Understanding the interconnectivity between the Qur’an and Human Rights, as defined by the UN Human Rights Declaration (UN-HRD) of 1948, is critical for two reasons – defeating radicalism and improving the quality of life in Muslim societies. Unfortunately, the Muslim world has not only failed to acknowledge the ideals outlined in the UN-HRD, they – through the 57 member Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) – have rejected the document as un-Islamic and adopted an “Islamic” version that focuses on [legislative] shari’a,[1] the so-called Islamic Law. This article will establish that the ideals contained in the UN-HRD are embedded in the Qur’an – the primary source of Islamic teachings – and that the OIC’s rejection of the UN-HRD is driven by short-sighted political motivations. The Qur’anic teachings on Human Rights are discussed in the first part followed by the cross referencing of the entire UN-HRD to the Qur’an in the second part. The third part will highlight the background behind the OIC’s rejection of the UN-HRD and its destructive consequences.
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[1] https://www.oic-oci.org/english/article/human.htm accessed Dec 14, 2103