IRIC Special Issue for
2023 Parliament of the World's Religions

The Parliament of the World’s Religions 2023 will be held at McCormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago, IL, USA from August 14-18, 2023. The theme of this year’s Parliament is “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights“.

Islamic Research & Information Center (IRIC), with a consultative status in the United Nations ECOSOC, is proud to be part of this event. We invite you to join our workshop on “A Divine Perspective on Human Rights from the Viewpoint of Imam Sajjad” on August 18, 2023 at 8:00 AM in Room E256. This workshop will explore the human rights from the viewpoint of Imam Sajjad, the fourth Imam of Shia school of thought, to whom the comprehensive “Treaties of Rights” belong.
You can also find IRIC at the 2023 PoWR Exhibit Hall, where we have a booth (#409) showcasing our work and resources.

Additionally, IRIC has produced the “Muslim Scholars’ Perspective on Human Rights” series and published two enlightening and fascinating books for this special event, which you can find below.
We hope that this special issue will enrich your knowledge and inspire you to engage in dialogue and action for human rights. We look forward to seeing you at our booth and workshop at PoWR 2023. Thank you for your interest and support.

IRIC Special Issue for
2023 Parliament of the World's Religions

The Way of the Promised Savior: World War or Global Peace?

Explore this amazing book on the mission of Imam Mahdi, the Promised Savior in Islam, who will guide humanity towards peace and justice through reason and compassion.

Muslim Scholars' Perspective on Human Rights

In this series, we engage with renowned Islamic scholars who provide valuable insights into how Islam respects and protects human rights.

Future of the World: World War or Global Peace?

This enlightening book will challenge your preconceptions and inspire you to contemplate humanity's ultimate destiny – a world filled with justice and everlasting tranquility.

Resources

We have prepared some of the downloadable books related to the theme of this event and the content presented in the IRIC workshop for you below.

About Us

IRIC is a cultural & religious NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC, founded in 1990 in Washington D.C., USA.

The Way of the Promised Savior:

World War or Global Peace?

Today’s world is more exhausted of war, injustice, and cruelty than ever before, and the world of tomorrow is even more so than today. Humanity is thirsty for a savior who would respond to its anxieties and wanderings with the language of empathy and human needs.

How does Imam Mahdi, the Promised Savior according to the authentic Islamic narrations, achieve this holy mission? Through fighting and bloodshed, or logic and reasoning?

The advent of “Imam Mahdi” (the guided one) is an Islamic concept affiliated with the optimistic vision for the promised society of peace and justice as the certain future for mankind.

This research work is an attempt to meticulously examine this mission and provide answers to the above-mentioned questions.

Dr. Mahdiye Pakravan’s book, presents a few principles with which one can methodologically distinguish the right narration and interpretation from the distorted one, to find a clearer image of “the Just Savior” that Islam introduces for uniting the whole humanity.

Future of the World:

World War or Global Peace?

“And one day, the world will be filled with justice.”

This humble sentence reflects a magnificent idea, which was established by the Prophet of Islam as an essential part of the Muslim belief and diligently promoted afterwards by the 12 infallible Imams of the Shia school of thought. This is why the idea of the coming of a savoir and a better world has lived through history in various Muslim societies, particularly in the Shia traditions. But how does this revered figure accomplish his holy mission? Does he rely on fighting and bloodshed, or does he employ logic and reasoning?

Drawing from authentic Islamic narrations and prophecies across different faiths, this work reveals that the Promised Savior is a compassionate guide who leads humanity towards peace, justice, and tranquility.

This book is based on Dr. Mahdiye Pakravan’s extensive study, originally published under the title “The Way of the Promised Savior: World War or Global Peace?”

This enlightening book will challenge your preconceptions and inspire you to contemplate humanity’s ultimate destiny – a world filled with justice, harmony, and everlasting tranquility.

Muslim Scholars' Perspective
on Human Rights

Human rights are fundamental principles that acknowledge and uphold the value and dignity of every individual. They serve as a shield against discrimination, violence, and abuse, ensuring that all individuals are treated with respect, equality, and fairness.

These rights guarantee various freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly.

In this series, we engage with renowned Islamic scholars who provide valuable insights into how Islam respects and protects human rights. Join us as we delve into the challenges faced in upholding these rights while exploring their significance for social justice, sustainable development, and peace within our societies.

Episodes

Chief Editor's Note

Muslim intellectuals have adopted three different approaches in response to the modern concept of human rights. These approaches are traditional, radical, and moderate. In the traditional approach, many of the rights mentioned in human rights documents are considered contradictory to Islamic law from an analytical and theoretical perspective. However, in practice, violence is avoided and there is a behavior of tolerance and accommodation, especially towards non-Muslims.

In the radical approach, which has its roots in Ash’ari thought within Sunni Islam – unfortunately, this interpretation is associated with Islam – the integrity of human rights is considered contrary to Sharia law both theoretically and practically. According to this view, human beings do not possess fundamental human rights as humans. A human being has the right to life, freedom, dignity, and property but must submit to religious authority and fight against disbelief and ignorance.

However, the moderate approach aligns mainly with the foundations of human rights recognized in the human rights documents. Although it is not without criticism, it emphasizes compatibility and reconciliation. It is important to note that natural and inherent rights are the philosophical foundation of human rights in this moderate approach.

The intellectual foundations of this perspective can be summarized as follows:

1. Inherent human dignity; According to this perspective, human beings possess inherent dignity. As stated in Quran Chapter Al-Isra verse 70: “Indeed We have honored the children of Adam”, human nature has dignity regardless of creed, religion, race and gender.
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), the first successor of the Holy Prophet of Islam according to the Shia school of thought, advised his appointed governor – Malik al-Ashtar – to treat all citizens equally regardless of their religious beliefs because they are either his religious brothers or fellow human beings.

“People are of two types; they are either your brothers in faith or your equals in humanity.”

2. The principle of justice; According to the moderate interpretation of Islam, all human beings should be treated with fairness and justice, regardless of their beliefs and religion. Religious and ideological differences do not justify injustice, and even enmity and hostility do not permit oppression and tyranny.

“Indeed, We sent Our messengers with clear proofs and revealed with them the Scripture and the balance that people may maintain [their affairs] in justice.“
(Quran 57:25)

According to this noble verse, every human being should be treated with fairness and justice, without considering their beliefs or other characteristics.

“O you who have faith! Be maintainers, as witnesses for the sake of Allah, of justice, and ill feeling for a people should never lead you to be unfair. Be fair; that is nearer to Godwariness, and be wary of Allah. Allah is indeed well aware of what you do.”
(Quran 5:8)

According to this verse, even enmity is not a license for injustice, let alone irreligion or religious differences!

3. The principle of peace; According to the moderate reading of Islam, peace is the principle, not war. Differences in beliefs do not justify starting wars and conflicts. However, defense is necessary against aggression. Nevertheless, defense should be proportionate to the level of aggression; no more than that.

“If they incline toward peace, then you [too] incline toward it, and put your trust in Allah. Indeed, He is the All-hearing, the All-knowing.”
(Quran 7:61)

“Allah does not forbid you from dealing with kindness and justice with those [polytheists] who did not make war against you on account of religion and did not expel you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves the just.“
(Quran 60:8)

” …So should anyone aggress against you, assail him in the manner he assailed you…“
(Quran 2:194)

According to the first verse mentioned above, there should always be open arms for peace. According to the second verse mentioned above, mere religious or ideological differences do not justify war or conflict; those who are willing to coexist peacefully should be treated with justice and kindness even if they are disbelievers. And according to the third verse mentioned above, defense should be proportionate to the level of aggression.

The collection of discussions that dear viewers are witnessing here represents the approach of Muslim intellectuals towards human rights based on the third perspective, which is the rationalist Shia perspective and the logical and moderate interpretation of Islam.

Contributions

Some Resources

About Us

Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC) is a non-profit, non-political NGO founded in 1990, by a group of Muslim graduate students in Washington D.C., USA. Our mission is to promote Islamic teachings to the public in the West, with a focus on researchers and academia.

IRIC, as a registered cultural & religious NGO in the U.N., has achieved “Special Consultative Status” with the United Nations Economic & Social Council since April 2015, which provides an infrastructure to represent Islamic viewpoints and positively contribute to the programs and deliberations of the world body.

Contact Us

Islamic Research and Information Center

Welcome to IRIC, a non-profit, non-political NGO founded in 1990 in Washington D.C., USA. Our mission is to promote Islamic teachings to the public in the West, with a focus on researchers and academia. We are proud to have achieved “Special Consultative Status” with the UN ECOSOC since April 2015. Join us in our efforts to spread knowledge and understanding of Islam.

Contact Us

6071 Chicory Place,
Alexandria, VA 22310
USA

WhatsApp (Messages Only):
+1 (438) 408-6845

info@iric.org

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