Islam and Human Rights — Page 122
Isl am and Hum an R ights 122 the privi leges, duties and obligations pertaining to nationality are not in all cases and in all circumstances an unmitigated blessing. Trends are already perceptible towards the re cognition of a bond of human fellowship transcending nationality. In many respects the bond of nationality is beginning to be felt as too restrictive and confining, and some of the demands that it makes upon an individual as a constraint upon the free development of personality. Islam aims at universality and addresses itself to the whole of mankind as constituting one fellowship. It recognizes only two broad divisions within that fellowship, based not upon region, country, sex, race, colour, language or the like, but upon moral standards and the lack of them, beneficence and non-beneficence, righteous conduct and wrong-doing. Apart from legal sanctions designed to restrain such wrongs as are deemed offences or crimes, its sanctions are also moral and spiritual. Its purpose is to save and not to destroy, to join together and not to put asunder. The Quran opens with the words: “All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, the Gracious, the Merci ful, Master of the Day of Judgment” (1:2-4), and it closes with the prayer: Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of