Comparative Study of the Theories Justifying Human Rights in the West and in Islam

“Human rights” are among those rights of which all human beings naturally (in other words, since they are human beings) enjoy. These rights are of three characteristics: inclusivity, paramount importance, and possibility of vindication. The theories justifying human rights in the West are in agreement that such rights have their roots in man’s nature; but concerning the point what which characteristic of the man’s nature may be a standard or a basis for such rights, these theories are in disagreement. Man’s essential inclination to good, human dignity, and man’s moral agency are among the most well-known standards to determine human rights in the West according to which these theories have been distinguished from each other. In spite of their fame, none of these opinions is scientifically suitable to defend legitimacy of these rights. On the other hand, the only theory to explain principles of human rights which may be defended is a novel theory which is based on the rational Islamic doctrines which is, in the present article, known as “the theory of inclination of the station of Universal Man”. According to this theory, human’s spiritual competence to attain the lofty station of Divine Vicegerency is the standard to determine human rights.