One of the Islam Principles of Upholding Human Rights
The principles of Islam related to human rights do not only govern the dealings of Muslims with each other, nor do Muslims deal only with other Muslims, and they are not for a time without time, nor for a generation without a generation, but rather they came to govern the actions of all of humanity and the world among themselves in their peace and in their war, and in all eras and times. And in the establishment of the agreements and treaties that were concluded between them based on the generality of the message of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as Allah Almighty said "We have not sent you (Prophet Muhammad) except as a mercy to all the worlds" [21:107]. The call of Islam came targeting all people of all types, races, and colors, and granted them all rights equally, so no dealings with any of the people depending on their appearance, color, race, or lineage. The authentic books of the Prophet’s tradition (Sunnah) narrate that Abu Dharr insulted and shamed Bilal the Abyssinian (may Allah be pleased with them both) of his mother’s origins by saying “O son of a black woman.” When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came to know of that, he rebuked Abu Dharr for it, saying: “[…] Indeed you are a man in whom there is some ignorance (Jahiliyyah).”
As mentioned in Al-Bukhari and Muslim's books, Abi Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that "The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) delivered a sermon on the Day of Sacrifice, and he said: ‘What day is this?’ We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He remained quiet until we thought that he would give it a different name. Then he said: Is it not the Day of Sacrifice?' We said: Yes indeed. He said: 'What month is this?' We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He remained quiet until we thought that he would give it a different name. Then he said: 'Is it not Dhul Hijjah?' We said: Yes indeed. He said: 'What land is this?' We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He remained quiet until we thought that he would give it a different name. Then he said: 'Is it not the Sacred land?” We said: Yes indeed. He said: 'Your blood, your wealth and your honor are sacred to one another, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours until the Day you meet your Lord.' 'Have I not conveyed the message?' They said: Yes indeed. He said: 'O Allah, bear witness.' Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'By the One in whose hand is my soul, this is his ordinance to his nation, so let the attendee inform the absentee'."
This hadith serves as a cornerstone of Islam, embodying fundamental principles and steadfast guidelines. It delineates distinct boundaries for human behavior towards one another, irrespective of gender, color, or religion. It promotes interactions that uphold sanctity, value human dignity, and demonstrate respect for finances, possessions, and even animals without resorting to theft, misappropriation, or harm. It also emphasizes the importance of honoring individuals, refraining from actions that violate their dignity or defile their reputation, and avoiding behaviors that compromise lineage or threaten the continuity of the human race.
In the statement of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) affirming that these principles are "his ordinance to his nation," there is a clear indication of the encompassing nature of these values and guidelines, emphasizing their indispensable role in preserving the well-being and security of individuals and their assets. When individuals deviate from these principles and fail to uphold truth in their actions, they may resort to divisive tactics such as racism, enslavement, and neglect of minoritized communities. Despite claiming to champion human rights, such individuals reveal themselves as aggressors and violators of these rights through their actions. The discrepancy between professed values and actual conduct renders written agreements and treaties meaningless unless they are conscientiously enforced and violators are held accountable impartially. Consequently, breaches of international humanitarian law manifest as widespread instances of human oppression, unabashed aggression, bloodshed, property confiscation, unjust displacement, and violations of human dignity, including acts of sexual violence devoid of ethical restraint. These atrocities degrade human society, transforming it into a lawless realm where only the powerful can thrive.