Despite the fact that human liberty is essential for civilization, the term “rights” has always been surrounded by obscurity in the secular world. The exact meaning of the term right is controversial and has been a subject of continued philosophical debate. Human rights are known to encompass a wide variety of rights like a fair trial, prohibition of genocide, freedom of speech and a right to education. However, an ambiguity envelops the specific rights that should be a vital part of human rights. While some thinkers suggest that human rights should be set at a minimum requirement to avoid the worst-case abuses, others prescribe a much higher standard. Although UN’s “Charter of Human Rights” considers some of the vital human rights, it still fails to present the details of rights Islam presented over fourteen centuries ago.
Although the entire history of human rights is not available anywhere, its documentation can be traced through past documents like the Constitution of Medina Constitution of Medina: also called the Charter of Medina. It was drafted by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) soon after his arrival at Medina (then known as Yathrib) in 622 CE (or 1 AH), following the Hijra from Mecca. The document united the Muslim and non-Muslim tribes of Medina as one nation. The constitution formed the basis of a multi- religious Islamic state in Medina (622), Al-Risalah al-Huquq Al Risala al Huquq: The title of long narration from Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him). This narration contains over 50 duties of any individual toward others. It is a treatise on moral conducts in both personal and social life. The rights discussed in this treatise address various social relations of any individual; like the duties toward parents, spouse, children, neighbors, teachers, students, believers, the leader of Congregational Prayer, the government etc. Several translations and commentaries have been written on this treatise. (late 7th to early 8th century), Magna Carta Twelve Articles Magna Carta: A charter of liberties to which the English barons forced King John to give his assent in June 1215 at Runnymede. It was a document constituting a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges. (1525), English Bill of Rights: It is an act that the Parliament of England passed on December 16, 1689. The Bill creates separation of powers, limits the powers of the king and queen, enhances the democratic election and bolsters freedom of speech (1689), the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789), the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution (1791) and the Universal Declaration of Human rights (1948) by United Nations. The notions of rights and liberty have existed in some form throughout human history. For instance, Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenes’ Persian Empire, established some principles of human rights in the 6th century BC. After his conquest of Babylon in 539 BC, the king issued the Cyrus Cylinder . Discovered in 1879, the cylinder is considered by some to be the first human rights document. Apparently, ancient cultures upheld ethical ideals but they lacked a basic understanding of the concept of human rights. McIntyre explains that there was no word for "right" in any language before 1400. Medieval charters of liberty such as the English Magna Carta (1215) were not charters of human rights, rather they were a foundation which constituted a political and legal agreement to address specific political situations. One of the oldest records of human rights is the Statute of Kalisz (1264), which protected the Jewish minority in the Kingdom of Poland from discrimination.
Although the entire history of human rights is not available anywhere, its documentation can be traced through past documents like the Constitution of Medina Constitution of Medina: also called the Charter of Medina. It was drafted by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) soon after his arrival at Medina (then known as Yathrib) in 622 CE (or 1 AH), following the Hijra from Mecca. The document united the Muslim and non-Muslim tribes of Medina as one nation. The constitution formed the basis of a multi- religious Islamic state in Medina (622), Al-Risalah al-Huquq Al Risala al Huquq: The title of long narration from Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him). This narration contains over 50 duties of any individual toward others. It is a treatise on moral conducts in both personal and social life. The rights discussed in this treatise address various social relations of any individual; like the duties toward parents, spouse, children, neighbors, teachers, students, believers, the leader of Congregational Prayer, the government etc. Several translations and commentaries have been written on this treatise. (late 7th to early 8th century), Magna Carta Twelve Articles Magna Carta: A charter of liberties to which the English barons forced King John to give his assent in June 1215 at Runnymede. It was a document constituting a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges. (1525), English Bill of Rights: It is an act that the Parliament of England passed on December 16, 1689. The Bill creates separation of powers, limits the powers of the king and queen, enhances the democratic election and bolsters freedom of speech (1689), the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789), the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution (1791) and the Universal Declaration of Human rights (1948) by United Nations. The notions of rights and liberty have existed in some form throughout human history. For instance, Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenes’ Persian Empire, established some principles of human rights in the 6th century BC. After his conquest of Babylon in 539 BC, the king issued the Cyrus Cylinder . Discovered in 1879, the cylinder is considered by some to be the first human rights document. Apparently, ancient cultures upheld ethical ideals but they lacked a basic understanding of the concept of human rights. McIntyre explains that there was no word for "right" in any language before 1400. Medieval charters of liberty such as the English Magna Carta (1215) were not charters of human rights, rather they were a foundation which constituted a political and legal agreement to address specific political situations. One of the oldest records of human rights is the Statute of Kalisz (1264), which protected the Jewish minority in the Kingdom of Poland from discrimination.
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