
[Noble Quran 4:11]
- "In that which your wives leave, your share is a half
if they have no child; but if they leave a child, you get a fourth of
that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have
bequeathed or debts. In that which you leave, their (your wives) share
is a fourth if you leave no child; but if you leave a child, they get an
eighth of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may
have bequeathed or debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in
question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a
brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than
two, they share in a third; after payment of legacies he (or she) may
have bequeathed or debts, so that no loss is caused (to anyone). This is
a Commandment from Allah; and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, Most
Forbearing."
[Noble Quran 4:12]
- "These are the limits (set by) Allah (or ordainments
as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allah and His
Messenger (Muhammad SAW) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers
flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great
success."
[Noble Quran 4:13]
- "And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger
(Muhammad SAW), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the
Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment."
[Noble Quran 4:14]
- "And to everyone, We have appointed heirs of that
(property) left by parents and relatives. To those also with whom you
have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion (by
Wasiyyah wills, etc.). Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things."
[Noble Quran 4:33]
POOR AND NEEDY PROVIDED FOR
Regarding the poor and needy, Almighty Allah has ordered the
wealthy to care for them out of their own provisions. He warns them what
will happen if they are stingy or miserly:
- "Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other
men and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties. And We
have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment."
[Noble Quran 4:37]
Those having wealth and power are admonished not to look down on the less fortunate and others. Almighty Allah says,
- "And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor
walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each
arrogant boaster."
[Noble Quran 31:18]
- "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your
walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the
voice (braying) of the donkey."
[Noble Quran 31:19]
Allah balances this by reminding those who are poor and needy not to envy or covet others good fortunes. Allah Almighty says:
- "And wish not for the things in which Allah has made
some of you to excel 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."
[Noble Quran 4:32]
USURY FORBIDDEN
We all know the effects an interest based economy has on a
society. The interest on a home load can cause the total payments to
exceed the value of the property 3 times over.
Allah forbids dealing with interest in the Quran, just as He did
in the Bible (Bible says, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be.")
Allah Almighty says in His Quran:
- "O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent."
[Noble Quran 4:29]
- "And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah."
[Noble Quran 4:30]
Then comes a promise from Allah to those who will give up these ill-gotten worldly gains for His sake:
- "If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden
to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a
Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise)."
[Noble Quran 4:31]
ANIMALS RIGHTS DEFENDED IN ISLAM
Animals had none to stand up for them when they were being beaten,
over burdened or tortured and killed for sport. The prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him, taught his followers that even animals have rights,
and if anyone was cruel or inhumane to the animals in their charge, they
would have to answer for it on the Day of Judgment.
He even gave the example of a woman who left a cat tied up to
starve, while she prayed and fasted. Due to her willful neglect of this
poor animal, she was deprived of any benefit from her worship and as a
result had to go to Hell.
Another example he gave was that of another woman who was a
prostitute who showed mercy to a poor dog on the road. She went down
into a well to get a drink of water for the dog and saved his life. For
this act of mercy and kindness, Allah forgave her and as a result, she
was admitted to the Paradise. Hunting for sport without taking benefit
from the meat or hides, just to kill for trophies is not permitted in
Islam.
PLANTS AND TREES PROTECTED
Flowers, trees and other plants had never in the history of
humans, had such rights as came with Islam one thousand four hundred
years ago. Muslims are encouraged by prophet Muhammad, peace be upon
him, to plant trees even if they feel sure the end of the world is
tomorrow. He also did not allow destruction of crops or plant life even
while in battle with their enemies.
ENEMIES GIVEN RIGHTS - 1400 YEARS BEFORE THE GENEVA CONVENTION
Speaking of enemies, Muslims were charged to take care of their
enemies when captured, just as they would care for themselves. Food,
drink and shelter was provided for their opponents while being held
prisoners, even though it was clear the same treatment would not have
been provided for Muslims should they fall in the hands of their
enemies. Respect and dignity for everyone was demanded by Islam, even
disbelievers who had tried to kill them, provided they had stopped and
were not engaged in battle or combat at the time.
NON-MUSLIMS GIVEN RESPECT
Dignity and honor was given even to those who unintentionally
violated the sanctity of the mosque. One man entered the mosque and
began to urinate there, when the companions of Muhammad wanted to strike
him for that. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered them to let
him finish, clean it up and then tell him not to do that anymore,
because this is a place where we put our heads down on the ground.
ALLAH MAKES CLEAR - FOR ALL
Just as Islam provides for the rights of everyone and everything,
there is also true equalization of rights by putting undeniable limits
for every right. He has revealed a complete Way of life for humans to
follow, showing us what is permissible and what is forbidden to us in
this life.
Almighty Allah says:
- "Allah wishes to make clear (what is lawful and what
is unlawful) to you, and to show you the ways of those before you, and
accept your repentance, and Allah is All Knower, All Wise."
[Noble Quran 4:26]
- "Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those
who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate
tremendously away from the Right Path."
[Noble Quran 4:27]
LIMITATIONS VS. RIGHTS - the balance to all "Rights"
The list of rights coming with Islam is far too large and
detailed for this short paper. But there is another side to Islam that
few, if any take into consideration when it comes to the subject of
"rights."
As we list some of the more obvious rights in Islam, we will show
the balance through limitations that Islam brings about. Consider the
following:
The first and foremost right in Islam, is the Right of Allah, to
be worshipped alone without any partners. His servants are to love Him
with their whole being, heart and soul and not to have other 'gods'
beside Him. All worship is limited to Allah, without any partners or
associates.
Almighty Allah says in His Quran:
- "Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him)
and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All Appreciative (of any
good), All Knowing."
[Noble Quran 4:147]
Notice the "right" versus the "limitations."
The second right in Islam is that of the prophet, peace be upon
him, to be followed and obeyed, as he is the messenger and
representative of the Lord of the Worlds and as such he is the guide to
true salvation. The limit here is that no other person, even the
previous prophets should be taken into consideration when he gives any
directive, as he is not speaking on his own authority, but rather on the
authority of the One Almighty Allah who sent revelation to him.
Allah Almighty says:
- "Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of
warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after
the Messengers. And Allah is Ever All Powerful, All Wise."
[Noble Quran 4:165]
- "And those who believe in Allah and His Messengers
and make no distinction between any of them (Messengers), We shall give
them their rewards, and Allah is Ever Oft� Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[Noble Quran 4:152]
PARENTS RIGHTS
The third right in Islam is for the parents, with a special focus
on the rights of the mother. Someone came to the prophet, peace be upon
him, and asked him if carrying his mother on his back around the Ka�bah
in Mecca was sufficient to pay back all the rights his mother had on
him. The answer was, "Not even for one birth pain." Another man asked
him, "Who has the most rights on me, after Allah and His messenger?" The
answer was, "Your mother." And he repeated it three times.
Allah tells us in the Quran about the many rights parents have on
us, yet He balances it by saying not to obey them in worshipping false
gods or taking partners with Allah in worship.
EVEN THE SOUL HAS RIGHTS
Each individual has rights over himself. As the prophet, peace be
upon him, told us, "Even your body has rights over you. So, give your
body its rights."
Allah Almighty forbids anyone to take their own life, thereby giving the body its own right. As Almighty Allah says:
