Human Rights in Shi'a Islam & In the Bible
Compiled by: Engineer Afsaneh Cooper
1. Human Rights according to the Holy Qur'an
2. Treatise on Rights by Imam Zeinul Abidyn - Persian/Arabic
3. Treaties on Rights by Imam Zaynul Abidin (a) - English
4. Doctrine of Election in Shi'a Islam VS Freedom of Speech
5. Anti-Racism Education in Islam
6. Iran S.L.-Ali Khamenei's View of Human Rights
7. Human Rights for Female Engineers in Education are not justified by the world Universities: Sexism/Masculine/minimal enrolment/Under representation/Social injustice issues in action!?
8. Human Rights in the Bible
"Marriage (Genesis 2:24)
- Family (Psalm 127:5)
- Opportunity to work (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
- To be part of a group for safety and identity (Numbers 33:54)
- To not be murdered (Exodus 20:13)
- To not be robbed (Exodus 20:15)
- To not be insulted (Matthew 5:22)
- To not be kidnapped/enslaved (Exodus 21:16)
- To not be cheated on in one's marriage (Exodus 20:14)
- To not be lied about (Exodus 20:16)
- To not be disrespected by children (Exodus 20:12)
- To not be cheated in business (Proverbs 16:11)
- To not be victimized by society such that one's life is threatened (Deuteronomy 14:29; 24:17)
- To not be raped (Deuteronomy 22:25-27)
- To not be denied access to a place to worship God (John 2:11-12)
- To not be defenseless (Exodus 22:2-3)
- To not be denied reconciliation after apologizing for an offense (Matthew 18:22)
- To not to be barred from entering a land that is safe (Leviticus 19:34)
- To learn about God (Deuteronomy 6:7)
These rights of justice can be threatened by specific sins. It is sin to murder, steal, insult someone, kidnap, commit adultery, lie, disrespect one's parents, cheat, ignore the needy, rape, use worship space for business, attack someone, hold a grudge, and mistreat foreigners. Justice is an absolute, and God intends that everyone receives it (Isaiah 30:18).
- Return another's possessions (Exodus 23:4)
- Help another's need (Exodus 23:5)
- Feed the needy (Deuteronomy 24:19)
- Sacrifice your investment for another's safety (Deuteronomy 24:17)
In the Bible, there are very few rights we are given by nature of our status as humans, and any of these can be taken away by impersonal circumstances. Instead, God focuses on human responsibilities. We are responsible to enforce justice and extend mercy (Micah 6:8). If everyone concentrated on what they are supposed to do, rights wouldn't be an issue. We would receive what we need."
Reference to item 8: https://www.compellingtruth.org/human-rights.html