Pages

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The Idea of 'Freedom of Religion or Belief' in Islaam (Part 1)

Shaykh Saaleh Sindee [May Allaah Preserve him]
Teacher in the Islaamic University, al-Madeenah an-Nabawiyyah
Lecture given at Jaami’ Imaam Turkee, ar-Riyaadh
29/10/1434

Definition: What is Freedom?

-The word freedom needs defining, because people differ in their understanding of it. There was a point in time where the Arab used freedom to mean ‘good manners’ but today the definition is extremely clouded, and the word is now being used by the pious and the wretched a like, with different intent. The word freedom is used to defend the truth and at the same time to promote falseness.

-Freedom is often used to promote the permitted following of peoples desires. The extravagant will say, “I am free to do as I please with me wealth”, and the homosexual will say, “I am free to do as I please with my sexuality[1]”, and so on. So we can see that this word is being used extensively to promote confusion and ambiguity.

-From the biggest types of Fitnah (tests and trials) that the idea of freedom creates is that the truth becomes evaded. Those who divert from the truth are quick to cry out that they are free and that they are merely expressing their right of freedom.

-From the biggest forms of corrupt freedom is the way of the communists, who claim that we are all equal and that humans have no need for a god. 

-From the Fitnah in contemporary times of freedom, that has trickled down to the common person, is that they claim there are free to do as they please. So Waajib and Haraam has no impact anymore because they are not bound to follow them in their idea of freedom.
So is it correct to state that humans are free to do as they please? They can opt to do or not do. They have no authority over them and there are no consequences for their actions? Is it correct to claim freedom whilst our desires dictate what is right from what is wrong? Does our freedom absolve us from responsibilities of our actions? If everyone was free, how would society survive?

-Much of the problems we face today and the lack of security and trustworthiness we see in society stems from the understanding and principles attached to the idea of freedom.

-In Islaam, there are two main (innovated) schools of thought on the matter of freedom. Firstly, we have the Mu’tazilah[2] who claim absolute freedom for the slave. They are free to do and think as they like as long as it does not contradict intellect, divine mercy and wisdom. So they express complete freedom, for humans and jinn alike, based on this condition.

-The second group claims that all freedom for the slave without any restriction (unlike the Mu’tazilah who restrict it to intellect, mercy and wisdom). By this they absolve all forms of value for the truth and the true religion. With this idea, there is no difference if one worships ar-Rahmaan, the true Lord, or a stone or an idol or even the Shaytaan himself. The slave, according to them, is allowed and permitted to do as they please without limits. In regards to good manners, they benchmark their manners in whatever brings benefit, whether Islaam encourages it or not.

END OF PART 1.





[1] Besides there being a strong correlation between homosexuality and diseases such as HIV and AIDS, scientific research connects a range of others diseases which effects those with this sexual orientation. Kazal. HL, Sohn. N, Carrasco. JI, Robilotti. JG, Delaney. WE in 1979 researched colonic and rectal trends of over two hundred gay males and discovered a clinic-pathological correlation, calling it Gay Bowel Syndrome. Others, such as Owen, WF. JR. in 1980 found traumatic problems in homosexual males. Whilst Ponseti. J, Siebner. HR, Kloppel. S, Wolff. S, Granert. O et al in 2007 found that homosexual men and women were deficient in white and grey matter respectively.  What this means is that they have a neurological deficiency in cell coordination, which could result in diseases such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s.  
[2] A deviant sect that bases its understanding and sourcing of al-Islaam on philosophy and intellect [See: al-Mawsoo’ah al-Muyassarah fee al-Adyaan wa al-Ahzaab al-Mu’aasrah (1/64)].    

No comments:

Post a Comment