FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND DISSENT IN ISLAM

matter: Umar has no right to set an upper limit to the dowers.” To back up her contention, she loudly recited this verse of the Quran: If you decide to replace one wife with another, do not take any part of her dower back: even if you have given her a treasure. (4: 20) Umar’s immediate reaction on hearing this was to say: “A woman has quarreled with Umar and has bested him.” According to another account, Umar said: “May God forgive me, everyone knows better than Umar, even this old lady.” (Tirmidhi/Ahmad) With the advent of Islam in the seventh century, it was declared for the benefit of mankind that all greatness was the exclusive prerogative of God, and that in the eyes of God, all human beings were equal. The Prophet Muhammad declared not once, but on many occasions that all were alike, all were brothers. The Prophet not only stated the truth but also made it a reality by bringing about a total revolution based on the idea of human equality. On achieving political domination in Arabia, he was able to put this theory into practice in his capacity as ruler of a state. In this way, Islam put an end to discrimination between human beings on the basis of race, colour, status, etc. People were assigned a high or low status according only to their moral worth. o Islam put an end to discrimination between human beings on the basis of race, colour, status, etc. People were assigned a high or low status according only to their moral worth. USA Centre for Peace and Spirituality 2665 Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 kkaleemuddin@gmail.com