In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Human Rights

Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) said, “The best people with Allah are the ones who know the rights of their brothers more than others and strive hardest towards fulfilling their duties towards one another. And he who is humble toward his brothers, he will be among Seddiqin (the truthful), and will be considered as a true Shiite (follower) of Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH).”⁽¹⁾

Educating ourselves about the rights of other people can help create stronger and more immune bonds with one another. Self-awareness helps the Man to distance from negligence and forgetfulness. Self-awareness is based on the fact that the human society forms a single unit and owns a common human conscience. Self-awareness is also based upon the fact that compassion to mankind is a feeling instilled in all humans. In fact Self-awareness reminds the Man of his/her real entity and prevents the Man from negligence. A self-aware person knows his/her position towards the others in mutual and social relationships.

If one develops such self-awareness, his/her goals and dreams will be geared toward serving others and he/she will naturally share the pain of other humans as well. His/her likes and dislikes will become more humane. He/She becomes an advocate of things that are friends of human beings such as science, culture, freedom, justice and love; likewise he/she becomes an opponent to whatever threatens humans such as illiteracy, poverty, tyranny, illnesses and any type of racism.⁽²⁾

Let us now direct our attention to who this Self-aware human being can be who is concerned about others.

Obviously not all humans can think or feel this way. For example, a Bedouin who has lived in the wild is not motivated to use his conscience further beyond his daily needs. One who has forgotten the true value of being a human and has become enchained with his desires acts in a similar manner.  

Thus only those, whose desires reflect the desires of others, are the ones who excel humanity. Their natural values have grown to encompass others as well. But since faith is at the top of natural and original humane virtues, the Self-aware humans are in fact the true faithful individuals.

Therefore what really makes the humans as a united group and colors them unity and make them create moral and humane masterpieces is the communion in faith rather than the race or ethnicity.

What is ideal and truth at the same time, is the unity of the humans who have become aware of the value of humanity and have possessed humane virtues. The Great Prophet of Islam (PBUH&HP) says, “The faithful people are like different organs of a body; whenever an organ becomes ill, other organs show theirs sympathy towards it with fever and lack of sleep.”⁽³⁾

There is no doubt that the people reached humanity loves all creatures. That is why Allah refers to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) as mercy upon the two worlds. Such individuals show love and kindness even to their enemies. When talking about Ibn Muljam Muradi, the murderer of Imam Ali (PBUH), Imam Ali (PBUH) says, “I like his life, and he (likes) my death.” ⁽⁴⁾

Love and compassion is a two way street. However, it finds true meaning only when followed by faith and faithful individuals. Imam Hassan Askari (PBUH) says this rule about the followers of Imam Ali (PBUH), “The best people with Allah are the ones who know the rights of their brothers more than others and strive hardest towards fulfilling their duties towards one another…”

(The above is a selection taken from “Mankind in the Holy Quran”, by Ayatullah Murtada Mutahhari (with some changes))

The Roshd website congratulates the all Muslims upon the 8^th of Rabi’ al-Thani, the birthday anniversary of the heir of Prophets and leader of the faithful, Imam Hassan ibn Ali al-Askari (PBUH).

Roshd Islamic Shia Website

Footnotes:

1. Al-Ihtijaj, vol. 2, p. 460

2. Most articles written on the subject of human rights address the matter of self-awareness worldwide. Such self-awareness is a moral aspect. Despite this subject being logical and having received a lot of attention, it has not been addressed in practice. Why do you think so?

The secret lies within the entity of humans. Every creature that enters this world has certain characteristics and instincts to live with; there’s not much change in how creatures live their life. The only exception, of course, is human; we can decide our growth and develop our mind in any way we want. We have the power of choice whereas the rest of creation do not have it. Therefore, everyone is the architect and the artist of his/her own character, where he/she lead the path to develop one’s personality.

3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 58, p. 150

4. ‘Ilaam al-Waraa, p. 226