Includes bibliographical references and index.

"The premise of this book is that, like everything else in life and human experience since the beginning of time, evolution is the key for understanding how the world works. For me as a Muslim only God is the permanent reality, while everything else evolves with time and in response to changing circumstances. Since human rights are rendered in the service of human beings, they must evolve with the life experience of their subject, namely, human beings on the ground everywhere, for each person and community on their own terms. If that is not the concept of human rights for the people in question, with its content emerging out of their human experience in its context. By the principle of the concept itself, no other person, group or entity can impose his or their view in defining, interpreting or elaborating human rights norms and institutions for others. The way remains open for respectful debate and contestation, suggestions and recommendation, but never in violation of the human dignity and freedom of the human subject. This is what we all know as the Golden Rule, or the principle of reciprocity. If in doubt as to whether a debate or challenge is in violation of this fundamental principle, imagine the situation with you as the subject of violation of human dignity and freedom"--