The Method of Islam (3/5)

8- Islam and Freedom:

A. Freedom of Faith

In a country ruled by Muslim authorities, a non-Muslim is guaranteed his freedom of faith. He has the full choice, either to embrace Islam to deliver himself from disbelief and attain prosperity, or to stick to his religion, and hence, choose disbelief, distress, and torment in Hell-Fire. Such a choice provides a clear-cut evidence against the disbeliever on the Day of Judgment. Muslims are forbidden from obliging a non-Muslim to embrace Islam, but he should pay the tribute to Muslims readily and submissively, surrender to Islamic laws, and should not practice his polytheistic rituals openly.

Apostasy from Islam is a grievous crime punishable by death. One who commits apostasy from Islam rejects truth after he had known it, thus, he does not deserve life and loses the (Raison-d'etre) of his existence. But if his apostasy is due to a violation of one of the principles of Islam, he should repent and ask Allah for forgiveness, and behave in accordance with Islamic rules.

Violations leading to apostasy are of many forms:

1. Idolatry: - That is to worship others beside Allah, even if he considers those whom he associates with Allah to be intercessors and not gods (as a symbol of a pious man, or any other creature whom he thinks to be his intercessor to Allah). Islam considers one committing such acts to be an idolater or an apostate.

The likeness of those who commit idolatry under the name of intercession is as the likeness of a man who drinks wine after calling it by another name. Allah stated in the Qur’an:

“So worship Allah (Alone) by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake only. Surely the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allah only. And those who take Auliya (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): "We worship them, only that they may bring us near to Allah." Verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever…” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:2-3)

Allah also states:

“Such is Allah, your Lord, His is the kingdom And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the thin membrane over the date-stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. And none can inform you (O Muhammad [may Allah's peace be upon him]) like Him Who is the All-Knower (of everything).” (Surah Al-Fatir, 35:13-14)

2. The Muslim must charge idolaters, Jews, Christians, atheists and magicians with unbelief. He should charge also with unbelief those who worship false deities and take for law regulations different from those which Allah had revealed. A Muslim commits the grievous sin of unbelief if he does not accuse such men with unbelief.

3. Sorcery is a form of unbelief, especially when it includes grave idolatrous deviation. Therefore, whoever practices sorcery, or gives his consent to such action after knowing that it is atheism is an unbeliever.

4. Whoever believes that there is a law better than the law of Islam, or that there is a system better than that revealed to Muhammad is an unbeliever.

5. Whoever dislikes Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be on him, or abominates any of the rules of Islamic law is an unbeliever.

6. Whoever ridicules any of the precepts of Islam knowingly is an unbeliever.

7. Whoever longs for the defeat of Islam and abhors its victories is an unbeliever.

8. Whoever takes unbelievers as friends and gives them support knowingly with abrogation to Islamic rules is an unbeliever.

9. To believe that there are certain men authorized to violate Islamic laws and perform what is contrary to them is unbelief.

10. Whoever shuns Islamic faith or law after being reminded of it is an unbeliever.

11. To deny or reject any of the fundamentals of Islam is unbelief.

All these examples of deviation which lead to apostasy are supported by evidences from the Quran and prophetic traditions. We should beware of committing any of these deeds.

B. Islam confers freedom of opinion on Muslims on condition that it should not be used to violate Islamic precepts. Allah commanded the Muslim to stick to truth and say it wherever he may be heeding no censure of others. This is considered to be one of the highest ranks of fighting for the cause of Allah. The Muslim should also give good advice to Muslim rulers and admonish them to refrain themselves from all kinds of transgression. Allah ordered the Muslims to refute false opinions and restrain those who call people to it from committing this grievous sin.

Such a system based on respecting the opinions of others so long as their opinions are not violating the law of Allah is most magnanimous system. Opinions contrary to the laws of Allah result in nothing but corruption and falsehood, therefore these should not be communicated.

C. Individual liberty is guaranteed in Islam within the broad limits of Islamic laws. Both man and woman have the right to practice all kinds of transaction: i.e. contracts of sale, donation, waqf..... etc. As for marriage, both male and female have full liberty to select their spouse, but in exceptional cases, when a female agrees to marry a man who is not equal to her in religious rank (i.e. a man of bad reputation, or negligent of his religious duties such as prayer, fast.... etc), the female's father or the most close relative to her has the right to interfere and oppose the marriage with a view to protect her faith, honour and her family's interests. A female should not run about herself to complete marriage formalities, but her legal sponsor should do so on her behalf.

A contract for marriage is dependent on the consent of both the parties (the male and the female). Two witnesses, at least, should be present at the time of concluding the contract and should sign it as witnesses.

According to Islam, man and whatever he own belong to Allah. Therefore, all human behavior should be within the limits explained by the commandments of Allah. Islam permits no transgression or extravagance; the laws of Allah are not only a guidance to His bondsmen, but they are also a source of mercy on them. To protect the Muslim society from all kinds of abuses and deviations, Islam has strictly forbidden adultery, fornication, sodomy, suicide and all forms of lewdness.

Allah ordained Muslims to shave off their moustaches, trim their nails, pluck out their armpits and pubic hair and to circumcise males.

Muslims are enjoined not to imitate the behavior of Allah's enemies, or commit their indecencies. Behaviour imitation will affect the Muslim's attitudes, and may create in him a sensation of sympathy towards his enemy's indecent mode of life. Allah wants the Muslim to be purged from all vices, and thus be a proper source for original Islamic thought, independent of all forms of man-made opinions, ideas, or modes of behaviour. The Muslim should be a model for others in both faith and behaviour, he should not be an imitator and dependent on others.

In the field of industries and technical knowledge useful to mankind, Islam commands the Muslim to strive and acquire this knowledge and experience even from non-Muslims. Knowledge belongs to Allah, and He is the Instructor who provides man with all forms of knowledge.

The Holy Qur’an states:

“He has taught man that which he knew not.” (Surah Al-Alaq, 96:5)

This promptness to acquire useful knowledge and science is the highest rank of reform and admonition for mankind in order to enable man to make use of his liberty, preserve his honor and dignity and protect himself against evil.

(Continued)