Freedom of Thought and Islam: Creed, Boundaries, and the Shar‘ī Perspective
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
To what extent is the concept of “freedom of thought” valid in Islam? We frequently hear and read the phrase “freedom of thought,” which appears to invite towards “freedom of belief.” What is your opinion on this?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Our position regarding this matter is as follows:
❀ Whoever believes that man possesses complete freedom in matters of belief, and that he may adopt whichever religion he wishes, such a person is a disbeliever (kāfir).
❀ Anyone who holds the view that adopting a religion other than the religion of Muḥammad ﷺ is permissible, then he commits disbelief in Allah عزوجل.
❀ Such a person must be called to repentance. If he repents, that is acceptable; otherwise, it becomes obligatory to carry out the death penalty.
❀ Divine religions (adyān) are not man-made philosophies or human ideologies; rather, they are revelations from Allah ﷻ.
❀ Allah ﷻ revealed these religions to His messengers so that mankind may live in accordance with them.
❀ Referring to a religion as a “thought” or “idea” is severely problematic and unacceptable because:
◈ This suggests that Islam is merely one of many ideologies, and
◈ That Christianity and Judaism are also just philosophies,
while in reality, religions are not earthly ideologies but divine guidance from the heavens.
❀ Heavenly religions were revealed by Allah ﷻ, and it is obligatory upon mankind to firmly believe that:
◈ These religions are based on divine revelation (waḥy).
◈ They were revealed so that people may worship Allah through them.
❀ Therefore, referring to divine religions as mere “thoughts” or “ideologies” is a false representation.
(It should also be noted that Judaism and Christianity have deviated from their original divine forms, and are no longer upon true Islam. Hence, only the religion of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ — Islam — remains the true religion and is obligatory upon all humanity to follow.)
❀ Whoever holds the belief that every person has the freedom to adopt any religion they wish, such a person is a disbeliever (kāfir).
❀ This belief contradicts the clear verses of the Qur’an, such as:
﴿وَمَن يَبتَغِ غَيرَ الإِسلـمِ دينًا فَلَن يُقبَلَ مِنهُ﴾
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him.”
(Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān: 85)
﴿إِنَّ الدّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسلـمُ﴾
“Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam.”
(Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān: 19)
❀ Hence, no one is permitted to hold the belief that adopting any religion other than Islam is permissible.
❀ According to the scholars, whoever believes this has committed disbelief and has exited the fold of Islam.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
This is what I hold to be correct. And Allah knows best what is right.
Taken from: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām❖ The Shar‘ī Status of the Concept of “Freedom of Thought”
❖ Question:
To what extent is the concept of “freedom of thought” valid in Islam? We frequently hear and read the phrase “freedom of thought,” which appears to invite towards “freedom of belief.” What is your opinion on this?
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Our position regarding this matter is as follows:
❖ Belief in Absolute Freedom of Religion Is Disbelief (Kufr)
❀ Whoever believes that man possesses complete freedom in matters of belief, and that he may adopt whichever religion he wishes, such a person is a disbeliever (kāfir).
❀ Anyone who holds the view that adopting a religion other than the religion of Muḥammad ﷺ is permissible, then he commits disbelief in Allah عزوجل.
❀ Such a person must be called to repentance. If he repents, that is acceptable; otherwise, it becomes obligatory to carry out the death penalty.
❖ Mislabeling Divine Religions as “Ideas” Is Incorrect
❀ Divine religions (adyān) are not man-made philosophies or human ideologies; rather, they are revelations from Allah ﷻ.
❀ Allah ﷻ revealed these religions to His messengers so that mankind may live in accordance with them.
❀ Referring to a religion as a “thought” or “idea” is severely problematic and unacceptable because:
◈ This suggests that Islam is merely one of many ideologies, and
◈ That Christianity and Judaism are also just philosophies,
while in reality, religions are not earthly ideologies but divine guidance from the heavens.
❖ The True Nature of Divine Religions
❀ Heavenly religions were revealed by Allah ﷻ, and it is obligatory upon mankind to firmly believe that:
◈ These religions are based on divine revelation (waḥy).
◈ They were revealed so that people may worship Allah through them.
❀ Therefore, referring to divine religions as mere “thoughts” or “ideologies” is a false representation.
(It should also be noted that Judaism and Christianity have deviated from their original divine forms, and are no longer upon true Islam. Hence, only the religion of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ — Islam — remains the true religion and is obligatory upon all humanity to follow.)
❖ Summary of the Ruling:
❀ Whoever holds the belief that every person has the freedom to adopt any religion they wish, such a person is a disbeliever (kāfir).
❀ This belief contradicts the clear verses of the Qur’an, such as:
﴿وَمَن يَبتَغِ غَيرَ الإِسلـمِ دينًا فَلَن يُقبَلَ مِنهُ﴾
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him.”
(Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān: 85)
﴿إِنَّ الدّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسلـمُ﴾
“Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam.”
(Sūrat Āl ‘Imrān: 19)
❀ Hence, no one is permitted to hold the belief that adopting any religion other than Islam is permissible.
❀ According to the scholars, whoever believes this has committed disbelief and has exited the fold of Islam.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
This is what I hold to be correct. And Allah knows best what is right.
