The criterion of human dignity in the Quran

Seyed Abdosaleh  Jafari; Behin  Araminia; Nafiseh  Tavasoli; Hanieh  Tavasoli; Soheil  Abedi; Seyed  Abolhasan Navab; Bagher  Talebi Darabi

doi:10.18502/jmehm.v17i2.15390

Seyed Abdosaleh Jafari Researcher, University of Religions and Denominations, Research Center for Religions and Denominations; Researcher, Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Behin Araminia Researcher, Mental Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nafiseh Tavasoli Researcher at Endocrine and Metabolism Research institute (EMRI), Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hanieh Tavasoli Resident of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Soheil Abedi PhD Candidate in Medical ethics, Medical Ethics and History of Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Abolhasan Navab Associate Professor of Jurisprudential Religions Department, Faculty of Religions, University of Religions and Denominators, Qom, Iran.
Bagher Talebi Darabi Assistant Professor, Religious Studies Department, Faculty of Religions, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmehm.v17i2.15390

Keywords: Human dignity; Bioethics, Quran; Islamic Jurisprudence; Human rights.

Abstract

In the Holy Quran, a strong emphasis has been placed on the dignity of human beings. There are two verses in the Quran that discuss the differences between humans and other creatures. In this article, we have tried to interpret these two verses using free selection of virtues and goodness as the criterion for human dignity that was obtained in our previous research. In the verse of trust, unlike other creatures, man accepts a trust that informs us about his cruelty and ignorance. However, if we consider this trust as freedom of choice, it can also imply injustice and ignorance alongside justice and wisdom for humans. In the verse of succession, angels tell God that human as vicegerent on earth leads to corruption and bloodshed. God does not deny this, but reminds the angels of the existence of pure ones. If we consider freely choosing goodness the differentiating factor between humans and other creatures the angels accurately refer to the possibility of creating corruption and bloodshed. However, they did not see the value of voluntary goodness compared to their own compulsory goodness.

Therefore, by considering freely choosing goodness as the criterion for human dignity, these two verses can be easily interpreted.