Human Rights Perspectives in Shaikh Muslehud Din Sadi Shirazis Bustan and Gulistan

Abstract

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 1948 is the most translated paper in the world. But the promise of the basic rights such as equality, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, social security and many other rights remained unfulfilled around the world. Daily reports of terror, violations, hunger, refugees, child abuse prove that many governments have failed to set up the basic human rights for citizens. It is time that individuals from all cultures without considering religion, nationality, colour, race and gender try to develop humanity, tolerance and understanding between one another. newlineThis study analyses the texts of Bustan and Gulistan in relation to the theories of human rights and humanitarianism. Sadi in Bustan and Gulistan plays different roles such as an expert sociologist, psychologist and criminologist. It can be said that Sadi s ideas about managing and governing a country are more intellectual and more humanitarian than many current ideas. The significant point is the valuation of all aspects of human rights by Sadi years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came into existence.