Pages: 38-48

Abstract

One of the controversial issues in international law and human rights is the rights of minorities. Since all non-Muslims enjoy essential dignity and honor only based on being a human, they must also benefit from human rights. Islam has allowed the religious minorities to enjoy human dignity and the manifestations of this dignity are crystallized in the form of minority rights. These rights consist of inviolability of the property of the People of Book, freedom of work and economic activities, inviolability of life and blood money of the non-Muslim, etc. the Islamic view of humanity is filled with mercy and compassion and it cannot be otherwise, because the Islamic religion is the last of the religions that were prescribed by Allah, may He be exalted, and He commanded all of mankind to enter this religion. He revealed this religion and sent it down to the most compassionate of mankind, Muhammad. Based on that, kind treatment of neighbors is enjoined and is recommended, whether they are Muslim or not. And this is the right thing to do. If any of the non-Muslims comes to our country for work or business, it is not permissible to detract his rights. Also it is not part of Islam to force the non-Muslim to enter this religion, because sincerity is one of the conditions of accepting Islam. Islam regards whatever property or money considered by non-Muslims as valuables _according to their faiths _ and pledges to protect them, even if they pose no real value to Muslims.