Is there a basis for human rights in Islam? Beginning with an exploration of what rights are and how the human rights discourse developed, Abdullah Saeed explores the resources that exist within Islamic tradition in support of human rights. He identifies those that are compatible with international human rights law and can be garnered to promote and protect human rights in Muslim-majority states.

Relying on significant texts in the Qur'an and hadith, early juristic discourses and modern Islamic scholarship, Saeed explains the compatibilities and incompatibilities between Islamic law and international human rights law. He also deals separately with a number of specific rights that are usually considered somewhat incompatible with Islamic law, such as the rights of women and children, freedom of expression and religion and jihad and the laws of war. Each chapter also contains a case to allow readers to look more closely at issues of relevance.

Human Rights and Islam emphasises the need for Muslims to rethink problematic areas of Islamic thought that are difficult to reconcile with contemporary conceptions of human rights. Students of Islamic law, human rights and Islam in the modern period will appreciate this challenging but accessible look at an important topic.

About the Author
Abdullah Saeed, Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne & Advisor to SRP program, Nanyang Technological University, Australia

Reviews
'This is a fascinating, accessible and informative analysis of the potential for harmonisation between international human rights standards and Islamic law. It is well researched and engagingly written.' -- Ian Freckelton, Law Institute Journal



Book Information
ISBN 9781784716578
Author Abdullah Saeed
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd