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
Main points from the lecture:
-Freedom in ‘Aqeedah means that the person feels that they
have the choice to believe in what they believe, whether it be within the
bounds of Islaamic ‘Aqeedah or even freedom of choice in the religion they
choose.
-Indeed this a great Fitnah, however the idea of freedom of
expression and its flawed application has now been brought into Islaam. To the
extent that the ideas of inter-faith, meaning that all religions are correct
and must cooperate with one another, has become common in places. This spreads
the idea that we are free to believe and worship what we please, and as “we
choose”! “We need not represent our religion or the truth anymore”, they claim.
“The reason for our belief in the religion we believe in is so that the truth is
made apparent, however its clear praiseworthy features can now be mixed with
falsehood and we are happy to do this”.
-They even try to bring arguments from the Quraan to support
such a philosophy.
Allaah, the Most High, says:
ۖ فَمَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِنْ وَمَنْ شَاءَ
فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ
“And
say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him
believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve” [al-Kahf 18: 29].
According to them,
this is clear proof that humans have the freedom to choose.
-They even deny parts of Islaam and its traditions in order
to uphold their beliefs. For instance, the Prophet said, “Whoever changes his
religion (i.e. apostates) then kill him” [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (6922)] but
they reject such narrations with the pretense that they are acting upon the
Aayah;
“There is no compulsion in the religion” [al-Baqarah 2: 256]
-So clearly one can see that the religion, with these ideas,
is being totally stripped of its clarity and identity and the wisdom and
knowledge found within it is being absolved.
-Islaam's stance on ‘freedom of belief’ is quite clear; the
proofs have come in the Book, if you believe it is for your own selves and if
you disbelieve, then you are only harming yourself yet the truth and Islaam
will not be tarnished by your rejection of it.
“And let
not those grieve you (O Muhammad
) who rush with
haste to disbelieve; verily, not the least harm will they do to Allah. It is
Allah's Will to give them no portion in the Hereafter. For them there is a
great torment.” [aal ‘Imraan 3:176]
-Anyone who understands al-Islaam will not succumb to this despicable
form of misguidance. In fact, no one will ever find a scholar of al-Islaam,
past or present, permitting Muslims to leave Islaam and choose what they want
to act upon, leaving whatever it is they dislike. The consensus of the body of
the Muslims, from past to present, are all agreed that Islaam is the religion
of truth and none can Legislate it except Allaah. This is at-Tawheed and
Tawheed is al-Islaam.
“And
whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him,
and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [aal ‘Imraan 3:85]
-Humans are not free to choose the truth, rather the truth
is presented to them and they must accept it. If they refuse whilst the truth has
been explained; hellfire will be their eternal abode.
“Verily,
We have prepared for the disbelievers iron chains, iron collars, and a blazing
Fire.” [al-Insaan 76:4]
-As for the Aayah they quoted in support of their idea of ‘Freedom
of Belief’ in Surah al-Khaf then the meaning of the Aayah isn’t that the person
has freedom of choice. The opposite is true, as in the Arabic language this
form of rhetoric is clear and understood by the commentators of the Quraan. They
have stated that the wording of Takhyeer (or ‘choice’ found in the wording
whomsoever) refers to Taqdeer (giving magnitude to a topic) and Takhweef (rebuke).
Therefore, rather than interpreting the Aayah as meaning Takhyeer,
the scholars are agreed that is refers to Taqdeer and Takhweef. Others without this linguistic approach explained
the Aayah to mean that Allaah is free from needing anyone to worship Him. So it
means, ‘whether you believe or disbelieve, you will not benefit or harm Allaah
by the choice that you make’. Based on these two scholarly explanations, they
have no proof in using such texts to form their arguments.
-As for their claim that al-Islaam doesn’t compel belief and
we are free to choose our creed, then the Aayah quoted has also been explained
by the scholars which opposes their understanding. In fact, how many people use
this Aayah to change its meaning? The negation in the Aayah of Surah al-Baqarah
above can refer to something which is prohibited (Nahee) or impossibility (Nafee),
both are implications for the word ‘laa’ (i.e. no) in the Arabic language.
If we say that the ‘laa’ means Nahee, then this shows the
Power of Allaah. Thus the meaning of the Aayah would be, ‘that none can become
guided except through the Will of Allaah’.
Is we say that the ‘laa’ means Nafee, then this shows that
we are not permitted to force people to become Muslim, rather we (i.e. the
Muslim ruler) take from them Jizyah (a levy or a tax) if it is possible.
Both of these meanings do not permit interfaith or freedom
of religious choice. On the contrary, both Aayaat promote Islaam and entering
into it and not to exit it and leave the truth and despite what decision is
made. They reinforce the fact that Allaah will never be harmed or benefitted by
the choice you make.
[Adapted Hudood al-Huriyyah
al-‘Aamah wa al-Khaasah fee ash-Sharee’ah 42-49mins]
