RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE (HUQOOQ-UL-I'BAD)

The cardinal principle of human relations is the fact that where there is a right, there is a corresponding liability.

In Islam, there are three basic rights viz. rights of Allah, rights of the people, and the rights of his self.  In Arabic, it may be mentioned as “Huqooq-ullah, Huqooq-ul-Ibad, and Huqooq-un-Nafs”. These are our liability to Allah, to the people, and our selves. The liabilities to Allah and to our selves may be forgiven by Allah if we repent before our death. But the liability to the people will not be forgiven unless we solicit forgiveness from the people whose rights we had trampled. The area of liability to people is very wide and may be simulated to the waves in a pond of water when a stone is thrown in it and waves start to expand from the point of impact of the stone with the water. The size of waves increases from smaller to bigger as we move away from the point of impact. The liability to our spouse, parents, and siblings may represent the smaller waves and go on increasing with our relations with the family-near and far, communities, neighbors, country-men, Muslim Ummah, other human beings, animals and plants etc.

The Glorious Qur’an has emphasized strongly about our liability to parents. (Please refer to my article Parent’s status in the light of the Glorious Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Noble Messenger ‘s.a.w.a.s.’). Rights of the spouse have been elaborately stated in the books of Fiqh. Our behavior towards other relatives is known as “Silay Rahm”. In Islam, the benefits of discharging our liability towards relatives are awarded in this world and also in the hereafter. There are many Ayahs stressing about the rights of the relatives e.g. Suarh al-Baqarah Ayah 215: “They ask you what to spend for the cause of Allah. (Muhammad) tell them that whatever you spend, give it to your parents, the relatives, the orphans, the destitute, and those who may be in urgent need of money while on a journey. Whatever good you do, Allah certainly is aware of it.” In this world, a person who maintains good relations with his relatives, his sustenance is increased, a longer life-span is granted and the death pangs are eased. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “The reward for charity is ten-times, the reward of doing good to a believer is twenty-times, and the reward of doing good to a relative is twenty four-times.” (Islamic Family Life by Sayyid Akhtar Rizvi)

The people have a right that all and every social evils, like telling lies, back-biting, theft of their properties, making false witnessing, insulting others, not keeping their vows and promises etc., may not be committed by other Muslims. There is a famous tradition, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had said that Muslims are brothers in-faith to each other and that the life, property and honor of every Muslim is a trust and should not be trampled by other Muslim. He (s.a.w.a.s.) further said that every Muslim has five rights over other Muslim: return his greetings (salaam), visit the sick, accompany the funeral procession, accept invitation, and respond to sneeze (say yarhamakullah) (Sahih Bokhari)

A true Muslim is the one who wishes the same for his brother Muslim as he wishes for himself.

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was a mercy to the world. His life and directives about Muslims rights to one another is a complete account of the other’s rights relating to his behavior with people. For example, truthfulness, trustworthiness, kindness to the people, patience and respect etc. Similarly, the greater and smaller sins revolve around the human rights.

There are many Ayahs of the Glorious Qur’an which discourages Muslims from severing relations with the kin’s, e.g. Surah Muhammad Ayah 22-23: “If you ignore the Commands of Allah would you then also spread evil in the land and sever the ties of kinship? Allah has condemned these people and made them deaf, dumb, and blind.”

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.): “I seek protection of Allah from the sins which hasten death.” On inquiry from Abdullah bin Kawwa, the Imam (a.s.) said: “It is severance of relationship. Verily, the members of a family remain united and help each other, so Allah gives them sustenance, though they be drinkers of liquor; and, verily, the members of a family separate from each other and sever relationship, so Allah deprives them their sustenance though they be pious.”