By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Friday, August 24, 2018
In The Name Of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
All praises be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his Family and Companions.
Dear Brothers and Sisters! Know that suppression and repression are not acceptable according to the teachings of Islam and Islamic law based on the Noble Quran, and Sunnah maintains and upholds the right to freedom of expression but restricts it when it results in hampering the cause of unearthing truth, even where speech is offensive and hurtful. The Noble Quran teaches that one should express oneself through gentleness, courtesy, calmness, and discreetly through the concepts of Hisbah and Nasihah. The Quran maintains and upholds the right to freedom of religion, speech, and expression when done in a decent and right way.
Therefore freedom of speech and expression is acknowledged in Islamic legal theory and is a component of its incredibly high ethical base. The objective of speech according to Islamic philosophy is to build up love, tolerance, social harmony, unity and understanding among members in order to ensure a peaceful coexistence. Islam limits freedom of expression where it is blasphemous or creates social disorder.
Within the Quran, there is no text that forbids the freedom of expression, limits it to certain extents, or suppresses it by any means. On the contrary, the Quran encourages people to discuss matters openly, protest, accept ideas or reject them, and bring about all pretexts and evidences that might be available to contest Islamic teachings. The Quran puts no restrictions on the freedom of expression whatsoever, to the extent that even the devil (satan) is allowed to speak openly. The Quran says:
"[Allah] said: O Iblis [the devil], What prevents you from prostrating your self to one whom I have created with my hands (Adam)? Are you haughty? Or are you one of the high [and mighty] ones? [Iblis] said: I am better than him: you created me from fire, and him you created from clay. [Allah] said: Then get you out from here: For you are rejected, accursed. And my curse shall be on you till the Day of Judgment. [Iblis] said: O my Lord, give me then respite till the day the [dead] are raised. [Allah] said: Respite then is granted to you - till the Day of the Time Appointed. [Iblis] said: Then by your power, I will put them all in the wrong. Except your Servants amongst them, who sincere and purified [by your Grace]." [Quran, 3:79]
The Quran adds:
"[Allah] said: Get you down from this: it is not for you to be arrogant here: get out, for you are of the meanest [of creatures]. He said: Give me respite till the day they are raised up. [Allah] said: Be you among those who have respite. He said: Because you had thrown me out of the way, I will lie in wait for them on your straight way: Then will I assault them from before and behind them, from their right and their left: Nor will you find, in most of them, gratitude [for your mercies]."
Respected Brothers and Sisters! If Iblis, or Satan, is given the freedom to speak up and try to convince people with his views, then one can easily conclude that ordinary people have the freedom to do so in Islamic teachings. Ordinary people supposedly are not as strong or mighty as Iblis, and they pose a modest danger to the system or the regime compared with the danger Iblis might pose.
The Quran does not ask Muslims to suppress nonbelievers and non-Muslims, but to bring them to open discussions and debate, and let everybody bring out his or her pretext and proofs. Everybody should have the chance to show the evidence he or she has without any kind of intimidation or fear. The Quran asserts this in Surah Ali Imran.
Islam gives everyone the right to exercise freedom of expression as long as they do not intrude upon the freedom and dignity of other people. There is no place for the propagation of evil and wickedness in Islam. It does not grant anybody the right to use abusive or offensive language in the name of criticism and freedom of speech.
The Quran does not force people to adopt Islam, oblige them to do so, or punish them if they do not. Islam does not force anyone: one has the freedom to believe or not, and faith remains one’s choice. The freedom to form opinions is a unique opportunity in terms of freedom. The Quran brings it out because those who do not have enough information or data about a particular issue cannot form an educated opinion. One might make an opinion even with a shortage of information, but that would not be helpful in reaching the right decision about a certain matter. Islam is assertive in its teachings on decision-making because faults and mistakes are very costly in the life of individuals and for the community. That is why research and precision are essential in providing the necessary data required by rational and intelligent decision makers.
Dear Respected Brothers and Sisters! Briefly the rights of the individual are as follows:
1. To live safely since taking a life is prohibited unless there is some legal reason. Allah says:
"...and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to the law…)." [Quran, 6:151]
2. The right to believe or worship as one deserves. In simple words, non-Muslims living in legal Islamic state should not be forced to convert to Islam, but they are to abide by the Shari'ah rulings in general and pay Jizyah. Allah says:
"There is no compulsion in religion..." [Quran, 2:256]
3. The right to live safely concerning his wealth, blood and honour. In the Prophetic Hadith:
"It is unlawful to shed the blood of one another, to take the fortune of one another or to attempt the honour of one another." [Ibn Majah]
Another Hadith reads:
"All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith: his blood, his property and his honour." [Muslim]
4. Freedom of speech and expression within Shari'ah boundaries.
5. The right to give advice to the leaders and to hold them responsible for their actions. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
"The basis of religion is good council and sincerity." The Companions asked: To whom? The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, to Muslim leaders and their masses." [Muslim]
6. The right to work and earn lawfully.
7. The right to travel.
8. The right to posses property.
9. The right to association.
The rights of the community over the individual are briefly stated as follows:
1. The right to expect the individual cooperation in good. Allah says:
"...Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety)..." [Quran, 5:2]
2. The individual is expected to support and recommend other individuals of the society to do according to the Truth. Allah says:
"...and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf ) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al- Munkar which Allah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and injuries which one may encounter in Allah's cause during preaching His religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad, etc.)." [Quran, 103:3]
3. To respect others and behave towards them according to their rank and position in society. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever does not show mercy towards the young and honour the right of the old is not of us." [Muslims]
4. To enjoin and promote what is right and forbid what is wrong. Allah the Most High says:
"The believers, men and women, are Auliyah (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); ..." [Quran, 9:71]
5. Individuals must treat others with justice. Allah the Almighty says:
"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses..." [Quran, 5:8]
* Equality In Islam
Dear Brothers and Sisters! One basic element in the value system of Islam is the principle of equality or equity.This value of equality is not to be mistaken for or confused with identicalness or stereotype. Islam teaches that in the sight of Allah Almighty, all people are equal, but they are not necessarily identical. There are differences of abilities, potentials, ambitions, knowledge, wealth and so on.
The limitations in these examples are natural. The social limitations are those imposed by society as a result of experience and practice; in the final analysis, they are intellectual attitudes related to the previously mentioned traits. There is, for instance, the established difference between the ignorant and the learned. No one would assign major responsibilities that are crucial to the Ummah or Nation to an ignorant person.
Yet, none of these differences can by themselves, establish the status of superiority of one man or race over another. The stock of man, the colour of his skin, the amount of wealth he has and the degree of prestige he enjoys have no bearing on the character and personality of the individual as far as Allah is concerned. The only distinction, which Allah recognises is the distinction in piety; the only criterion which Allah applies, is the criterion of goodness and spiritual excellence. In the Noble Quran, Allah the Almighty says:
"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Indeed the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." [Quran, 49:13]
This is to assert that in Islam, no nation is created to be above other nations or to rise above them. Man's worth in the eyes of men and in the eyes of Allah is determined by the good he does, and by his obedience to Allah.
The differences of race, tribe, colour, region or social status are only incidental. They do not affect the true stature of man in the sight of Allah. Again, the value of equality is not simply a matter of constitutional rights or the agreement of noblemen or elite or condescending charity. It is an article of faith, which the Muslim takes seriously and to which he must adhere sincerely. The foundations of this Islamic value of equality are deeply rooted in the structure of Islam. It stems from basic principles such as the following:
1. All men are created by One and the Same Eternal Allah/God, the Supreme Lord of all.
2. All mankind belong to the human race and share equally in the common parentage of Adam, may Allah exalt his mention, and Eve (Hauwa).
3. Allah is Just and Kind to all His creatures. He is not partial to any race, age or religion. The whole Universe is His Dominion and all people are His creatures.
4. All people are born equal, in the sense that no one brings any possession with him; and they die equal in the sense that they take back nothing of their worldly belongings.
5. Allah judges every person on the basis of his own merits and according to his own deeds.
6. Allah has conferred on man, a title of honour and dignity.
Such are some of the principles behind the value of equality in Islam. When this concept is fully utilised, it will leave no place for prejudice or persecutions. And when this Divine ordinance is fully implemented, there will be no room for oppression or suppression. Concepts of chosen and gentile peoples, words such as ‘privileged’ and ‘condemned’ races, expressions such as “social castes” and “citizens” or "elites and ordinary people" will all become meaningless and obsolete.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said:
"O mankind, your Lord is One and your father (Adam) is one. You all descended from Adam, and Adam was created from earth. He is most honoured among you in the sight of Allah who is most upright. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, no coloured person to a white person, or a white person to a coloured person except by Taqwa (piety)." [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]
In another narration, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was asked:
"Who among men is most favoured by Allah?' He, replied: "A man who does the most good to people." [At-Tabarani]
Therefore, it would be unrealistic to assert the absolute equality of human beings, although humans are basically equal in rights, duties and accountability, and there is some degree of similarity in physical and mental traits, which enables them to understand and apply rules and laws. At the same time, it is obvious that there is a natural diversity among human beings in terms of traits and talents; therefore there will be limitations in natural, social and political positions. Some of the limitations are temporary, some permanent; some are infrequent, some frequent. However, a limitation is specific to a particular situation. It may not be generalized to inequality in other rights. A person who is morally upright is not equal to a crook in terms of morality, but they may be equal otherwise. Nor is an intelligent person equal to a dull one, but they are equal in other spheres. In the same way, a woman is not identical to man in her traits, gifts and abilities.
Respected Servants of Allah! Islam came to free people, and there are strong evidences in the Quran that people are rational, responsible, and naturally capable of making choices. They are responsible to the extent that they are free, and they are creative to the extent that they are free and responsible. The advancement of humanity is tied with freedom, and the Quran assures that freedom provided the wheels of taking off.
Freedom of expression and speech in the holy Quran is natural, and it supersedes any earthly laws and instructions. Freedom in the Quran means the unity of the objective and the subjective, the social and the natural, and the individual and the plural. The teachings in the Quran are in harmony with natural innate powers, and lead finally to self-fulfillment both on the individual and social level. The freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights and functions as one of the most important benchmarks for any civilised society. Freedom of expression as human rights is considered one of the consequences for free political order.
The Quran is the uncontested basic and prime source of Islamic teaching without suppression or limits the fundamental rights of any Muslim. Thus, the Quran and Sunnah encourages Muslims to discuss matters openly, protest, accept ideas or reject them, and gives all pretexts and evidences that may be available to contest Islamic teachings. The privilege of free expression and the sharing of information is a basic human right, and it is one that has never been more vital than it is today. Our ability to express ourselves freely, within the confines of moral restraint, is an important aspect of our human identity. Throughout the world, citizens can and should promote freedom of expression as well as politics, in order to help to guarantee these inalienable rights for people in every nation - both for now and into the future.
Respected Brothers and Sisters! I ask Allah to assist us in living by the Quran and Sunnah. And I pray that He lets us recognise the truth for what it is and helps us to follow it, and that He lets us see falsehood for what it is and helps us to avoid it.
O Allah! Guide us and protect us from the causes of ignorance and destruction! Save us from the defects of ourselves! Cause the last of our deeds to be the best and most righteous! And forgive all of us.
Dear Brothers and Sisters! Anything good I have said in my today’s Sermon is from Allah the Almighty, and any mistakes are my own and we seek refuge in Allah from giving wrong advice and from all forms of calamities and fitnah. And I ask Allah’s forgiveness if I stepped beyond bounds in anything I said or I do.
May Allah be praised and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.
With this I conclude my Sermon and ask Allah, the Almighty and the Sublime, to forgive all of our sins. So seek his forgiveness, He is all forgiving and Most Merciful.
This Jumu’ah Khutbah (Friday Sermon) was prepared for delivery today Friday, Dhul-Hajj 13, 1439 AH (August 24, 2018), by Imam Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdurrahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusaumurtada@gmail.com or +2348038289761.