Hadīth and the Question of Human Rights: Revisiting Universal Norms in Islamic Sources

Abstract

This paper critically explores the intersection of Hadith literature and modern human rights discourse to reassess the universality of moral and legal norms in Islamic tradition. While contemporary human rights discourse often centres on the Qur'ān, the role of Prophetic Hadith remains underexplored. This research analyzes key ḥadīth on dignity, justice, freedom of conscience, gender equality, and protection of life and property through a contextual and thematic lens, drawing on classical commentaries and modern reformist interpretations. The study adopts a hermeneutical approach, combining textual interpretation with normative ethical theory to explore prophetic praxis (Sunnah) as a source of universal moral reasoning rather than cultural particularism. It seeks to bridge the perceived gap between Islamic tradition and international human rights discourse. A virtuous reading of Hadith, grounded in maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, offers a strong basis for developing an indigenous Islamic model of human rights aligned with universal values.