Summarise the teaching of Qur'an and Sunnah regarding the dignity of humanity.

Introduction

The Quran and Sunnah teach that every human being has worth, regardless of race, class, gender or belief. This dignity (karamah) comes from Allah and not from any government. It does not depend upon wealth or achievement. It gives rise to rights and duties, and it serves as a standard by which any society may be judged.

Teachings of the Quran

1. Honoured by Allah.

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا

"And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with definite preference." (Al-Isra 17:70)

2. Best in creation.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ فِىٓ أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍۢ

"We have certainly created man in the best of stature." (At-Tin 95:4)

3. Vicegerent on earth

Human beings were given a position of trust, and Adam (AS) received knowledge that the angels did not have, and they were told to prostrate to him (Al-Baqarah 2:30–34).

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ …

"And when your Lord said to the angels: Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." (Al-Baqarah 2:30)

4. One origin and equality.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍۢ وَٰحِدَةٍۢ …

"O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul." (An-Nisa 4:1)

5. Piety as the only measure.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ

"O mankind, We created you from a male and a female and made you peoples and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you before Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." (Al-Hujurat 49:13)

6. Sanctity of life.

… مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا …

"…Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (Al-Ma'idah 5:32)

7. Freedom of conscience.

لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ …

"There is no compulsion in religion…" (Al-Baqarah 2:256)

8. Protection of honour

The Quran forbids ridicule, offensive nicknames, suspicion, spying and backbiting.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌۭ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ …

"O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule another people; perhaps they may be better than them." (Al-Hujurat 49:11)

9. Justice for all.

… وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ …

"…And do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness." (Al-Ma'idah 5:8)

10. Dignity of the poor

Charity must not be spoiled by reminders or hurtful words (Al-Baqarah 2:264).

Teachings of the Sunnah

The Farewell Sermon

"Your blood, your property and your honour are sacred" (Bukhari, Muslim). "An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a white person over a black person, except by piety" (Musnad Ahmad).

Respect for each soul

When a funeral passed, he stood. He was told that it was the funeral of a Jew, and he said: "Is it not a soul?" (Bukhari, Muslim).

Against racism

He rebuked Abu Dharr (RA) for insulting a man about his mother, saying that he still had traces of ignorance (Bukhari, Muslim). He appointed Bilal (RA), a former slave, as muezzin, and Usamah ibn Zayd (RA), son of a freed slave, as an army commander.

Sanctity of a person's honour

"All of a Muslim is sacred to another Muslim: his blood, his property and his honour" (Muslim). He also said that it is enough evil for someone to look down upon his brother (Muslim).

Mercy

"Allah is not merciful to one who is not merciful to people" (Bukhari, Muslim). He forbade striking the face, even of a servant or an animal (Muslim).

Equal justice

"By Allah, if Fatimah the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand" (Bukhari, Muslim).

Serving the needy

He helped with household chores (Bukhari). He visited the sick, attended to widows, and a slave girl could take him by the hand to get her needs met (Bukhari).

Specific applications

Women

They have equal spiritual worth, with rights to education, property and inheritance. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best of you is the best to his family" (Tirmidhi).

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌۭ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

"Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they used to do." (An-Nahl 16:97)

The enslaved and workers

"They are your brothers," he said, instructing that they be fed and clothed as their owners were (Bukhari, Muslim). "Give the labourer his wages before his sweat dries" (Ibn Majah).

Non-Muslims

Their life, property and honour must be protected. He warned that he would plead against whoever wrongs one under protection (Abu Dawud). Peaceful non-Muslims must be treated with kindness and justice.

لَّا يَنْهَىٰكُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَٰتِلُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَٰرِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ

"Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes, from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly." (Al-Mumtahanah 60:8)

Children and orphans

He showed affection to children, and he said that whoever cares for an orphan will be close to him in Paradise (Bukhari).

People with disabilities

The Quran itself rebuked the Prophet ﷺ gently for turning away from a blind man (Abasa 80:1–10), to show that a person's worth is not based on status. He later appointed Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum (RA), who was blind, to lead Madinah in his absence.

Enemies and the dead

Mutilation of bodies was forbidden, even in war (Muslim), and prisoners should be treated humanely (Al-Insan 76:8).

Summary of principles

Universal

Dignity belongs to all of Adam's children.

God-given

Nobody may take it away.

Equal

It does not depend upon race, wealth or gender.

Comprehensive

It covers life, belief, honour, property and privacy.

Joined with responsibility

Dignity brings duties, and human beings may lower themselves by their actions.

Practical

It is shown in the small things in life: speech, how a person treats servants, and how the poor are approached.

Relevance today

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) recognises "inherent dignity", and Pakistan's Constitution (Article 14) calls the dignity of man inviolable. Yet Pakistan sees custodial torture, child labour, abuse of domestic workers, honour killing, sectarian violence, and degrading treatment of the poor at government offices. Muslim countries also have many examples of racism against migrant workers. The Quran and Sunnah should be taught in schools and mosques as a practical code for treating every person with respect, and not merely as a matter of theory.

Conclusion

The Quran and Sunnah together teach that every human being is honoured by Allah, created in the best form, entrusted with responsibility and equal in origin. They protect life, conscience, honour and property; they condemn racism and contempt; and they require justice and mercy towards all, including women, workers, minorities, the poor and even enemies. The true test of a Muslim society is whether its weakest members are able to live with this dignity.

The writer can be reached at ma6749429@gmail.com