The Issue of Blasphemy

of the Prophet, was in such a vulnerable state that it could not enforce punishment against blasphemers. By that reasoning, one could argue that Islam would be even weaker later. Therefore, a punishment that cannot be effectively implemented should be permanently abolished. Ibn Taymiyyah’s argument, in this regard, is deemed irrational and misguided. Based on such an unreasonable argument, some individuals today advocate for the killing of blasphemers, regardless of their religious affiliation, the government they live under, or the period they belong to. Not a Matter of Individual Rights Many incidents in the available record of the Prophet’s sayings demonstrate cases of blasphemy against him during his lifetime. However, he chose to forgive these individuals and did not pursue any legal actions against them. These incidents contradict the viewpoint of Ibn Taymiyyah and like-minded people. Ibn Taymiyyah, along with others like Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 1350 CE), argued that blasphemy against the Prophet constitutes an attack on his honour, thereby falling under the category of “rights of people” (Huququl Ibad). However, it is essential to note that this perspective is merely an opinion without clear evidence from the Quran or Hadith to support it. Without explicit proof from these sources, it cannot be classified as a matter of human rights or individual rights (Ibn Taymiyyah, As-Sarim al-Maslul, p. 219).