Islam And Other Religions Respect and Demand Freedom of Expression - That Creates A Sense of Being
By
Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
8 June 2021
Human
Being Is Allowed By Every Religion to Think And React On Matters That Influence
His Life
Main
Points:
1. Suffocating
freedom of expression is strangulating out humanity from the human being.
2. The ban on
freedom of expression makes a human being an animal that is there to obey their
masters, even if it is at the cost of their lives.
3. Islamic
Advocates Freedom of Expression As A Basic Human Right.
4. Freedom of
Speech is Freedom to Question in Hinduism
-----
Freedom of
expression is the lifeline of human life. Suffocating freedom of expression is
strangulating out humanity from the human being. The ban on freedom of
expression makes a human being an animal that is there to obey their masters,
even if it is at the cost of their lives. But a human being is not an animal as
it possesses intellect and wisdom that creates understanding. The understanding
of things around create thoughts and their opinion. If the opinion of a person
is suppressed, it is not that the world will lose a worthwhile opinion only but
a wise person. A wise person is that who can think and make his opinion count.
If a wise person is forced to live without his opinion he will either be mental
dead roaming around like a zombie or will be a nuisance for society, losing his
sense of living.
Religions
are either divine driven or are commanded by the human being possessing extreme
intelligence and wisdom with a heart full of love and sympathy for the fellow
human being and the universe. In either of the cases, the human being is
allowed to think and react to the matters that influence his life. All the
faith traditions and religious groups, especially in India, advocate the
necessity and importance of freedom of expression for human life to let it
progress and grow in the realm of the diversity of opinion.
Islam
Advocates Freedom of Expression As A Basic Human Right
Mankind does
not like abusive and cursing words against his family and friends, because of
the respect one has for them in his heart and mind. When it comes to religion,
that is the pillar on which society stands, many among us do not allow others
freedom of speaking against their religion. Although it is a fact that if one
abuse it harms the abuser, not the abused. How come the respect and dignity of
the religious leaders will affect if somebody of no standing in the society
utters blasphemous words against him.
Karl Marx
had written, ‘religion is the opium of the people’. This saying of him
comes true only in the sense when humankind does not respect the freedom of
speech of others and loses his patience.
Blasphemy
in every religion and faith is considered the most hated speech. The followers
and believers of the religions and religious faith take it to be a heinous
crime. But Allah, the All knower does not take it as a crime and therefore
there is no punishment commanded by him. The noble Quran says:
Allah loveth not the utterance of harsh speech
save by one who hath been wronged. Allah is ever Hearer, Knower. (Ayah an-Nisa: 148) – Marmaduke
Pickthall
Freedom of
speech in Islam has been given one of the high pedestals for Allah the Most
Gracious has bestowed wisdom and intellect to the human being. The Holy Quran
says:
We have
created man in the best composition, (Surah At-Tin: 4) — Mufti Taqi Usmani
The human
being created by Allah has a best of composition than many of His creations.
One of those best compositions is certainty the power to think and establish
his own opinion by having discussions with the fellow human being. Allah the
Most Kind has even permitted Iblis, the devil to express his opinion. Iblis,
the devil discussed with Allah, the All-Knower as under:
[Allah] said, "O Iblees, what prevented
you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant
[then], or were you [already] among the haughty?" (Ayah Sad:75 ) - Sahih
International
One can
imagine how much respect freedom of speech has been given by Islam if Iblis,
the Shaitan, is permitted to speak and to try to convince the human being with
his viewpoints. When Allah permitted freedom of expression to Iblis is (ٱلرَّجِيْم) the Accursed, humankind a soul that possesses
conscience, knowledge, and free will certainly have the permission of freedom
of speech. Consider the following Ayat that talk of freedom of speech to the
human being is bestowed upon by Allah, the Most Merciful, himself:
....and you shall speak unto all people in a kindly
way....
(Al-Baqarah: 83) – Asad
..... and those who control anger and forgive
people. And Allah loves those who are good in their deeds, (Surah Ali 'Imran - 134) — Mufti
Taqi Usmani
Let there be no compulsion in religion, (Al-Baqarah - 256) - Dr Mustafa
Khattab
And had your Lord willed, those on earth would
have believed, all of them together. So, will you (O Muhammad SAW) then compel
mankind, until they become believers. (Surah Yunus: 99) - Mohsin Khan
Consider
the following Hadees:
Rasulullah (SAW) said: Remember, do not let
fear of man prevented with the right person to say if he knew. " (Narrated
by Ibn Majah, Hadith No 2191)
And the
following Hadees in which Prophet Muhammad Pbuh addresses the Muslims of a
Muslim dominated place:
A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand
other Muslims are safe (Muslim, No. 69).
Representational image | Photo:
Flickr
----
Freedom
of Speech Is Freedom to Question in Hinduism
Following
poem from the Rigveda Samhita, known as ‘Nasadiya Sukta’ is a live example of Hindu
religion giving importance to question to understand the creation of the
universe. Consider the following:
Nasadiya
Sukta (Hymn of non-Eternity, origin of universe):
There was neither non-existence nor existence
then;
Neither the realm of space nor the sky which is
beyond;
What stirred? Where? In whose protection?
There was neither death nor immortality then;
No distinguishing sign of night nor day;
That One breathed, windless, by its impulse;
Other than that there was nothing beyond.
Darkness there was at first, by darkness
hidden;
Without distinctive marks, this all was water;
That which, becoming, by the void, was covered;
That One by force of heat came into being;
Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it?
Whence was it produced? Whence is this
creation?
Gods came afterwards, with the creation of this
universe.
Who then knows whence it has arisen?
Whether God's will created it, or whether He
was mute;
Perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did
not;
Only He who is its overseer in highest heaven
knows,
Only He knows, or perhaps He does not know.
—Rigveda 10.129 (Abridged, Tr: Kramer / Christian)
Original Sanskrit: Rigveda 10.129 Wikisource;
Translation 1: Max Muller (1859). A History of
Ancient Sanskrit Literature. Williams and Norgate, London. pp. 559–565.
In fact in
Hinduism education is equated with enquiry, to question. In the following from
Bhagwat Gita we will find what Lord Krishna had to say about acquiring
knowledge:
Learn that knowledge from
those who have realised the truth
Approach them with
a spirit of sincere enquiry
and serve them with humility
They will impart that knowledge to you
(BG 4.34)
FLYNN GERAGHTY | Art Director
vidette_fmgerag@ilstu.edu
----
Misuse
of Freedom of Expression Creates Disharmony and Commotion
Today's world
is a perfect example of both freedoms of expression being throttled and being
abused. Anything that we overuse or are not allowed to use brings disharmony
and commotion in society. We must therefore be aware of the limits or freedom
of expression whether on social or religious platforms. We should not be
advocates at the end of anything that certainly becomes the reason for disquiet
and harms the society we live in.
Islam,
therefore, has warned human being of the misuse of freedom of expression. The Holy
Quran says:
.....And what can be beyond truth except error?
So how are you averted? ( Surah Yunus 10:31) - Sahih International
Necessary
restrictions on the freedom of expression are obligatory to maintain peace and
tranquillity and diversity of the society. This restriction does not harm
humanity rather provides it with an opportunity to understand its role in
social life.
The
followers of other religions like Christianity and religious faiths have
advocated in favour of freedom of expression and have acknowledged its value in
the value system of humanity. A humane society is one where the speeches are
not throttled rather given a place of respect to make the society liveable with
all its citizens having the freedom of expressing their opinions on every
matter of their concern and feel a part of it.
And
Allah knows the best.
---
Arman
Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/freedom-expression-religions-human-life/d/124952
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