An Overview at Humanitarian Rights in the Life of the Prophet

Abstract

The term "human right" is one of the most widely used concepts in the field of international relations. Although this term entered Western legal literature after the 16th century, its principles and rules can be found in the political-military life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Islamic educations. Human rights refer to all the lawful rights and privileges that Islamic regulation recognizes for enemies. The main purpose of these rights is to ensure respect for human dignity and to generalize human rights principles in international law relating to armed conflicts. Understanding the place of this law in the prophetic life is of particular importance. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method based on library studies, has analyzed and examined the performance of humanitarian rights in the political-military life of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The findings of this research show that human rights were severely and completely observed in all the campaigns and missions of the period of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and offenders were prosecuted. Following to the principles of chivalry, refraining from using inhumane methods in war, supporting women and children, protecting the elderly and disabled, and prohibiting the use of weapons of mass destruction were among the key principles in the Prophet's life.