Human Dignity in Islam

Jt Pinna

I work in the national security and human rights space. Throughout my career, I have relied on dignity as a core universal value to speak on how to build relationships, form policy, and act on an issue. It was during the Trump Administration that I was asked frequently about Islam’s view on dignity. ?I don’t speak for Islam, but I can echo what I learned from Pappa, life experience and study, and my talking points if you are unlucky enough to ask with an expectation for a response.

Dignity is a familiar concept in nearly all cultures, political groups, and religions. A well-known example is the American Declaration of Independence which expresses humankind's innate dignity and the accompanying fundamental rights afforded to all humans as endowed by their Creator. It is widely agreed that human dignity and its inalienable rights are crucial to a successful and free society. The goodness of any society is measured in societal, political, and communal institutions that echo many important Universal Declaration of Human Rights factors such as the following: everyone's right to life, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, the pursuit of happiness, and self-protection. Moreover, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, brilliantly developed by Eleanor Roosevelt at the United Nations, proclaims, and thoroughly outlines the central tenets of universal rights and the fundamental dignity of every individual, regardless of race, color, creed, or birth.

The dignity of the human being is a universal value that crosses all cultures and religions. Every religion preaches that humans are special beings from birth who have been entrusted with free will, rational thinking, and the ability to choose their path in life. The principles of dignity, respect, and compassion for others are inherent in all the world’s great faith traditions, and each of these faiths has its unique way of expressing these universal values. Muslims express these universal values in various ways encoded in the religious and social laws that Muslims abide by. According to Islam, human beings are intrinsically valuable, and that is why Muslims around the world are united through the personhood granted by God. The importance of this value is a crucial aspect of Islamic teaching, and it impacts how Muslims conduct themselves in their daily lives.

The concept of the dignity of the human person is deeply ingrained in the teachings of Islam. In Islam, the human being is created in the image of God, who is the only one who deserves to be worshipped. Human beings have been entrusted with God’s most precious gift: the gift of choice and free will. God has given us this gift so we can use it to serve Him by making the right life choices. Human beings are also made of the same substance as God — known in Islamic terms as “the light of God.” This light is not a physical substance that can be seen with the naked eye, but rather, it is a metaphor for God’s divine attributes such as wisdom, mercy, and love. Human beings are made of the same light as God and are meant to reflect this in the world and spread their goodness to others. The Qur'an emphasizes the unique and special status of humanity in relationship with God. According to Islamic tradition, God created humans in His image and bestowed upon them a special honor and dignity that is not afforded to any other creature in the universe. The Qur'an states that God "created man in the best of molds" (95:4) meaning that all human beings, regardless of their background or circumstances, are inherently valuable and worthy of respect because they were created by God and in His image.

The emphasis on the inherent dignity of the human person is further reflected in the concept of tawhid or the belief in the oneness of God. According to Islamic teaching, tawhid requires that all human beings recognize and affirm the unity and indivisibility of God and that they view all other human beings as equal in His sight. This belief in the fundamental equality of all human beings is at the heart of Islam's emphasis on the dignity of the human person. All human beings are equal and deserving of respect and the dignity of one another.

In Islam, the dignity of the human being is one of the key values that unites Muslims. It is an essential part of Islamic teachings and informs how a Muslim interacts with the world daily. Its importance is reflected in several other key concepts in Islam:

(a)??? Fitrah: This concept refers to the natural state of the human being, which is pure and clean.

(b)?? Khalifah: Khalifah is the Arabic word for “successor,” and it refers to the fundamental idea in Islam that the human being succeeds God as the ruler of the universe.

(c)??? Khalil: Khalil is the Arabic word for “friend,” and it refers to the relationship between God and human beings, who are the only creatures in the universe that God has chosen to befriend.

(d)?? Rahim: Rahim is the Arabic word for “compassionate,” and it refers to the compassion that God feels for human beings as His beloved friends.

The importance of the dignity of the human person is also reflected in the way that Islam approaches issues of justice and fairness. The Qur'an repeatedly emphasizes the importance of justice and fairness in all matters, both within the community and in relations with others. The Qur'an advocates for the protection of the rights of the poor and marginalized and calls for the creation of a just and equitable society where all individuals can live a fulfilling and dignified life. This emphasis on social justice is closely tied to the belief in the inherent dignity and equality of the human person, as it recognizes that all human beings deserve to be treated with respect and fairness, regardless of their social or economic status. Islamic teachings also emphasize the importance of enforcing human rights for all individuals. Namely, the Qur'an’s affirmation of the inherent dignity and worth of all human beings specifically calls upon believers to respect the rights of others and to stand up for the rights of those who are vulnerable or marginalized. It calls upon Muslims to help others who are in need. This emphasis on human rights recognizes that all human beings are entitled to certain fundamental rights and freedoms and these rights must be shared, protected, and upheld by each community.

In addition to the belief in the inherent dignity and worth of the human person, Islam also emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and accountability. According to Islamic teachings, every individual is responsible for his actions and is accountable to God for the choices he makes. This emphasis on personal responsibility is closely tied to the concept of personhood in Islam, as it recognizes that every individual, not only has the right but also must undertake the responsibility for the choices he makes. If one faithfully upholds Islamic traditions and makes positive moral choices, he can live a life of character integrity, and dignity.

The concept of the dignity of the human person is a central and foundational belief in Islam. It is reflected in the Qur'an's teachings on the unique and special status of humanity, the belief in the oneness of God, the emphasis on justice and fairness, the call for social justice, the emphasis on personal morality, and the recognition of human rights. All of these teachings serve to underscore the inherent dignity and worth of every human being and these teachings emphasize the responsibility of Muslims to protect and enforce the dignity and rights associated with personhood for the good of the individual and the good of society.

Islam also teaches that human beings have important rights and responsibilities. The rights of any human being include the right to live, to be treated with dignity and respect, and to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor. At the same time, however, along with rights, a human being also has certain responsibilities towards others that he must exercise including the responsibility to treat others with respect, to help those in need, and to work towards improving society. In Islamic law or Sharia, these rights and responsibilities are written down in a set of rules that Muslims must apply not only to themselves but to other Muslims and non-Muslims as well.? Sharia rules govern both the private and public life of Muslims, but they are also meant to protect the rights of all people, regardless of their religion. Sharia is more than just a set of rules; it also has metaphysical and philosophical dimensions. In this sense, Sharia is seen as the underlying order of the universe, which Muslims believe God has revealed to humans in the form of the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and example, and the Islamic scholarly tradition. When Muslims talk about Sharia, they are not talking about a single law that applies to everyone everywhere. Instead, they are talking about a set of ideals, principles, and values that are meant for Muslims to guide people in their interactions with others and with God.? Sharia's fundamental principles and values such as justice, compassion, and mercy have been successfully applied to benefit and inform many different societies, cultures, and historical contexts. They are meant to be disseminated throughout the world and become widespread and pervasive and serve to contribute to a more peaceful and positive functioning civil society.

Human dignity is a central concept in nearly all societies and cultures.? Society's goodness is reflected by the fact that individuals have an existential right to basic freedoms and dignity. Muslims believe this as well. Just as the Declaration of Independence and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights help inform social and political behavior, Sharia law in Islam also centers around the notion of the necessity and respect for human rights and the dignity and equality of everyone. Although each faith may express these universal values in different ways, nonetheless, respect, compassion, and care for others are inherent in all major religious traditions, including Islam.

It must be noted that the vastly accepted notion that the inalienable rights associated with human dignity are critical to a good, free, civil society goes well beyond the Western world and is deeply embedded within Islamic law. Respect for human beings is one of the key elements that informs the behavior of Muslims in their daily lives, unites Muslims around the globe with one another, and even extends to persons of other faiths everywhere. Like other cultures and religions, in Islam, the acceptance and practice of human rights are essential keys to contributing to a peaceful, prosperous, and positive functioning civil society and, ultimately, to the fulfillment of one's purpose in life, and the underlying dignity of all human beings throughout the world.

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