Mohammad Pourmand

The Right to Human Dignity and Equality from the Perspective of Jurisprudence/

Note: Human dignity as a “right” does not have a long history in Islamic jurisprudence. This very fact has led to a limited number of books being written regarding this right. In the following report, an effort has been made to briefly introduce some of the most important books written in this connection and to index other related books.

Human Dignity in Islamic Jurisprudence and Law

Hossein Haqiqatpour, Mohammad-Hassan Ha’eri, Ehsan Ali-Akbari Babokani, Imam Sadiq University Press, 2013.

This book examines and analyzes the issue of human dignity in the process of jurisprudential and legal ijtihad as a source of negating and establishing rulings, attempting to introduce human dignity as a fundamental principle and rule in the deduction of Islamic jurisprudential and legal rulings. It also poses and answers various doubts and questions surrounding the acceptance of this right. This work consists of two main parts, each comprising several chapters.

Part One: General Concepts and Theoretical Discussions of Dignity

Chapter One: Elucidating the Concept of Human Dignity

In this chapter, the author examines the literal and technical meanings of dignity and attempts to provide a precise definition of human dignity.

Chapter Two: The Nature of Human Dignity in the Islamic Legal System

In this chapter, the nature of dignity regarding whether it is intrinsic or acquired is discussed, and the importance of dignity in Islamic law is examined. Rational, textual (naqli), and legal arguments in this area are also presented.

Part Two: Dignity in Islamic Jurisprudence and Law

Chapter One: Human Dignity

This chapter analyzes verses and narrations related to human dignity and fundamental human rights such as freedom, property, privacy, and freedom of belief, examining the role of dignity in defining these rights.

Chapter Two: Divine Dignity

This chapter encompasses the Rule of the Believer’s Dignity, the Prohibition of Insult, the Rule of Negation of Means (Nafi al-Sabil), and proofs establishing the believer’s dignity in Islamic jurisprudence. In this chapter, dignity is explained as a divine gift and emanation upon humans, especially believers.

Chapter Three: Customary-Social Dignity

In this chapter, dignity is analyzed as a social and customary phenomenon, addressing its impact on social relations and customary rights. The position of dignity in social relations and civil law is also examined.

Chapter Four: Jurisprudential and Legal Consequences of Dignity

This chapter addresses the effects and consequences of dignity in the deduction of jurisprudential rulings and the codification of Islamic law, expressing how dignity influences jurisprudential and legal rules.

Chapter Five: Doubts and Critiques

Jurisprudential and legal critiques regarding the concept and scope of dignity, points of divergence, and potential responses to raised doubts in this regard are examined in this chapter.

Human Rights and Human Dignity

Rasoul Jarideh, Sholeh Razzaqi, Andisheh Sabz Nevin & Andisheh Asr Publications, 2018.

This book focuses on the meaning of human dignity, its jurisprudential/legal foundations, and its effects on the legal rules and rulings of Islam, examining the fundamental concepts of intrinsic human dignity as the foundation of human rights. The authors attempt, through a scientific and analytical approach, to demonstrate the close relationship between moral philosophy, natural law, and human positive law, explaining how human dignity, as the most central principle, constitutes the infrastructure of contemporary human rights systems. In this work, the authors pay attention to two points: 1. Theoretical and intellectual foundations of human dignity; 2. Its concrete manifestations and instances in international instruments and domestic laws. The book is organized in two parts, with each part containing 3 chapters.

Part One: Theoretical Foundations of Human Dignity

This part addresses the roots of the concept of dignity across various intellectual and philosophical schools.

Chapter One: Conceptual Analysis of Human Dignity

In this chapter, the authors examine various definitions of dignity from the perspectives of jurists and philosophers, analyzing and comparing concepts such as intrinsic dignity and acquired dignity.

Chapter Two: Historical Background of Human Dignity

In this chapter, the authors examine the concept of dignity across different historical eras, from ancient thought and divine religions (especially Islam) to the philosophical schools of the Enlightenment and the modern era.

Chapter Three: Philosophical Schools and Human Dignity

This chapter is devoted to examining the stances of major philosophical schools—such as naturalism, rationalism, utilitarianism, and Kantian philosophy—regarding human dignity, analyzing the role of each in the formation of human rights declarations.

Part Two: Practical and Legal Manifestations of Human Dignity

This part addresses the concrete manifestations of the principle of human dignity within the realm of law and international instruments.

Chapter One: Human Dignity in International Human Rights Instruments

This chapter analyzes the position of the principle of human dignity in instruments such as the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as regional conventions (such as the European Convention on Human Rights).

Chapter Two: Human Dignity in National Constitutions

In this chapter, how the principle of human dignity is reflected and protected in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the constitutions of various other countries (such as Germany, France, South Africa, etc.), is analyzed and examined.

Chapter Three: Human Dignity and Specific Legal Domains

In this chapter, from an applied perspective, the authors examine the prominent role of human dignity across different branches of law, such as criminal law, family law, labor law, and particularly medical law and biotechnology.

Human Dignity in Iranian Criminal Law

Mohammad-Ali Abbaszadeh, Adabestan Publications, 2020.

This book was written with the objective of demonstrating the importance and status of human dignity as a fundamental principle in Iranian criminal law. In an analytical and thematic manner, this work shows how human dignity can be observed as a vital pillar in criminal regulations regardless of subject matter and form, playing a role in guaranteeing criminal justice. The book is organized into three parts.

Part One: Concepts and Foundations of Human Dignity

Chapter One: Concept of Human Dignity

In this chapter, the author examines various definitions of human dignity from legal, philosophical, and ethical viewpoints, along with its position in the legal system.

Chapter Two: Broad Concept of Dignity

This chapter is devoted to expanding the concept of human dignity beyond restrictive views and examining the broad effects of dignity in the domains of human rights and justice.

Chapter Three: Theory of Individualism

This chapter explains the legal theory that regards dignity as the autonomy and independent personality of each individual, addressing its importance in criminal law.

Part Two: Human Dignity in Substantive Criminal Law

Chapter One: Interpretation of Criminal Law Rules

This chapter examines the role of human dignity in how penal laws are interpreted and executed, highlighting the importance of preserving dignity in all substantive criminal rules.

Chapter Two: Prohibition of Non-Dignity-Centered Punishments and Behaviors

This chapter analyzes regulations that prevent punishments or behaviors inconsistent with human dignity.

Chapter Three: Human Dignity and Punishments

Examining all punishments from the perspective of preserving human dignity, while emphasizing proportionality, justice, and respect for the personality of the accused and offender, constitutes the contents of this chapter.

Part Three: Human Dignity in Procedural Regulations and Challenges

Chapter One: Human Dignity in Criminal Procedure

In this chapter, the author addresses how the rights of the accused and offender are respected and how human dignity is guaranteed in criminal proceedings, such as the right to defense, fair trial, and humane treatment.

Chapter Two: Interaction and Conflicts of Human Dignity in Iranian Criminal Law

The content of this chapter examines existing challenges and issues in observing human dignity in practice and provides solutions for resolving conflicts between human dignity and criminal regulations.


Below, other books written regarding the right to dignity are indexed:

  1. Human Dignity in Media Law
    Abbas Asadi, Amir Salmanpour, n.p., 2017.

  2. Human Dignity in Criminal Law
    Esma’il Rahiminezhad, Mizan Publications, 2008.

  3. Human Dignity and Jurisprudence
    Hossein Naseri Moqaddam, Abbas-Ali Soltani, Islamic Studies Research Institute, 2020.

  4. The Right to Dignity in Islamic Thought
    Mohammad-Hossein Talebi, Dad va Danesh Publications, 2023.

  5. Human Dignity from the Perspective of the Seal of Prophets
    Shahab al-Din Mashayekhi-Rad, IRIB Islamic Research Center Publications, 2019.

  6. Human Dignity and Judicial Interpretation of Human Rights
    Ali Shariati, Hwalwokeel Publishing, 2024.

  7. Human Dignity in Jurisprudence
    Hossein Naseri Moqaddam, Islamic Studies Research Institute Publications, 2015.

  8. The Right to Human Dignity
    Mohammad-Taqi Ja’fari, University of Tehran Press, 1991.

  9. Human Dignity
    Eid-Mohammad Ahmadi, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute Publications, 2016.

  10. Human Dignity (A Legal Research)
    Ali Shariati, Hwalwokeel Publishing, 2024.

  11. The Principle of Human Dignity as a Jurisprudential Rule
    Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Ayazi, Sara’i Publishing, 2021.

  12. From Dervish Dignity to Human Dignity
    Mohammad-Hadi Ebrahimi-Nezhad, Farid Masoudi, Dalil-e Ma Publications, 2013.

  13. Imam Reza (a) and Human Dignity
    Mohammad Hakimi, Astan Quds Razavi Publications, 2024.

  14. Human Dignity from the Perspective of Verses and Narrations
    Ahlam Hamid-Zoveyri, Pajoohandegan-e Rah-e Danesh Publications, 2024.

  15. Forty Hadiths on Human Dignity
    Ali-Naqi Mirhosseini, Za’ir Qom Publications, 2008.

  16. Dignity in the Quran
    Abdullah Javadi Amoli, Raja Cultural Publishing Center, 1989.

  17. Human Dignity from the Perspectives of Mulla Sadra and Kant
    Sima Mohammadpour Dehkordi, Boustan-e Kitab Publications, 2012.

  18. Human Dignity in the Light of the Quran and Narrations
    Abazar Amini, Boustan-e Kitab Publications, 2015.

  19. Human Dignity and the Foundation of Human and Citizenship Rights
    Abdullah Kadkhodaei et al., University of Tehran Press, 2015.

  20. Human Dignity from the Perspectives of Islam and the West
    Saeed Zibakalam, Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought Publications, 2013.

  21. The Philosophy of Human Dignity
    Mohammad Soroush Mahallati, Boustan-e Kitab Publications, 2017.

  22. Human Dignity and Global Ethics
    Abdolkarim Soroush, Serat Publishing, 1997.

  23. Human Dignity in the Thought of the Ahl al-Bayt (a)
    Mohammad-Javad Arasta, Ma’aref Publishing, 2012.

  24. Human Rights and Human Dignity
    Nasser Qorban-Nia, Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought Publications, 2011.

  25. Intrinsic Human Dignity from the Perspectives of Nature and Religion
    Ali Foroughi, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies Publications, 2013.

  26. Human Dignity in Religious Teachings
    Mohammad-Mahdi Soleimani, SAMT Publications, 2021.

  27. Background and Foundations of Human Dignity
    Mohammad Fazel, Pouyesh Publishing, 2011.

  28. Dimensions of Human Dignity in Divine and Human Schools of Thought
    Mohammad Maleki, Amirkabir Publications, 1993.