CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFRELIGIOUS BELIEF

According to Islam, every child is born with a good According to Islam, every child is born with a good nature (fitrah).nature (fitrah). Refer to 91: 1-10Refer to 91: 1-10““And by the soul and He who purified it! Then He inspired And by the soul and He who purified it! Then He inspired to it (the ability to understand) what is good for it and what to it (the ability to understand) what is good for it and what is evil for it. Successful is he who purifies his soul and is evil for it. Successful is he who purifies his soul and failure is he who corrupts it”.failure is he who corrupts it”.The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “ every child is born with the The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “ every child is born with the believing nature (fitrah), it is his parents who make him believing nature (fitrah), it is his parents who make him Jew or a Christian”.Jew or a Christian”.From Islamic point of view, faith in God is ingrained in From Islamic point of view, faith in God is ingrained in human nature. It is only the parents and the society that human nature. It is only the parents and the society that corrupt the soul and divert it from the right path.corrupt the soul and divert it from the right path.

Besides fitrah, Allah has provided us with various Besides fitrah, Allah has provided us with various means to know Him and to believe in Him. He sent means to know Him and to believe in Him. He sent prophets, books, and above all He created thousands of prophets, books, and above all He created thousands of signs in the universe which reminds us of Him.signs in the universe which reminds us of Him.

Can we force non-Muslims to believe in Islam???Can we force non-Muslims to believe in Islam??? Forcing people to believe in our religion or to adopt its Forcing people to believe in our religion or to adopt its

forms of belief is completely contradict to the essence forms of belief is completely contradict to the essence and spirit of Islam.and spirit of Islam.

According to Islam, true faith is only possible with According to Islam, true faith is only possible with freewill, freedom of conscience, and commitment. freewill, freedom of conscience, and commitment. These would be meaningless if induced by force.These would be meaningless if induced by force.

Muslims can call, invite or perform da’wah with Muslims can call, invite or perform da’wah with specific manners, not by means of force.specific manners, not by means of force.

We are living in the multi religious/ cultural world, We are living in the multi religious/ cultural world, therefore, we need to be tolerant.therefore, we need to be tolerant.

Islam is a religion which provides and guarantees Islam is a religion which provides and guarantees freedom of thought.freedom of thought.

It forbids tension, disputes, slander, and even negative It forbids tension, disputes, slander, and even negative thinking among people.thinking among people.

It strongly opposed to terrorism and all acts of It strongly opposed to terrorism and all acts of violence. violence.

In the history of Islam, there was no a single case where a In the history of Islam, there was no a single case where a nation or even an individual person was forced to accept nation or even an individual person was forced to accept Islam under compulsion.Islam under compulsion.

Upon migration to Madinah, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) had Upon migration to Madinah, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) had encouraged cooperation and solidarity among all habitants encouraged cooperation and solidarity among all habitants of Madinah which comprised Muslims, Jews, Christians of Madinah which comprised Muslims, Jews, Christians and others. and others.

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) had done the agreement of Madinah The Prophet (p.b.u.h) had done the agreement of Madinah Constitution, which ensured a complete freedom Constitution, which ensured a complete freedom (including freedom of worship), equality, and justice for (including freedom of worship), equality, and justice for all. all.

In another incident, the Christian leaders and learned men In another incident, the Christian leaders and learned men from Najran had an instance debate with the Prophet from Najran had an instance debate with the Prophet (p.b.u.h) about Islam’s views towards Christianity during (p.b.u.h) about Islam’s views towards Christianity during the early Madinah period.the early Madinah period.

When they satisfied with the explanation given by the When they satisfied with the explanation given by the Prophet (p.b.u.h), they concluded a treaty. Prophet (p.b.u.h), they concluded a treaty.

In the treaty, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) pledged to protect In the treaty, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) pledged to protect their religious rights and to preserve their worship their religious rights and to preserve their worship places provided they too had to respect to Islam and places provided they too had to respect to Islam and Islamic state.Islamic state.

Since the time of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) until now, Since the time of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) until now, Muslims always brought a method of freedom and Muslims always brought a method of freedom and tolerance.tolerance.

Within multi national/religious society, Islam Within multi national/religious society, Islam guarantees that all ethnic and religious groups have guarantees that all ethnic and religious groups have been free to live according to their own religions and been free to live according to their own religions and their own rules.their own rules.

The freedom of religious belief is only intended for a The freedom of religious belief is only intended for a person or society who is outside the fold of Islam- non-person or society who is outside the fold of Islam- non-Muslims.Muslims.

If a person is a Muslim, he is NOT allowed to apostate.If a person is a Muslim, he is NOT allowed to apostate. Islam does not allow apostasy or irtidad because it is Islam does not allow apostasy or irtidad because it is

equal to treason. equal to treason. In Islam, the concept of treason is not only limited to In Islam, the concept of treason is not only limited to

political and military affairs, but also has a spiritual political and military affairs, but also has a spiritual and cultural dimension to it.and cultural dimension to it.

Open rejection of the fundamental beliefs of Islam by a Open rejection of the fundamental beliefs of Islam by a Muslim is an act of treason.Muslim is an act of treason.

Even the terms used by the shari’ah for apostates give Even the terms used by the shari’ah for apostates give the idea of treason.the idea of treason.

Apostate (murtad) can be divided into two types:Apostate (murtad) can be divided into two types:i) i) Murtad FitriMurtad Fitri

- A person who was born from Muslim parent, and then he rejects - A person who was born from Muslim parent, and then he rejects Islam.Islam.

- Fitri means nature or natural. Fitri means nature or natural. - The term murtad fitri implies a person has apostate from his The term murtad fitri implies a person has apostate from his

nature, the nature of believing in God.nature, the nature of believing in God.ii) Murtad Milliii) Murtad Milli

- A person who converted to Islam and then later on he rejects - A person who converted to Islam and then later on he rejects Islam. Islam.

- Milli is from millat which means community.Milli is from millat which means community.- The term murtad milli implies that the person has apostate from The term murtad milli implies that the person has apostate from

his Muslim community.his Muslim community. In the first case, the apostasy is like the treason against God In the first case, the apostasy is like the treason against God

whereas the second case is like the treason against the Muslim whereas the second case is like the treason against the Muslim community.community.

In conclusion, the concept of freedom of religious belief In conclusion, the concept of freedom of religious belief is only to non-Muslims.is only to non-Muslims.