The Right to Life, Security, Privacy and Ownership in Islam »

Mohammad Hashim Kamali is dean of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization and a professor of Islamic law and jurisprudence at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

Exploring the ideas of human rights according to the laws of Islam, this discussion examines the sanctity of life, murder, unintentional killing, the death penalty, abortion, suicide, and euthanasia. The arguments are introduced by Qur’anic quotations and prophetic anecdotes and include practical examples of both medieval and contemporary applications. Relevant to the current international interest of multicultural perspectives on human rights, this analysis also covers security against unlawful arrest, freedom from torture, immunity against invasion of privacy, and restrictions imposed by the Shari’a on the exercises of these rights.

Note on the Series     viii
Acknowledgements     ix
Introduction     xi
The Right to Life (Haqq al-Hayat)     1
Introductory Remarks     1
The Sanctity of Life     2
Just Retaliation and Blood Money (Qisas & Diyyah)     12
Modern Law and Practice     23
The Killer Does Not Inherit     27
Could the Death Penalty be Based on Ta'zir?     28
Suicide (al-Intihar)     29
Duelling and Permission to Kill     35
Abortion (Isqat al-Janin)     37
Euthanasia (Qatl al-Marhama)     47
The Abandoned Child (al-Laqit)     52
Warfare     53
Concessions Granted to Protect Life     59
Concluding Remarks     60
The Right to Personal Security (Haqq al-Amn)     71
Introductory Remarks     71
Definition and Scope     74
Affirmative Evidence     74
The Principle of Legality     84
Accusation and Suspicion (al-Tuhma, al-Zann)     97
Arrest and Detention     105
The Issue of Beating the Accused     112
The Right to Counsel     123
Trial and Evidence     127
Concluding Remarks     147
The Right to Privacy (Haqq al-Khususiyyah)     159
Introductory Remarks     159
The Privacy of the Home (Hurmat al-Maskan)     162
Espionage (al-Tajassus)     179
Private Correspondence     193
Suspicion (al-Zann)     197
Preserving the Privacy of Others (Satr al-awrat)     200
Confidential Conversation (Kitman al-Sirr)     211
Privacy of the deceased person     219
Restrictions on the Right of Privacy     223
An Overview of Modern Law     229
Concluding Remarks     232
The Right of Ownership (Haqq al-Milkiyyah)     243
Introductory Remarks     243
Affirmative Evidence     244
The Vicegerency of Man     254
The Definition and Types of Ownership     259
Complete and Deficient Ownership     260
Ownership of Rights     262
Private and Public Ownership     264
The Acquisition and Means of Ownership     268
Work (al-Amal)     269
The Reclamation of Barren Land (Ihya' al-Mawat)     270
Hunting     271
Mines and Treasure Troves     272
Land Grant (Iqta) by the Government     274
Inheritance     276
Zakah and Charities     277
Restrictions on Ownership     278
The Prevention of Harm (Daf al-Darar)     278
Considerations of Public Interest (Maslahah) and Necessity (Darurah)     284
Land Utilization     290
Preemption (Shuf ah)     291
Inheritance and Bequests     292
Taxation     294
Concluding Remarks     295
Bibliography     303
Index     314