INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IN ISLAM — Discover God Freely

The proper stand in matters of disagreement and criticism is for people to shed their unnecessary sensitivity in this matter, instead of attempting to put a stop to the act of criticism and disagreement itself. This is the demand of Islam as well as the demand of nature. The attribute of a true believer described in the Hadith (words and sayings of Prophet) is: ‘Whenever a truth is presented to them, they accept it.’ (Musnad Ahmad) Here by truth is meant a matter of truth. In other words a believer is one who has a full capacity of accepting truth. Whenever a truth is brought before him, whenever any error of his is pointed out to him, no complex or consideration comes in the way of his accepting the truth. The highest point of this attribute is that man is always prepared or rather he eagerly awaits for someone to point out to him any shortcoming of his so that he may immediately accept it. He is almost greedy for his own reform and rectification. It is this attribute of a believer which has been expressed by Umar Faruq (companion of the prophet) in these words: ‘May God bless the man who sends me the gift of my own shortcoming.’ Freedom of speech provides that conducive atmosphere in which great virtues flourish. The fact is that the acceptance of the truth is the greatest act of worship. It is an act for which man has to make the greatest of sacrifice. Such a great sacrifice makes this act the greatest form of worship. This is the sacrifice of one’s prestige; of losing one’s greatness. To lose one’s sense of greatness for the sake of truth is an occasion when man earns his entry into heaven by paying its price. When does one receive the blessing of having performed this great form of worship? This opportunity comes to man only when there is full freedom of speech. When one can criticise another without any obstacle. When such an atmosphere prevails in society, people can speak freely and frankly and the people can listen to them without raising any objection. Freedom of speech provides that conducive atmosphere in which great virtues flourish. It is in such an atmosphere that situations are created when a person is given the credit of the pronouncement of truth and another rewarded for the acceptance of the truth. o