Today, the humanity is crying for the fundamental rights,
fourteen hundred years ago the Infallible Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.)
described in detail, the rights of different parts of the body including man’s rights
in different social settings.
Part 1 of this article was published on July 1, 2015.
Rights of Leaders: Allah has given him authority and
tested him. Do not expose yourself to his displeasure and cause your
destruction and become his partner in his sin when he brings evil down on you.
Right on one who trains you through his knowledge:
Respect his sessions, listening and attending with devotion, defend him in his
absence, do not show enmity or hostility toward him. Allah’s angels will
testify that you gained knowledge for Allah’s sake.
Rights of Subjects through Authority: You should know
that they have been made your subjects through their weakness and your strength.
Act with justice towards them and be like a compassionate father, forgive them
for their ignorance, do not hurry to punish them and thank for the power Allah
has given you over them.
The Rights of the Wife: You know that Allah has made her a repose and comfort for you, she is
Allah’s favor toward you, you should honor her and treat her gently, and with
compassion.
The Rights of the Mother: She carried you where no one carried anyone, gave her the fruits of
heart and protected you with all her organs, she did not care if she went
hungry as long as you ate, she was in the sun as long as you were in shade, she
gave up her sleep for your sake, protected you from heat and cold, in order
that you might belong to her! You will not be able to show gratitude unless
through Allah’s help.
The Right of the Father: You should know that he is
your root. Whenever you see anything which pleases you, know that your father
is the root of its blessings upon you. So, praise Allah and thank him.
The Right of the child: You should know that he is
from you through both good and evil. You are responsible to educate him in good
conduct (Adaab), pointing him toward Allah and help him to obey Him.
The Right of the Brother: You know that he is your
hand, your might, and your strength. Help him against his enemy and give him
good counsel.
The Right of the One who does a kindly Act: You thank
him and mention his kindness and supplicate for him sincerely.
The Right of the Sitting Companion: Treat him mildly
and be fair to him, do not stand up from sitting without his permission,
remember his good qualities and you should tell nothing about him but good.
The Right of the Neighbor: Guard him when he is absent, honor him when he is present, aid him when
he is wronged. Do not pursue anything of his that is shameful; if you know any
evil from him, conceal it. If he seeks your counsel, do it. You do not forsake
him in difficulty, forgive his sin and be generous towards him.
The Right of Property: Take it only from what is lawful and spend only on what is proper. You
should act with it in obedience to Allah and do not be miserly with it.
The Right of the Creditor: If you have the means pay
him back, otherwise at least satisfy him with good gentle words.
The Right of the One Older to you: Show reverence toward him because of his age and honor
him for his precedence in Islam, do not precede him in a path and do not go
ahead of him and do not consider him foolish.
The Right of the One Younger than you: Show
compassion toward him through teaching him, pardoning him, covering his faults,
kindness toward him and helping him.
The Right of the People of Your Creed (Community): Harbor safety and compassion for them, kindness toward
evildoer, treating them with friendliness, seeking their well-being, thanking
their good doer. Their old men stand in place of your father, their youths in
place of your brother, their old women in place of your mother and young ones in
place of your children.