Saudi Arabia's Curriculum of Intolerance - Hudson Institute

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Muhammad. Yet, in addressing Western audiences, the Saudi government invokes just such
passages. In the international arena, the Saudi government recognizes and employs the argument
that there can be found support within Islamic tradition for “inalienable human rights,” and the
peaceful coexistence of Muslims with other religious believers.
For example, in its 1970 memorandum to the United Nations (Appendix F), the Saudi
government quoted extensively from Islamic sacred texts to argue that “the dignity of a human
person” would be “protected by us without any distinction between one man and another under
the impetus of the divine Islamic creed and not by the material law.” The Saudi government
cited numerous Qur’anic and other passages to establish that Islam ensures basic human rights,
including religious freedom. It wrote as follows:
The dignity of man, in conformity with the Koranic verse which says: "We have
honoured the sons of Adam". (XVI1, 70).
No distinctions in dignity and fundamental rights between one man and another as
race, sex, blood relations or wealth, in accordance with the Saying of the Prophet
of Islam: "There is no advantage for an Arab over a non-Arab, or for a white man
over a black man excepting by piety," and in his saying: "Women are partners to
men".
The call for the unity of the human race. The persons most favoured by God are
those who are most beneficial to mankind, in accordance with the Saying of the
Prophet of Islam: "Human creatures are the families of God and the ones who are
most loved by Him are those who are most useful to their families."
The call for acquaintance and cooperation for the common good as well as for the
performance of all kinds of righteous deeds towards all human beings regardless
of their citizenship or religion, in conformity with the Koranic verse: "O mankind
we created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into
nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each
other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most
righteous of you." (XLIX, 13). The same theme is repeated in the following
Koranic verse: "God forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for
(your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with
them: For God loveth those who are just." (LX, 8).
Religious freedom to every one and prohibition of any exercise of force in this
respect, in response to God's Sayings in the Glorious Koran: "Let there be no
compulsion in religion," (II, 256) and "Wilt thou then compel mankind against
their will to believe!" (X, 99). These sayings show how the use of pressure on
man's religious freedom is denounced.
Prohibition of any attack on the property or the life of a man as expressed in the
Saying of the Muslim Prophet: "You are forbidden to attack the property or the
lives of others."