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 Freedom of Expression in Islam

By. Dr. Amir Parviz Parsa

 INTRODUCTION:
Islam is sometimes criticized by its enemies to lack any regards for freedom of expression. What these critics do not realize is that only fundamental laws [such as Do not Kill, Do Not Steal, etc] are created by God, in the forms of commandments given to us through God’s Prophets. Muslims believe, rightfully, that such fundamental Divine laws should not be changed. But God has been gracious to tell His Prophet how to run the society of his time, and the times thereafter ─such as ours─ by allowing what is called Ijmaa’ [Consensus of the Jurisprudents and/or Unanimous view of the Knowledgeable Scholars on a given subject].

It is the purpose of this article to show that freedom of expression is not only existing in Islam, and tolerated, but also encouraged.

Evidence will be cited from various parts of the Glorious Quran which clearly show that freedom of expression is well-respected even by Allah (swt) for His creation. There will also be some brief reference to Islamic Literature, other than the Holy Quran, which will be cited as further evidence.

On Freedom of Expression:
  1. Verse 260 of Surah 2 of the Holy Quran says:

Think about this verse a little and ask yourself: Did God tolerate Abraham’s curiosity or not? Could not God tell Abraham, that the subject should be none of Abraham’s concern! And did He do so? Or, rather, did God graciously allow Abraham to be curious, and to speak freely, even giving him instructions on how to satisfy his curiosity [assure his heart] by a prescribed set of actions that Abraham was supposed to do?

The answer is obvious. And when God Almighty Himself allows this privilege, who are we, to take it away? Why can’t we adhere to the same Code of Graciousness that Allah (swt) showed and has granted to Abraham, to satisfy his curious mind and heart?

In yet another verse of the Quran we are told not to blindly follow everything; and if we do, our ears, our eyes, and our hearts would be responsible for it (Verse 36 of Surah 17):

  2. Verse 256 of Surah 2 of the Holy Quran says:

meaning that if anyone wants to go to a religion, be it Islam, or otherwise, he is to do it on his own free will, rather than by being compelled or coerced to do so. The reason is obvious: Further down in the same verse the reason is given to us!

So, if anyone says: There is no God but Allah, whether be a Muslim, a Christian, or Jew, he must have arrived at that freely, without coercion, and he is even free not to announce it as that is between him and God.

  3. The latter portion of Verse 107 of Surah 6 which is addressed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), His Own Messenger, says:

 In here, Allah (swt) is telling His Prophet that you have only a mission: to give My message to people, but you are not their
”Wakeel “ which in Arabic literally means a Protector, an attorney,  or Advocate. The clear implication is that the Prophet (pbuh), should recognize the limit of his responsibility and has no right to carry it too far by imposing it on them. He is only a Warner and Giver of Glad Tydings, but he has no right to impose the faith on any one.

  4. Verse 41 of Surah 39 tells us:

Again, the word used at the end of the quoted Ayah is “Wakeel” meaning: Advocate (or defender, attorney, or one responsible for them). Indeed, in five different verses in the Holy Quran God says: “No one carries the burdens of the actions of other individuals” (Laa Tazer wazeraton wezra okhra).

  5. Verse 70 of Surah 17 talks about an “Honored” status that Allah Taala has Graciously endowed His human beings:

Please recall that God Almighty, in His Wisdom, made animals, plants, birds, etc, all subjected orsubordinated to human beings. They constitute, at times, part of our food and diet. The Arabic word that God Almighty has utilized in this verse is “Fadh'lna” which literally means “We Preferred over” and then the adverb: “Tafdheelan” is added to emphasize it.  Indeed We preferred such a preference to allow human beings to have domination upon other creatures of us! Cited conversations between Prophets and God on the one hand, and between their followers on the other hand, clearly show their freedom of expressing their thoughts. More verses will be cited on this at a later point.

  6. Rumi, The Persian Poet [Molana Jalaleddin Rumi Molavi] relates an interesting but figurative story about God Almighty and a simple farmers.

The farmer was praying to God in his own simple language telling God allow me to wash your cloth, fix your scarf, clean your garment, bring you milk to drink, sacrifice for you my goats, and so forth, (as if he was talking with God, imagining God as a human being with human needs!) The shepherd had full devotion in his heart to be having the pleasure of conversing with God.

Moses heard the shepherd’s talks and thought of them to be disrespectful to God Almighty and considered what was uttered by the man to be blasphemous and disrespectful.

Moses lectured the shepherd on a proper method of talking to God and how to praise Him. The shepherd felt intensely sad and off he went to the desert ashamed as to why he had said what he had said, the way he had said it, and how belittled he felt because of his own stupidity, not recognized until Moses told him.

According to Rumi, revelation came to Moses, saying : Why did you turn Our servant away from Us, discouraging him sadly? Don’t you know that your mission is to gather human beings together with Me, rather than causing them to go away? Get up quickly, go after him, apologize to him, bring him back home, be kind to him, feed him, while you realize that We hear the supplication of everyone, no matter how they put it in words.

Indeed words do not matter too much to Me while I am aware of what is there in their hearts! Moses did so and offered his apology to the shepherd and to God Almighty also.

Rumi, (who was one of the great poets of then Persia now Iran), adds to the facts by saying that it is NOT the words, or the type of language one uses in his/her supplication; rather, it is the purity of the heart, mind, and soul, plus the degree of sincerity (Ikhlaas) and devotion which truly matters in one’s supplications.

An excellent lesson to be learned from this tale. God Almighty emphasizes to Moses that We are not looking at the manner of how one offers his supplication, but We look at their hearts and the shape of their sincerity when they utter what they say. Quite interesting! Isn’t it?

  7. Remember we have already established the fact that it is what is there in your hearts which matters, rather than how you say it, whether in beautiful language, or casual conversation manner, God hears it anyway. Verses 12 and 13 of Surah  67, tells us the following:

This same concept is repeated in other verses of the Holy Quran.

  8. In Verse 5 of Surah 12 of the Holy Quran when Joseph tells his father about his dream in which he had seen eleven stars plus the sun and the moon prostrating themselves to Joseph (pbuh), his father Jacob (pbuh), does not tell him don’t speak up at all! Rather, he advises Joseph:

  9. Verse 110 of Surah 17 says:

Again, note that it is NOT what you say, or how you say it, but what your intent is, and God is aware of the intentions and what is in people’s heart, regardless of the mode of language they use.

  10. Verse 88 of Surah 19 tells us, referring to some so-called Christians,

Note that God Almighty does not deny them the chance to say what they wish to say, or how they want to say it. He merely rejects it in verse 92 of the same Surah:

Note that God Himself respects freedom of expression.

  11. The names of Moses and Jesus are mentioned repeatedly in the Holy Quran, and when they are spoken of, their words freely uttered, without coercion, are also quoted. Look for example, at Verse 116 of Surah 5:

Or in Verse 118 of the same Surah:

Remember also that Prophet Jesus (pbuh), did not bar his disciples from wishing and wanting a Table of food (Maa'ida) set from heaven, and even prayed to get it from God for them, maybe to strengthen their faith, and he actually got it too.
Verse 112 and113 of Surah 5 say:

Is this not freedom for the disciples to freely express what they wanted of God Al-Mighty, without Jesus preventing them from expressing what they wanted?

  CONCLUSION: verses cited from the Holy Quran as mentioned above without a shadow of doubts demonstrate that Freedom of Expression does exist in Islam. The Founders of the U.S. Constitution included that in the document. If our behavior is such that we do NOT respect God’s commandments, that is one thing. But it is quite another thing to have been given God’s commandments and instructions and then for us human beings to neglect or ignore them. The latter is our fault.