❖ Summary
- In the Islamic discourse, servitude (ʿubūdiyyah) is considered a value, not freedom.
- Islam focuses on whether a person desires what Allah wants him to desire.
- The idea of freedom as a value is rejected in favor of obedience to Divine command.
- In contrast, Western thought treats freedom as an ultimate, self-standing value, which contradicts the concept of servitude.
- The true Islamic equivalent of the Western concept of freedom is "baghy" (rebellion or transgression) — since it seeks to free human will from Divine authority.
❖ Two Meanings of Freedom
1. Freedom as Ability (Freedom of Will):
In this sense, freedom refers to the capacity given to humans to choose or reject an action.
In Islamic theology, this relates to the classical debate of free will vs. determinism (jabr wa qadar).
Islam recognizes this freedom of ability, but only as a means — the purpose is to choose actions aligned with Allah’s will.
2. Freedom as a Value:
In Western thought, freedom is treated as an absolute value — it is not judged by any external standard.
An action is considered good if it increases personal freedom, regardless of its moral or spiritual content.
Here, freedom becomes the measure of all things, and not a tool subject to higher values or Divine law.
❖ Core Difference: Instrumental vs. Ultimate Value
In Islam, freedom is a capacity, not a virtue. Its worth lies in how it is used:
Does the individual submit it to Allah's command or use it to act against Him?
In Western thought, freedom is the goal itself. The individual’s right to act on desire, without constraint, becomes sacred. It promotes unbounded self-expression, even when it contradicts Divine will or moral restraint.
❖ Illustrative Example
Suppose a parent tells his son he is free to marry whomever he wishes. The son chooses to marry a man or a transgender individual.
In an Islamic perspective, this act is evaluated through the lens of Shariah — thus, freedom here is not absolute, but subject to Divine law.
In contrast, within a Western framework, the act would be celebrated as an expression of personal freedom, regardless of any religious or moral implications.
This demonstrates that in the West, freedom itself is the standard, while in Islam, the standard is Divine command — freedom is only good if it leads to servitude.
✿ Summary
❶ In Islam, servitude to Allah is the core value; freedom is only a means.
❷ In Western thought, freedom is an end in itself, judged only by its ability to increase autonomy.
❸ Islam evaluates actions based on Shariah, not based on whether they enhance personal freedom.
❹ The Western concept of freedom resembles “baghy” in Islam — a rebellion against Divine authority.
