POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSIGNMENT

RIGHTS
Q1: Discuss the rights enjoyed by citizens in the Western State?

Q2: Discuss the rights enjoyed by Muslims in the Islamic State?

Q3: Discuss the rights enjoyed by Minorities in the Islamic State?

ANSWER:
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental
normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system,
social convention, or ethical theory. Rights are of essential importance in such disciplines as law and
ethics, especially theories of justice and deontology. There are three major types of rights namely social,
political and economic.

SOCIAL RIGHTS
Social rights are rights made by a group of people to maintain social order within a society.[1] The term
social rights is sometimes used to distinguish those rights arising from the social contract, in contrast to
natural rights which arise from the natural law, but before the establishment of legal rights by positive law.

W: The most important social right enjoyed by the people in the west is the “right to life”. Every citizen
must have the security of his life and property till he is alive but now this right is extended after death as
well in the western state. Right to reputation is another essential right in which a person should receive
good name and respect from the rest. Every individual has a freedom of conscience in which they have
they enjoy liberty to adopt religious faith and they cannot be forced to adopt religious practice of another
faith. In certain Socialist countries, however, until recently religious propaganda was banned while anti-
religious propaganda encouraged. Importance of right to education in the modern age needs not to be
explained. Educational system of a society is an important determinant regarding the successful working
of democracy. Modern governments provide educational facilities to their citizens. Moreover, family life
plays a pivotal role in shaping human behavior. So, the right to family life is as essential as the other
rights. In order to preserve this institution, most States have enacted family laws based on the prevailing
customs and established values. Right to privacy, marriage and divorce etc is included in it.

M: Islam attaches much sanctity to right to life. It implies that every person has the right to develop fully
his mental and physical capacities. Islam recognizes personal liberty; practical and concrete steps were
taken in the direction of discouraging slavery. In pre-Islamic days, women had a very a low status and
were treated like slaves. Islam bestowed upon them their due moral and legal rights of women to
property and inheritance. The holy prophet (pbuh) himself married Hazart Khadija who was elder to him
and a widow. For the right to family Islam has regulated different personal affairs and given specific
instructions. Every Muslim has indefeasible legal right to privacy and transgression against it is regarded
as a highest guilt. Every state based on ideology, is supposed to give due consideration to the right to
education. The Islamic education system is according to the teachings of Islam and without any
discrimination. In an Islamic state Muslim enjoy freedom to practice religion. Their personal law
regulates their personal affairs while Islamic government does not interfere in such matters. Islam also
recognizes the right to reputation and respect for all Muslims to earn a good name in the society.

MN: An Islamic state gives full security to life and property of non-Muslims. The sanctity of the blood
of non-Muslims is declared equal to that of a Muslim. Similarly, they enjoy the right to own property
without undue interference. Non-Muslim subjects are entitled to full protection of their honor. To make
any false allegation or to dishonor them is prohibited. There is no compulsion in matters of faith from
Islamic stand point. Non-Muslims have rights to perform their rituals and ceremonies according to
their fate. They are permitted to build churches and places of worship within their residential area and
they can also preach the good points of their faith. Non-Muslims can open educational institutions and
establish hospitals.

POLITICAL RIGHTS
Political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement
by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the political life of
the state without discrimination or repression.

W: In democratic countries, citizens are given the right to vote the basis of adult suffrage. But certain
persons like lunatics, insane, aliens and traitors are exempted. Specific qualifications are required in
different western States for the right to contest elections in different political offices. In most cases,
minimum age requirement for candidates is a bit higher than that of the voters. Every citizen, without
discrimination, has an equal right to hold political office provided he fulfills necessary conditions.
Similarly, equality of opportunity is ensued to all in joining government services. Change in the
government is an important feature of a democratic system which is made possible through holding of
regular and free elections at regular intervals. But these elections should be held in free and impartial
atmosphere. Right to criticism is indispensible for the working of a democratic system. It helps the
government to keep itself informed about the consequences of its policies or any event of
maladministration. Emergence of the right to form political parties is also inevitable in a democratic
system.

M: Islam introduced a revolutionary step by giving the Muslims right of political participation at a time
when “Malukiat” was the accepted political practice. There is no place for the rule of any priest class.
Islam does not recognize the right of any person or a group to rule over the people, it has been, on the
other hand, declared the responsibility of the whole society. In order to curb the autocratic trends of
governments, the believers are instructed to carry on their affairs by mutual consultation. Islam gives
the right to criticize any maladmininstrative government and the equal right to vote and contest for
elections.

MN: Non-Muslims have certain political rights in an Islamic state. In its modern context, they are secured
right to vote on the basis of universal suffrage. Similarly, they are entitled to return their
representatives to the legislature assemblies, but the system of elections should be separate
electorate’s viz., voters of their community. There representatives will safeguard the rights and interests of
their communities. They have the right to participate in legislative process and in making of public
policies. They have the right to get elected because we can never come to know the problems of
minorities until we have particular individual who works on their behalf. They have the right to voice their
opinions so that their point of view can also be heard and they are not neglected. In Pakistan 4 seats are
increased in the senate for minorities according to the 18th amendment. The quota system represents
minorities through a list system in National Assembly.

ECONOMIC RIGHTS
Economic rights can be defined as follows: Economic rights are rights of access to resources--such as
land, labor, physical, and financial capital--that are essential for the creation, legal appropriation, and
market exchange of goods and services. Economic rights are self-evident.

W: Right to own property is regarded as the basic human right. Right to property includes ownership to
one’s belongings, movable and immovable both. Private property is, in fact, essential for the development
of one’s moral personality. Every citizen should have the right to work and adopt the profession of his
own choice. State is under obligation to provide equal opportunities to all alike so that they may develop
their capabilities according to their natural disposition. Every citizen is entitled to right to contract with
any other trade or industry for a joint venture. But the terms of contract should be within the limits of law
otherwise they are not allowed. In the western system the economic rights are enjoyed by the majority
especially the equal job opportunities given to citizens according to their capacities.

M: The concept of payment of zakat is implied on Muslims so that those Muslims who are unable to
carry out their living and are needy are helped by the state. The state funds the poor Muslims. Moreover
in most of the Islamic state Muslims have the right to proper education and profession. This means
that their education should be of such a standard that they are able to choose good profession in future.
Moreover, they have the right to own property of their ancestors. Islam gives equal rights to property to
women as compared to men.

MN: The concept of payment of jizya is entitled to the minorities in an Islamic state. Jizya is that rule
imposed on non-Muslims in lieu to the military services provided by the State. The Islamic state provides
them with full protection in lieu to which they provide a small amount to the State. Furthermore they are
given full right to choose their profession and work. They can work with freedom and have equal job
opportunities.

Rights are often considered fundamental to civilization, being regarded as established pillars of society
and culture, and the history of social conflicts can be found in the history of each right and its
development. The connection between rights and struggle cannot be overstated — rights are not as much
granted or endowed as they are fought for and claimed, and the essence of struggles past and ancient
are encoded in the spirit of current concepts of rights and their modern formulations.