FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION
Islam provides for complete intellectual freedom for human beings. In fact, it was Islam that, for the first time in human history, brought about a revolution in this regard, ensuring that every person should have the freedom of thought. Prior to Islam, a system of coercion prevailed throughout much of the world. People were deprived of intellectual freedom.
Freedom of thought and expression—or intellectual freedom—is far from a trivial matter. In fact, the foundation of all human progress lies in this very freedom.
The first and foremost benefit of intellectual freedom is that it allows a person to attain that highest form of moral excellence which the Quran refers to as “fear of the unseen God” (5:94). This means recognizing God and living in reverence of Him by one’s own conscious choice, without any external pressure or compulsion. Such a profound spiritual experience—fearing God in the unseen—is only possible in an atmosphere of complete freedom. Without it, this deeply personal and elevated act cannot be truly realized, nor can an individual be credited with such a noble moral achievement.
Freedom of thought is what safeguards a person from hypocrisy. Human beings are, by nature, reflective and reasoning creatures—their minds inevitably think, question, and form opinions. When freedom of expression is suppressed, thinking does not cease; rather, it is forced to remain unspoken and unwritten. Any institution, society, or state that curtails the freedom to express ideas will eventually become filled with hypocrisy. In such a stifling environment, genuine and sincere individuals cannot be nurtured or developed.
Intellectual freedom has a direct relationship with creativity. Creative individuals will emerge in a society that ensures intellectual freedom. In contrast, societies where curbs are placed on intellectual freedom will soon fall prey to intellectual stagnation. As a result, the emergence and flourishing of creative minds will cease.
The proper approach to the issue of handling intellectual disagreements and differences of opinion and engaging in intellectual dissent and critique is that people should put aside their unnecessary sensitivities and be willing to listen to alternative views, rather than try to ban criticism and disagreement. This is the stance that Islam advocates and that Nature also demands.
In a hadith, a key quality of a true believer is described as: “Those who, when the truth is presented to them, accept it” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 24379). Here, “truth” refers to a just or rightful matter. In other words, a true believer is someone who possesses a complete willingness to acknowledge the truth. Whenever a truth is brought to their attention, or a mistake of theirs is pointed out, no personal feeling should become a barrier in the way of accepting what is right.
The highest expression of this quality is when a person actively welcomes correction—eagerly hoping that someone will point out their flaws so they can embrace the truth with openness and gratitude. Such a person becomes deeply committed to self-improvement and views personal correction as a valuable gift. This noble mindset was perfectly captured by Umar Farooq, the 2nd caliph of Islam, who once said: “May God have mercy on the one who presents me with my faults as a gift” (Musnad al-Darimi, Hadith No. 675).
Acknowledgment of truth is actually a form of worship. In fact, it is the highest form of worship. It is this action for which man has to make the biggest sacrifice. Being the greatest of all sacrifices, it stands as the highest form of worship. This is the sacrifice of one’s prestige—the surrender of a false sense of superiority. It is the humbling act of making oneself ‘worthless,’ as it were, in the pursuit of Truth. It is that rare opportunity to pay the price for Paradise, thereby gaining the eligibility for eternal entry into it.
When does a person receive the opportunity for this great act of worship and this remarkable good fortune? This opportunity arises only when people enjoy complete freedom of expression—when one person can critique another without any hindrance, and when society fosters an atmosphere where the speaker can express themselves freely and the listener can openly receive what is said.
Just as a mosque is the place for offering congregational prayer, freedom of expression is the environment in which the great virtues of speaking the truth and accepting the truth are born. It is in such a setting that situations arise where one person is credited for proclaiming the truth, and another is rewarded for accepting it.
