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

Authors

  • Syed Hamid Farooq Bukhari Head Department of Islamic Studies, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan.
  • Naseem Akhtar Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53583/jrss07.04.2024

Keywords:

Hadith and Human Rights, Islamic Jurisprudence, Maqāṣid al-Sharī’ah, Islamic Ethics, Human Dignity in Islam, Prophetic Teachings on Justice, Islamic Human Rights Norms

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.

Published

2024-06-08

How to Cite

Bukhari, S. H. F., & Akhtar, N. (2024). Hadīth and the Question of Human Rights: Revisiting Universal Norms in Islamic Sources. Journal of Religious and Social Studies, 4(1 Jan-Jun), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.53583/jrss07.04.2024