AN APPRAISAL OF HUMAN RIGHT TO LIFE UNDER ISLAMIC LAW: AN EASTERN PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Human rights abuses and violations remain prevalent across the world. At the global level, numerous laws, conventions, instruments, and institutions have been established to protect and promote human rights. Despite these mechanisms, concerns persist regarding their effectiveness in preventing violations and ensuring equal protection for all people. Critics argue that international human rights institutions sometimes reflect geopolitical interests and apply standards inconsistently, creating perceptions of double standards in the protection and enforcement of human rights. This challenge underscores the need to explore alternative perspectives and approaches to human rights discourse. One such perspective is the Eastern approach, which emphasizes the role of religion, culture, and communal values alongside individual rights. Within this framework, Islamic law offers a distinctive understanding of the right to life, grounded in religious principles and moral obligations. Using a priori research methodology, this paper examines the concept of the human right to life under Islamic law. The study finds that misconceptions regarding Shariah provisions relating to the right to life constitute a significant challenge to the protection and enforcement of human rights in many Muslim communities. It therefore recommends increased public awareness and educational programmes on the true position of Islam and its legal principles concerning human rights, among other measures aimed at promoting understanding and effective protection of the right to life.