Article appeared Friday, June 3rd, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (181) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

There has always been a lot of debate about human rights and justice. Then there is justice and
there is justice. When justice is left in the hands of individuals who is it that best defines human
rights and justice? To help us understand the reasoning of individuals, George Orwell (1903 –
1950) in Chapter 10 of his satirical novella or allegory, Animal Farm (1945), wrote,
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” {1}

The allegory Animal Farm is ostensibly about a group of animals who oust the humans from the
farm on which they live. They run the farm themselves only to have it degenerate into a brutal
tyranny of its own. So, the question is how did the animals in the novella define justice? As
another example, a further question to ponder would be how would the Utilitarian philosophy of
“greater good” be interpreted by the animal rulers in Animal Farm?

Ultimately, the questions may boil down to who has given human beings rights? And, in
addition, what rights should animals enjoy? If we agree that we are created beings, who is best
to define human rights and justice? Should human beings best know, or should the Creator?
Accordingly, the most recent Revelation from our Creator enlightens us as to the purpose of
Revelation.
“And We sent down the Book to you for the express purpose that you should make clear
to them those things in which they differ and that it should be a Guide and a Mercy to
those who believe.” [16.64]

With regards to human rights and justice, the opening Verse in Chapter 4 (Sura An-Nisaa) gives
the basis or foundation on which such rights and justice should be based.
“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single person
created his mate of like nature and from them scattered countless men and women;
reverence Allah through Whom you get your mutual rights and the wombs (that gave you
birth): for Allah ever watches over you.” [4.1]

For ease of discussion, let us break up the Verse into two parts.
“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single person,
created his mate of like nature and from them scattered countless men and women;…”
[4.1a]

What significance should the words, “created you from a single person” have for mankind on
earth? The words in effect say that we all belong to one family and have descended from one
set of parents. What better basis for human rights and justice could there be? How should
members of the same family all over the world treat each other? As pointed out by Sayyid Qutb
in his explanation of the Verse (p.25),
“Had people been mindful of this fact, they would have paid little or no attention to all the
differences that came into their lives at a later time. Differences which led to
discrimination between the descendants of a single soul and to the severance of ties of a
single universal kinship. All these differences are purely circumstantial and should never
have been allowed to take precedence over the tie of kinship and its claim to be
fostered, the tie of belonging to one soul which deserves to be maintained, and the tie of
belonging to the one Lord who must be feared.” {2}
In fact, our Creator tells us why He Created different nations and tribes – it is to help us
recognize and value the differences in our natures.
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you
into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not that you may despise each
other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most
righteous of you…” [49.13]

Our Lord tells us that even if He had kept us as one nation, we would still have differed.
“If your Lord had so willed He could have made mankind one People: but (regardless)
they would not cease to dispute.” [11.118]

To help us realize this problem, the celebrity Judith Henderson, had the following to say,
“Our greatest strength as a human race is our ability to acknowledge our differences;
our greatest weakness is our failure to embrace them.” {3}

Looking at the other part of Verse 4.1a, why should one deeply adore or revere the Creator?
What has the Creator done for us? As an example, Allah enlightens us in the Qur’an,
“It is He Who has created for you (the faculties of) hearing, sight, feelings and
understanding: little thanks it is you give! And He has multiplied you through the earth
and to Him shall you be gathered back (on the Day of Judgment).” [23.78 – 23.79]

So, in what manner should an individually created human being look upon its Creator? What
account would human beings have to give on the Day of Judgment?
“On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done and all the
evil it has done it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah
cautions you (to remember) Himself. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve
Him. Say: "If you do love Allah follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins for
Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.” [3.30 – 3.31]

The remaining part of Verse 4.1 reminds us that it is the Creator who has given us our mutual
rights and that each deed is being monitored, i.e. if rights of others are eroded, each will be
answerable on the Day of Judgment.
“…reverence Allah through Whom you get your mutual rights and the wombs (that gave
you birth): for Allah ever watches over you.” [4.1b]

Linking the word “womb” with the concept being put forward in the Verse would imply deep
respect for all those linked through the womb or “mother”.
“It is He Who has created man from water: then has He established relationships of
lineage and marriage: for your Lord has power (over all things).” [25.54]

So, in addition, our Creator reminds us of the great value we should place towards our kith and
kin.
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{Notes}:
{1} http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Animal_Farm
{2} Qutb, S. (1999). In the Shade of Qur’an. Translated by M.A. Salahi and A. A. Shamis, Vol.3,
Markfield, Leicester and Nairobi, Kenya: The Islamic Foundation.
{3} http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/differences/