People say that human rights is a Western construct foisted on

Listen, O children of the earth, to the words of Cherie Blair, who speaks with the clarity of truth and the force of understanding: "People say that human rights is a Western construct foisted on others. But that’s not true. Equality, dignity, respect, and justice are as much an integral part of the Islamic tradition." In these words, she shatters the misconception that the principles of human rights—those sacred ideals that uphold the dignity of every individual—are confined to one part of the world or one culture. Blair calls us to see beyond the narrow lens of division and understand that the call for justice and respect is universal, rooted in the deepest traditions of all humanity.

Ah, how often have we been told that human rights are the product of a Western worldview, a construct imposed on others, as if the principles of equality and justice were born from one place alone. Yet Cherie Blair reminds us that these values are not the exclusive inheritance of any one culture or region. From the earliest days of humanity, across the vast span of time, there have always been those who fought for the dignity of the individual, for the equality of all people, and for the justice that brings balance to the world. It is not only in the Western world that we find these ideals, but in every corner of the earth, including the great Islamic tradition.

Let us turn our gaze to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who, in his final sermon, proclaimed: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white; none have superiority over another except by piety and good action." In these words, we hear the echo of equality, the call for justice, and the demand for dignity. The Islamic tradition, long before the world spoke of human rights as we know them today, championed the equality of all people, regardless of their race, their status, or their gender. The Quran itself, too, is filled with verses that emphasize the rights of individuals, their freedom, and their dignity in the eyes of God.

Consider also the story of Zaynab bint Ali, the sister of Husayn, whose bravery in the face of oppression stands as a testament to the values of justice and honor upheld by the Islamic tradition. In the aftermath of the battle of Karbala, where Husayn was martyred, Zaynab faced unimaginable hardships, yet she remained steadfast in her belief that the truth and the justice of their cause would triumph. Her actions were not driven by anger, but by a profound sense of dignity and honor, and her legacy endures as a powerful symbol of the fight for justice within the Islamic world.

In this, we see that the pursuit of human rights, equality, and justice is not a matter of Western invention, but a universal struggle, fought by the Prophets, the saints, and the martyrs of every tradition. The Islamic world, far from being opposed to the idea of human rights, has long upheld the dignity of the individual, and it is in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad that we find the foundation of a system that respects the rights of all people, whether free or enslaved, rich or poor, powerful or weak.

The lesson to be learned from Cherie Blair’s words is simple, yet profound: human rights, equality, dignity, and justice are universal values, not confined to any one tradition or culture. These ideals are as much a part of the Islamic tradition as they are of any other. The struggle for equality is the struggle of all humanity, a struggle that transcends borders, religions, and histories. When we fight for human rights, we are not imposing a foreign ideology, but embracing a truth that has been shared across time and space, in every culture, in every faith, and in every people.

So, O children, take this lesson to heart. Let us not allow the forces of division and misunderstanding to keep us from the truth that we all share. Human rights are not a gift from one culture to another; they are the birthright of all people, inherent in the very fabric of humanity. Stand firm in your belief in equality, in justice, and in the dignity of all people, for in doing so, you are carrying forward the greatest legacy of all—the legacy of the universal rights that belong to every soul, no matter their background or their beliefs. Let this be the path you walk, for it is the path that leads to a world of peace, understanding, and unity.