Islam's response to contemporary world problems (8)
Islam's response to contemporary world problems (8)
In the previous issue (number 7) we shed light on the instruments of competition. Let us now turn to what Islam has to say about freedom of expression.
Freedom of speech and expression is vital for the dissemination of the Message, just as it is vital for restoring the dignity of man. No religion is worthy of consideration unless it tends to restore and protect the dignity of man.
Therefore, in the light of what we have discussed, it must be evident that it is impossible for a religion such as Islam to deny freedom of speech and expression. On the contrary, Islam upholds this principle in such a way and with such value that it is rare to find anything similar in any other religion or ideology in the world. For example, the Holy Qur'an declares:
وَقَالُوۡا لَنۡ یَّدۡخُلَ الۡجَنَّۃَ اِلَّا مَنۡ کَانَ ہُوۡدًا اَوۡ نَصٰرٰی ؕ تِلۡکَ اَمَانِیُّہُمۡ ؕ قُلۡ ہَاتُوۡا ہَاتُوۡا بُرۡہَانَکُمۡ بُرۡہَانَکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ
"They say: "No one will enter Heaven unless he is a Jew or a Christian." These are their vain desires. Say to them: 'Bring your proof, if you are truthful.'" (Q. 2: Al-Baqarah: 112)
Also:
اَمِ اتَّخَذُوۡا اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اٰلِہَۃً ؕ قُلۡ ہَاتُوۡا بُرۡہَانَکُمۡ ۚ ہٰذَا ذِکۡرُ ذِکۡرُ مَنۡ مَّعِیَ وَذِکۡرُ مَنۡ قَبۡلِیۡ ؕ بَلۡ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ۙ الۡحَقَّ فَہُمۡ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ
"They have adopted gods other than Him! Say to them: "Bring your proof: here is the Book of those who are with me and those who have gone before me! Nay, most of them do not know the truth, and so they turn away from it." (Q. 21: Al-Anbiya: 25)
وَنَزَعۡنَا مِنۡ کُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ شَہِیۡدًا فَقُلۡنَا ہَاتُوۡا بُرۡہَانَکُمۡ فَعَلِمُوۡۤا اَنَّ الۡحَقَّ لِلّٰہِ وَضَلَّ وَضَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ کَانُوۡا یَفۡتَرُوۡنَ
"From every people We will show a witness and say to them, "Bring your proof." Then they will know that the truth belongs to Allah and that what they used to plot will vanish from them." (Q. 28: Al-Qasas: 76)
Y:
اَمۡ لَکُمۡ لَکُمۡ سُلۡطٰنٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۵۷﴾ۙفَاۡتُوۡا بِکِتٰبِکُمۡ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ صٰدِقِیۡنَ
"Or do you possess clear authority? Show, then, your Book if ye are truthful." (Ch. 37: Al-Saffat: 157-158)
Freedom and Emancipation in the Context of the Contemporary World
Freedom and emancipation are two important slogans that are influencing the whole world with varying intensity and different connotations in different parts of the globe. There is no doubt that man is becoming progressively aware of the importance and value of freedom. There is a pressing need, felt everywhere, for greater emancipation. From what? From the yoke of foreign rule, from dictatorships, from fascism, from totalitarian or theocratic philosophies, from despotic democracies, from corrupt bureaucracies, from the economic strangulation of poor countries by rich countries, from ignorance, superstition and fetishism.
Islam champions the cause of freedom in the face of all these evils, but it does not do so in a way that creates disorder, chaos and indiscriminate revenge, which in turn causes suffering to the innocent.
This is the message of Islam:
وَاللّٰہُ لَا یُحِبُّ الۡفَسَادَ
"And God is not pleased with disorder." (Q.2: Al-Baqarah: 206)
Islam, like any other religion, insists on the role of a balanced freedom, with a spirit of give and take. The concept of absolute freedom is an unrealistic, empty and alien concept in the context of society.
Sometimes the idea of freedom is so misunderstood and applied so negatively that the beauty of the cherished principle of freedom of expression is transformed into the ugliness of freedom from insult, insult and blasphemy.
Islam goes a step further than other religions in guaranteeing man the freedom of speech and expression. Blasphemy is certainly condemned on ethical and moral grounds, but no physical punishment is ordered in Islam, contrary to what is commonly thought in today's world.
If one studies the Holy Qur'an repeatedly and deeply, it is impossible to find a single verse stating that blasphemy is a crime that man can punish.
While the Holy Qur'an strongly opposes indecent conduct and expression and offence against the sensibilities of others, with or without reason or basis, Islam does not advocate the punishment of blasphemy in this world nor does it shelter such authority in anyone.
Blasphemy has been mentioned on five occasions in the Holy Qur'an.
1) For example, the subject is mentioned in general terms:
وَقَدۡ نَزَّلَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ فِی الۡکِتٰبِ اَنۡ اِذَا سَمِعۡتُمۡ اٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ یُکۡفَرُ یُکۡفَرُ بِہَا وَیُسۡتَہۡزَاُ بِہَا فَلَا تَقۡعُدُوۡا مَعَہُمۡ مَعَہُمۡ حَتّٰی حَتّٰی حَتّٰی یَخُوۡضُوۡا فِیۡ حَدِیۡثٍ غَیۡرِہٖۤ ۫ۖ اِنَّکُمۡ اِذًا مِّثۡلُہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ جَامِعُ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ وَالۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ فِیۡ جَہَنَّمَ جَمِیۡعَۨا جَمِیۡعَۨا
"He hath already revealed to you in the Book that when ye hear that the Signs of Allah are denied and mocked at, sit not with them until they begin another conversation; for if ye do not, ye will be like them. Verily, Allah will gather together in Hell hypocrites and unbelievers". (Q. 4: Al-Nisa: 141)
وَاِذَا رَاَیۡتَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَخُوۡضُوۡنَ فِیۡۤ فِیۡۤ اٰیٰتِنَا فَاَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡہُمۡ عَنۡہُمۡ حَتّٰی یَخُوۡضُوۡا فِیۡ حَدِیۡثٍ غَیۡرِہٖ ؕ وَاِمَّا یُنۡسِیَنَّکَ الشَّیۡطٰنُ فَلَا تَقۡعُدۡ بَعۡدَ بَعۡدَ الذِّکۡرٰی مَعَ الۡقَوۡمِ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ
"When you see those who mock at Our Signs, turn away from them until they begin to deal with another subject. And if Satan makes you forget, do not sit, after you have fallen in with the ungodly men." (Q.6: Al-An'am: 69)
What a beautiful response to the utter ugliness of blasphemy! Not only does Islam not allow any human being to take the punishment of the blasphemer into his own hands, but it declares that people should manifest their protest against blasphemy by staying away from the gathering of people where religious values are mocked and ridiculed. Apart from suggesting positive measures, the Holy Qur'an does not even prescribe a permanent boycott against the blasphemer; on the contrary, the Holy Qur'an makes it clear that the boycott should only last as long as the act of blasphemy is committed.
2) Again, blasphemy is mentioned in Surah (chapter) Al- An'am, where, hypothetically, the subject of blasphemy is discussed not only in relation to God, but also with regard to idols and other imaginary objects of worship apart from God. The teachings of the Qur'an are strikingly beautiful:
وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ فَیَسُبُّوا اللّٰہَ عَدۡوًۢا بِغَیۡرِ عِلۡمٍ وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ فَیَسُبُّوا اللّٰہَ عَدۡوًۢا بِغَیۡرِ عِلۡمٍ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ زَیَّنَّا لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ عَمَلَہُمۡ ۪ ثُمَّ اِلٰی رَبِّہِمۡ مَّرۡجِعُہُمۡ فَیُنَبِّئُہُمۡ فَیُنَبِّئُہُمۡ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ
"Do not insult those whom they invoke instead of Allah, lest they, out of spite, insult Allah in their ignorance. Thus did We make every people consider their deeds righteous. But then they will return to their Lord, and He will inform them of what they have done". (Q. 6: Al An'am: 109)
This verse is addressed to Muslims. They are strictly forbidden to blaspheme against the idols and other imaginary gods of the idolaters. It is pointed out that if they do so, the others, out of revenge, may give free rein to blasphemy against God. In this hypothetical discussion of blasphemy against God and idols, on equal terms, no physical punishment is prescribed in any case.
The moral teaching of this precept possesses a profound wisdom. If one commits a crime against the spiritual sensibilities of another, the aggrieved party has the right to repay him in the same coin, irrespective of the nature of his beliefs and whether he is right or wrong. Retaliation on different terms is not permitted. It can be concluded from this that spiritual offence is to be avenged by spiritual means, just as physical offence is avenged by physical measures, albeit without transgression.
(lpbD) - Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
(as) - Peace be upon him.
(To be continued in the next installment elaborating on other points about blasphemy according to the Holy Qur'an).