Islam and Human Rights — Page 12
Isl am and Hum an R ights 12 discovered this, and without abandoning any part of what indeed is of truth and tremen dous value in the rich legacy and abundant inheritance- of Islam, they have turned eagerly to what Islam has to offer in the age which is now opening out before us. In studying the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from the Islamic point of view, we must remember that while Islam lays down broad values and standards which clearly endorse the spirit and purpose of the Declaration, it does not pronounce verbatim on all the specific provisions of the Declaration. Some of the Articles of the Declaration restate and emphasize fundamental rights and principles, while others only declare and draw attention to objectives and ideals which should be progressively pursued as the aims of State policy. Still others spell out methods of giving effect to what is considered imperative or eminently desirable in today’s conditions as a practical expression of the enjoy ment of freedom, justice and equality. The Declaration does not purport to be exhaustive, as, in the nature of things, no formulation of human rights could claim finality. Equally, it cannot be claimed that its provisions may not call for amendment or modification as the result of experience gained or of changes that may be introduced into the social,