Islam is a sweeping revolution to liberate humanity from all forms of humiliation, degradation, and servitude in all its shapes and colors. Allah sent messengers and revealed scriptures to free all of humanity—not just Muslims—from all submission and surrender to anything other than truth and justice. This way, He granted all of mankind the freedom that had long been a dream and a hope throughout the centuries.
This stands in contrast to the misconception held by large masses of people, the majority of whom believe that Islam is a religion that fights against freedom, suppresses desires, imposes punishments, restricts people's lives, and spoils their livelihoods. But the reality and truth are that Islam was the pioneer of freedom in history, and the origin of liberty for all humanity.
Many in the East and West, both elite and common folk, claim that the French Revolution of 1789 was the cradle of freedoms in the entire world and that from France, the dawn of freedom for all humanity arose.
However, the established truth and undeniable reality is that Islam is the source of all freedoms in the world. From Islam, humanity learned freedom in its most beautiful forms, its most splendid colors, and its most complete types. It is important to emphasize again that freedom is an Islamic duty for all of humanity, not just for Muslims. In this study, we will address the most important types of freedom in Islam:
1. Religious Freedom:
Islam mandates complete freedom for every person to choose their faith and religion. Islam never has and never will accept that a religion be imposed on anyone by force or compulsion. Allah says: "And say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills—let him believe; and whoever wills—let him disbelieve.'" (Surah Al-Kahf: 29). He also says: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion; the right course has become clear from the wrong." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 256). And Allah states: "So would you compel the people in order that they become believers?" (Surah Yunus: 99).
There are numerous texts that affirm the freedom of belief, and they are consistent in both the Qur'an and the Sunnah, establishing that freedom is an Islamic duty for all of humanity. This was established more than a thousand years before human civilization even began to understand the concept of freedom. One of the fundamental principles in Islam is that true faith comes from certainty and conviction, not from imitation and following others. What has led people astray and into ruin is following the traditions of their forefathers, imitating their ancestors, and mimicking other nations. Allah says: "And when it is said to them, 'Follow what Allah has revealed,' they say, 'Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.' Even though Satan was inviting them to the punishment of the Blaze?" (Surah Luqman: 21).
Imam Muhammad Abduh says: "Imitation without reason is the way of the disbelievers, and a person is not truly a believer unless they understand their religion and recognize it themselves until they are convinced of it. If someone is raised to submit without understanding, and acts righteously without comprehension, they are not a true believer. The purpose of faith is not to tame a person into goodness like an animal, but rather to elevate their intellect and their soul with knowledge, so they do good because they understand it is beneficial and pleasing to Allah, and they avoid evil because they know its bad consequences and degree of harm."
Islam does not accept blind imitation and following in religion, so how could it accept compulsion in adopting a religion? How could anyone claim that Islam spread by the sword? How grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except lies. Islam came with freedom of religion, and it forbade anyone from compelling another to adopt any religion, even if it is Islam.
2. Political Freedom:
On the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal in the year 11 AH (June 7, 632 CE), Abu Bakr al-Siddiq assumed the Caliphate following the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Madinah. This marked the beginning of Islam and the Muslims guiding human civilization to a higher level, aiming to achieve wise governance founded on freedom, justice, consultation (shura), and accountability.
Political freedom in Islamic governance, much like in contemporary political thought, involves every individual in the state participating in the management of the country's affairs through free and fair elections. This includes electing free legislative bodies that select the government, monitor its actions, enact just laws, hold the government accountable, and even remove it from power if necessary.
Muslims achieved significant progress in political freedom, becoming a beacon of civilizational light for all humanity in this regard, long before America and Europe knew anything about good governance.
Political freedom in the Islamic state was fully realized. The four Rightly Guided Caliphs were chosen by the will of the Ummah, and the Ummah monitored and held the Caliph accountable. The Caliph himself was keen to ensure that the Ummah fulfilled its duties towards the Caliph or head of state. Upon assuming the Caliphate, Abu Bakr addressed the Ummah: "O people, I have been appointed over you, though I am not the best among you. If I do well, help me; and if I act wrongly, correct me. Truthfulness is honesty, and lying is treachery. The weak among you is strong in my eyes until I return to them their right, Allah willing. And the strong among you is weak in my eyes until I take from them what is right, Allah willing. Obey me as long as I obey Allah concerning you. If I disobey Him, then no obedience is due to me from you."
These words from the Caliph to his Ummah taught them their political rights, establishing a remarkable precedent in human civilization where the head of state was deeply concerned that his people monitor and hold him accountable.
Following in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the first Caliph, the second Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, continued to teach his Ummah and people their rights and freedoms. Umar said, "If you see any crookedness in me, correct it." A man stood up and said, "If we see crookedness in you, we will correct it with our swords." Umar rejoiced at the man's words and said, "Praise be to Allah who has placed in the Ummah of Umar someone who will correct Umar with the edge of the sword."
These religious and political freedoms that Islam imposed for Muslims and for all people do not impose a religion upon them, nor does it compel people to adopt a creed, even if it is Islam. Nor does it impose a ruler upon them without their consent, even if that ruler is Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), or Umar ibn al-Khattab, whose opinions were often confirmed by divine revelation.
These freedoms, among others, are one of the ways Islam contributes to global peace. What is even more remarkable is that Islam does not withhold its benefits from non-Muslims, as the modern Western civilization often does by governing its own countries with freedom while exporting dictatorship to the rest of the world and contributing to the creation of tyranny and coups.
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