RESPECT FOR HUMANKIND

The Quran states: “We have honoured the children of Adam, and have borne them on the land and the sea, given them for sustenance things which are good and pure; and exalted them above many of Our creatures.” (17:70)

This means that by birth, man is deserving of respect and honour. This honour is inherent to every person, regardless of the social group they belong to.

According to a hadith, the Prophet of Islam said: “He is not one of us who does not show mercy to the young among us and does not show respect to the elders among us.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1919)

In another hadith, the Prophet of Islam said: “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should honour their neighbor, and whoever believes in God and the Last Day should honour their guest.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6019)

There are numerous such commandments in the Quran and Hadith that emphasise that a person who believes in God’s religion must respect human beings. The reason for this is that the real test of a person’s devotion to God is shown in their treatment of these very people. The expression of one’s connection with God in this world is reflected in how one connects with others. Those who love God naturally begin, in line with their inner feelings, to love God’s servants.

Respecting humanity is a fundamental teaching of Islam. Whether a person belongs to one’s own religion or another, from one’s own community or a different one, whether they are from one’s own country or another, or whether they belong to a friendly group or an enemy group, they are all deserving of respect. It is an Islamic teaching that despite differences of opinion, one should respect other human beings. Even if another person’s behaviour is oppositional, one must maintain a respectful attitude towards them while overlooking their actions. According to Islamic teachings, every person is a human being, and every human being is worthy of respect.