Islam Defends Freedom of Thought
Democracy and laicism dominate the essence of Islam.
That is because laicism is a system that eliminates hypocrisy. In other
words, someone can openly and honestly reveal that he is not religious, can
say that he is an atheist, or if he is a member of another religion or holds
different beliefs he can say that, too. It is laicism that makes this possible,
and that is something that already exists in Islam. Democracy is also
something existing within Islam. So if democracy wishes to learn anything, it must learn it from Islam. In other words, democracy stems from Islam. As
you know, Islam is a very old faith. It comes from the Prophet Adam (as).
Democracy is something, an idea, that appeared subsequently. It again
stems from Islam. So both democracy and laicism already exist in Islam.
Culture, knowledge and love are the greatest weapons. The moral values
of Islam will rule the world through culture, knowledge and love, and is
doing so now; this is continuing now. People see that, but are not yet that
consciously aware of it. But this is going ahead, step by step, and actually at
a fast pace.
Islam is a religion which provides and guarantees freedom of ideas,
thought and life. It has issued commands to prevent and forbid tension,
disputes, slander and even negative thinking among people. In the same way
terrorism and all acts of violence are determinedly prohibited in Islam, even
the slightest ideological pressure to be put on them is also forbidden:
There is no compulsion in religion. True guidance has become clearly
distinct from error. (Surat al-Baqara, 256)
So remind them! You are only a reminder. You are not in control of
them. (Surat al-Ghashiyya, 21-22)
Forcing people to believe in a religion or to adopt its forms of belief is
completely contrary to the essence and spirit of Islamic morality. According to
Islam, true faith is only possible with free will and freedom of conscience. Of
course, Muslims can advise and encourage each other about the features of
Qur'anic morality. All believers are charged with explaining Qur'anic morality
to people in the nicest manner possible. They will explain the beauties of
religion in the light of the verse, "Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom
and fair admonition..." (Surat an-Nahl, 125), however, they must also bear in
mind the verse, "You are not responsible for their guidance, but Allah guides
whoever He wills." (Surat al-Baqara, 272)
ISLAMIC MORALITY: THE SOURCE OF PEACE AND SECURITY
In 1492, the Jews who refused to convert were exiled from Spain by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
(above). The Jews were accepted by the Ottoman Empire, a haven of Islamic justice and compassion.
They will never resort to compulsion, nor any kind of physical or
psychological pressure. Neither will they use any worldly privilege to turn
someone towards religion. When they receive a negative response to what they
say, Muslims will reply along the lines of: "To you your religion, and to me,
mine" (Surat al-Kafirun, 6)
The world we live in contains societies with all kinds of beliefs: Christian,
Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, deist and even pagan. Muslims living in such
world must be compassionate towards all beliefs they come up against, no
matter what they may be, and behave forgivingly, justly and humanely. This
responsibility placed on believers is to invite people to the beauty of the
religion of Allah by means of peace and compassion. The decision whether or
not to implement these truths, whether or not to believe, lies with the other
party. Forcing that person to believe, or trying to impose anything on him, is a
violation of Qur'anic morality. In fact, Allah issues a reminder to believers in
the Qur'an:
If your Lord had willed, all the people on the earth would have
believed. Do you think you can force people to be believers? (Surah
Yunus, 99)
We know best what they say and you [O Muhammad] are not a
compeller over them. But warn by the Qur'an whoever fears My
warning. (Surah Qaf, 45)
A model of society in which people are forced to worship is completely
contradictory to Islamic morality. Belief and worship should be directed to
Allah by the free will of the individual. If a system imposes belief and
worship on people, then they will act as if they are religious out of fear of that
system. This will mean the encouragement of hypocrisy and no Muslim would
approve that. From the point of view of Islamic morality, what really counts is
that religion should be lived for Allah's good pleasure in an environment
where peoples' consciences are totally free.
The history of Islam is full of the compassionate and understanding
practices of Muslim rulers who have respected all religions and built religious
freedom with their own hands.