Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the neglected theme of the examining the inconsistencies between international human rights and Islam from the Islamic perspective (rather than from the oft-discussed human rights perspective) and seeks ways of reconciling international human rights with Islam as means of evolving genuine universal human rights.

Paper long abstract:

International human rights stemming largely from western traditions embody some values that are different from Islamic values. Previous discussions of these differences do not address the methodological challenges relating to theoretical and thematic frameworks. First, the differences between Islam and international human rights transcend the conflict between religion and human rights, and cultural pluralism paradigms currently used as these differences are more appropriately discussed within the framework of pluralism of civilizations. Secondly, the dialogue between Islam and International human rights has been mostly one-directional as it is premised on reconciling Islam with human rights but not also on reconciling human rights with Islam whereas, both discourses are necessary for mutual understanding between Islamic and Western civilizations and for the emergence of genuine universal human rights.