A Divine Perspective on Rights

A Divine Perspective on Rights

Imam ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn (ʿa, an honorific meaning ʿalayhi al-salām — “peace be upon him”) — the fourth Imam of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa) — presented one of the most profound moral frameworks in Islamic thought. Through his treatise Risālat al-Ḥuqūq (“The Treatise of Rights”), he revealed every relationship—between God, the self, and creation—is defined by justice, gratitude, and responsibility. His perspective unites worship and ethics, teaching that ʿubūdiyyah (servitude to God) is inseparable from respect for the rights of others and the fulfillment of duty.

About the Book

A Divine Perspective on Rights explores the spiritual and philosophical principles underlying Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn’s (ʿa) Treatise of Rights. Drawing on authoritative Shīʿī sources such as Tuḥaf al-ʿUqūl, al-Kāfī, and Bihār al-Anwār, the work explains how rights (ḥuqūq) in Islam originate from divine wisdom and lead toward the perfection of the soul. It presents rights not as social constructs, as reflections of divine order—linking worship to justice and individual piety to communal harmony. The commentary guides readers through the Imam’s vision of a society where faith, law, and compassion converge.

What You Will Discover

• The theological foundation of ḥuqūq (rights) in Shīʿī moral philosophy.
• Explanations of the rights of God, the self, family, and society as outlined by the Imam.
• Hadith (prophetic and Imamic traditions) illustrating the harmony between worship and justice.
• Insights on Imamate (divinely appointed leadership) as the model of perfect moral authority.
• Reflections on how divine ethics can shape contemporary understandings of human rights.

About the Author

The compiler of A Divine Perspective on Rights brings together traditional commentary and modern ethical reflection, bridging classical Shīʿī sources with present-day concerns. With scholarly clarity and spiritual sensitivity, the work reveals how Imam Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn’s (ʿa) teachings illuminate a moral system rooted in divine order and compassion.

Who Is This Book For?

For readers seeking to understand the spiritual foundation of justice, ethics, and human dignity in Islam through the teachings of Imam ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn (ʿa), and for all who wish to approach Risālat al-Ḥuqūq as a timeless guide to divine responsibility and moral balance.