tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49655228236245369442024-03-08T11:24:14.287-08:00Universal Values Under IslamProf S M Deenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16470549812320230669noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965522823624536944.post-91319617954052335712013-11-17T00:45:00.002-08:002013-11-17T00:45:59.621-08:00An Ijtihad (My Endeavour) into Human Rights Under Islam<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">UNIVERSAL
VALUES UNDER ISLAM – AN IJTIHAD INTO
QURAN AND HADITH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">An
Ijtihad (My Endeavour) into Human Rights Under Islam <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Sayyed
Misbah Deen <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Emeritus
Professor of Computer Science<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Keele
University <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Author:
Science Under Islam – Rise Decline and
Revival [www.scieneunderislam.com]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Blogger:
Science Digest [www.scienceunderislam.blogspot.com] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Email:s.m.deen@keele.ac.uk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Based
on my seminar given at Oxford, on Friday 16 Nov, 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">MY
BACKGROUND <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">I am a
former particle physicist and now an Emeritus Professor of Computer Science.
These days in my retirement life I am taking an interest in Islamic reform, an
interest that led to my book <i>Science
Under Islam – Rise Decline And Revival</i>. I am not a
theologian, nor a HR (Human Rights) expert, but an ordinary mortal, struggling
to understand HR in terms of Islam. I present here my endeavour, my ijtihad, so
that I can benefit from your comments and observations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">This
article forms part of my intended series on the theme, <i>Universal Values Under Islam – An Ijtihad into Quran and Hadith</i>, to
be posted in the blogsite www.univeralvaluesunderislam.blogspot.com. If the
series interests you, please do let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
content list of this article<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 50.2pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Islamic
Tradition and Modern Needs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Interpretation
of Divine Truth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Our
Approach and Methodology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Application
of Our Methodology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The UN
Universal Declaration of Universal Human Rights proclaims universal rights for
all human beings, supporting: equality of all human beings of all races, creed,
religion and colour, freedom of speech, freedom from want and fear, and equal
rights for men and women. The document (Charter) has 30 clauses. The European
Convention of Human Rights which is now part of the British law is based on
this UN Charter, supporting all aspects of human rights, irrespective of race,
creed, colour and religion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">In
contrast in 1990 the Organisation of the Islamic States produced a Universal
Islamic Declaration of Human Rights, which states: Muslim societies are the best
in the world, and all rights are allowed, subject to Sharia. The document is
larger than the UN document in volume, and is claimed to be based on the Quran
and Sunnah. Given that Sharia is viewed
differently in different countries, each country having its own version of
Sharia, every Muslim country can (and does) claim that it is observing the
Islamic HR, as do Iran and Saudi Arabia. We should remind ourselves that Sharia does
not support democracy, freedom of speech, rule of law, equality of men and
women, equality of faiths, and so on – among many other things that are forbidden in
the UN Charter. Therefore we should conclude
that Islamic HR is not worth much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Islamic Tradition vs Modern Requirements<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">A
group of Muslims, including the Prophet’s daughter Rukia and her husband the
future Khalifa Uthman)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">temporarily
emigrated to Abyssinia, where they were expected to follow the law of the host country.
Since then <i>the acceptance of the law of
the host country has been the Islamic tradition</i>. Recently Prof Tareq
Ramadan of Oxford declared that British law is his Sharia. So presumably, he
supports the British Human Rights law as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">So
what is the problem for us the Western Muslims? There is no problem if we want
to be only law-obeyers but not law-makers. If we want to be law-makers as well,
then we need to have common values (in which we believe) for such laws in that
society. If we can demonstrate that the Quran supports such common values, then
our life will be richer and more fulfilling in that society. Therefore it will be a good idea to get
endorsement of HR from the Quran, noting at the same time that the Quran is not
a HR charter, and hence what we can get is only general support for HR, as we
seek here. I start with two scenarios:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Scenario
A: Constitution of Medina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Multiple
communities, each with its own laws<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Headed
by the Prophet as the arbitrator to resolve inter-community issues<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Scenario
B: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
Arbitrator is the elected Government (State, strictly its Judicial Arm)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">State
makes laws through a democratic process for a single community of its citizens,
irrespective of their religious and/or other affiliations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">How do
we move from A to B under Islam?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
formula that worked in the 7th Century Medina needs modification for the UK (or
any other Western Country) with a 21st Century value system. It is essential to
accept that we Muslims in the West do not live in “Darul Harb” (Abode of War), we
live in an integrated society of a projected Darus Salaam [Abode of Peace],
where we all are expected to contribute, as citizens, towards the achievement
of peace, harmony, well-being and prosperity of all, irrespective of their
religious and/or other affiliations in a democratic society. If you, the
reader, do not subscribe to this view then this article is not for you. By the
way, observe that the term Darul Harb does not appear in the Quran, nor in
Hadith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Theological Sources<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">To
arrive to Scenario B from Scenario A under Islam, we need to examine the
Islamic sources of law:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
Quran<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Sunnah
(Hadiths)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">I
ignore the third source ijmah (consensus). The fourth source is ijtihad (personal
endeavour) which I shall be applying here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">There
was no Sharia as such during the time of the Prophet right up to the time of
the Umayyads and early Abbasids. Sharia is largely based on Hadiths. It was
developed roughly between the 10th to the 12th century CE and it fully bloomed
under the Ottomans (14th century CE onward).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Hadith
writing was forbidden by the Prophet and Khalifa Umar even punished Abu Huraira
for spreading Hadiths. But the same Abu Huraira was cultivated by the first
Umayyad Khalifa Muawiya for Hadiths
– in fact Hadiths flourished,
with numerous fakes, under the Ummayyads, who needed a justification for their rule. Even though Hadith writing was forbidden by
the Prophet himself, six written collections of Hadiths appeared some 200 years
after his death. Now, how are we to trust them, given the numerous fakes in and
poor checks on authenticity of, these Hadiths in these collections? Even the
Sahih Bukhari, which is believed to be the most authentic collection, is full
of many obviously ridiculous and absurd Hadiths. [See my book “Science Under Islam”, among others, for more
detail] So, whether Hadiths are true or
not, I shall play safe and return to the Quran alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Interpretation
of Divine Truth (Deeper Truth, Common Good and Necessity)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
human understanding of the divine word can never be perfect (that is, always
incomplete) due to the limitation of our imperfect human language, our limited mental
capacity, and our specific social and cultural context. This is why we say: <i>the Quran is a Dynamic Text</i>, that
unveils new insights with the passage of time and with reasoning. So how do we
interpret it correctly for our time for the derivation of deeper (greater,
higher) truth (or values)? Consider the
Quranic ayahs [55:5/6]:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The sun
and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;
And the herbs and the trees - both (alike) bow in adoration. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> These
verses conjure up at the literal level an image of everything physically
prostrating before God, while at an abstract level these can be used to deduce
a deeper truth of universal laws, as interpreted by Al-Kindi (d 870 CE). Following
this thought of abstraction, we shall develop the concepts of Common Good and
Necessity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">The
Quran is full of verses commanding us, humans, to look after our parents, old
people, orphans, the infirm, the needy etc. It (the Quran) repeatedly says that
prayer alone is not enough, you must also do good. Note also that monkhood is
not acceptable in Islam – we must live
in a community and do good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Thus we
arrive at the concept of Common Good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> Next
consider the following verse [16:15] for Necessity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He has
only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food)
over which the name of other than God has been invoked. But if one is forced by
necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits - then God
is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [16:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are similar other verses, e.g, verse [2:173]. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">In these verses life has a
higher value (or deeper truth) and abstinence from haram food is lower down in
the value scale, and hence haram food can be eaten, where Necessary, to
preserve life, the higher truth. This is
an example of both higher truth and Necessity.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">There
was a famine during the rule of Khalifa Umar.
He did not give the Quranic punishment of cutting hands to the thieves,
on ground that they stole to feed their starving families. Thus the lesser
truth of punishment was abandoned for the greater truth alleviating
hunger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">When Iraq
was conquered Khalifa Umar awarded all the conquered lands (war booty) to the
State, without giving any (let alone 4/5ths) to the soldiers, despite the
contrary Quranic verse [08:41]:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">And
know that whatever booty that you may acquire (in a war), one-fifth thereof
belongs to God and the Apostle, and the near relatives, the orphans, the needy,
… …". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">He did
this on grounds that the soldiers who knew nothing of farming, would destroy
the agricultural land and create a famine. Both these actions he took against
the opposition other Companions, apparently including Ali. Thus Umar placed
higher value to Common Good and greater Necessity, in direct contradiction to
the Quranic injunctions. See my book Science Under Islam for more details.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Finally
Necessity and Common Good are the two instruments (ideas) that are used these
days even by the orthodox (e.g. Saudi Arabia) for areas not covered by Sharia,
areas such as Bio-ethics and Organ transplantation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our
Approach and Methodology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Summarising
we have established from the Quran and Muslim tradition, three important
concepts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> Deeper (greater/higher) Truth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> Common Good<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> Necessity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">We
shall employ these instruments, with logic, to examine some Quranic verses to
explore HR under Islam suitable for a universal society of all faiths
(including atheists) for all the children of Adam in a “Darus Salaam” in the
21st Century. Recall the Quran is a
Dynamic Text that unveils new insights with the passage of time and with
reasoning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">In my investigation
I came across four difficulty levels in the interpretation of the Quran for HR:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Easy,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"> in
which the interpretation was relatively straightforward<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Logically Derived</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">,
in which the conclusion was logically derived<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Moderately difficult</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">,
in which I had to struggle to interpret<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Most difficult</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">,
in which I had to examine a group of verses, some apparently contradictory, and
then to apply over them all the three instruments, as well as logic and context,
to extract a greater truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">I
shall now give examples from each difficulty level, using only a handful of
verses out of many that are available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Application
of Our Methodology<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Easy Interpretation for
Equality<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.3pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mankind
was one single nation [2:213]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.3pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">O
mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made
you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may
despise (each other)). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is
(the one who is) the most righteous of you. [49:13] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">These two verses proclaim the highest HR truth, the
equality of man, irrespective of race and colour, and also declare the best
(the most honoured) person) among us (male or female) to be the one who is most
righteous. So the Quran supports meritocracy, irrespective of race, colour and gender.
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Logically Derived
Interpretation<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Right
to Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> --- if
any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in
the land - it would be as if he slew the whole mankind: and if any one saved a
life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole mankind. [05:32]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Freedom of Faith</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> I worship not that which ye worship, nor will
ye worship that which I worship. [109:2-3] </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Let
there be no compulsion in religion [2:256]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If it
had been thy Lord's will, they would all have <b>believed -- all who are on
earth! Wilt thou then compel mankind, </b>against their will, to believe?
[10:99]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So it is God’s Will that there are different people with
different faiths (including no faith). </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the verses below, we examine what God in His
kindness does for human beings, and by implication we must also do the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Right to the essential necessities of Life </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Of the
bounties of thy Lord We bestow freely on all -- These as well as those: The
bounties of thy Lord are not closed (to anyone). [17:20].</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Therefore by implication God’s bounties – the
essential necessities of life must not be denied to anyone.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Justice</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On no
soul doth God place a burden greater than it can bear. [2:286] </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hence, by implication, it is unjust to burden someone
with tasks beyond his/her capability. There are many other verses on Justice.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Moderately Difficult Interpretation<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Do not
marry unbelieving (pagan) women until they believe. [2:221]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">How do
we interpret it? I think it is highly contextual of that time of Muslim
existence, which we do not have now. Consider the case of Zeinab (Prophet’s eldest
daughter) and her pagan husband Abul Aa’s, When Zeinab moved to Medina to live
with her father, Abul Aa’s remained a
pagan in Mecca. but still devoted Zeinab, even though the marriage was supposed
to have been broken as he was a pagan. He fought against the Prophet in the
battle of Badr and was captured, which the Prophet did not know at the
beginning. When a piece of jewellery was
brought to him as a ransom from a Meccan prisoner, he immediately recognised it
as that which Khadija gave to Zeinab, and he realised that the prisoner was
Abul Aa’s. The Prophet freed him and allowed him to return to Mecca without any
ransom. After some time, Abul Aa’s, still a pagan, returned to Medina to live
with his wife Zeinab, who then made a declaration in the Prophet’s mosque after
a Jumma prayer that she had given sanctuary to Abul Aa’s and therefore no
Muslim could harm him. The Prophet responded by telling the community present
that he was surprised by this declaration, but it was her right, which must be
honoured by the community. Abul Aa’s
remained a pagan until the fall of Mecca when he entered Islam. Thus Zeinab remained married to Abul Aa’s
even when he was not only a pagan but was also fighting against the Prophet. How do we interpret this situation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">My
interpretation is that the above verse and some similar verses were important
in that time when there was a general existential threat for the Muslims, but
the verse was not applied to Zeinab, as her case did not create any existential
threat. Likewise, this verse, in my opinion, does not apply today, when there
is no existential threat for the Muslims, and when the cultivation of Common
Good and Necessity requires that such marriages be allowed. In defence of this conclusion, I should also
cite the example of Khalifa Umar’s relaxation of the Quranic verse on
war-booty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">Most Difficult Interpretation<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Men are
the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more
(strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. … As
to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them
(first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly);
[04:34]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">It
says men are the protector, because they are stronger, and the financial
supporter, but today the physical strength is less important and women can earn
more. But the right to beat, even if lightly, is very problematic. We must
ponder on this verse. We examine more verses on gender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And to every soul will be
paid in full (the fruit) of its Deeds; and (God) knoweth best all that they do.
[39:70] </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For Muslim men and women
-- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, … … and for men and
women who engage much in God's praise --
for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward. [33:35] ***There many such verses in the Quran.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Believers, men and
women, are protectors one of another. [9:71].</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The only conclusion I can arrive at is that in God’s
eyes man and woman are equal, but not in that early society. God even declares
women as the protector of men.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">I have
taken the ideas of Common Good, Necessity, and Deeper Truth from the Quran and
Muslim practices (including that of Khalifa Umar) and applied them with logic
to explore the support for HR from the Quran itself. I discovered so far four
difficulty levels in interpretations: (I) Easy, (ii) Logically derived, (iii)
Moderately difficult and (iv) Most difficult. In the last case (i.e. the Most
difficult case), it is important to explore a group of related verses, some
apparently contradictory, to perceive the greater truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";">I have
presented only some of the verses of those that I have examined, but there are
many more verses that one can study for the support of HR. Finally, I am pleased that I did this
exercise. I would like to benefit from your comments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Prof S M Deenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16470549812320230669noreply@blogger.com0