In contrast to modern views, Islamic philosophy believes human rights are both socially constructed and possess an intrinsic essence. Al-Farabi divides existence into two categories: things that exist independent of human will, and contingent realities that depend on it. These constructs, such as laws and cities, are real but their reality is established by human volition. From this perspective, human rights have both a fixed essence and a socially constructed, contingent dimension.
Dr. Hamid Parsania
Faculty Member, University Of Tehran
