God has created man as the best and noblest of His creatures, with the universe to serve him, preferring him to all His other creatures. God says: “And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.” (The Qur’an, 17:70)

Islam calls for protecting people’s rights and preserving their dignity and property, regardless of their belief, color, race, or ethnicity. In this regard, the statement made by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in his farewell sermon serves as a comprehensive prophetic recognition of all human rights. He was reported to have said, “Verily your blood, your property, and your honor are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and this town of yours.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Guided by the universal principles of Islam, the Muslim Council of Elders under the Chairmanship of His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, urges all people, including Muslims, everywhere to uphold the human values that advance and instill human rights in communities. This allies with the principles outlined in Abu Dhabi’s historic Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church.

The Muslim Council of Elders attaches great importance to advancing human rights through its several international efforts and initiatives. In so doing, it calls for eliminating all forms of intolerance, racism, and discrimination and for promoting justice, good, equality, and coexistence among all peoples. It urges all international organizations to redouble their efforts to protect human rights, especially those of the most vulnerable, immigrants, refugees, and those forcibly displaced from their homes, calling on all concerned parties to work seriously to put an end to all wars and conflicts.

Human Rights day is celebrated every 10 December to raise awareness of and respect for the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The declaration states that the human rights of all people should be respected without discrimination on the grounds of religion, language, gender, nationality, or race.