UNRESTRICTED FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION
There is a verse in the Quran (5: 107) which discusses the matter of inheritance:
If it turns out that both prove dishonest, two others should take their place from amongst those whose rights have been usurped and let them swear by God, saying, “Our testimony is indeed truer than the testimony of these two. And we have not been guilty of any misstatement for then indeed we would be transgressors.”
There is a difference in the recitation of the word al-awliyan in this verse. Hasan read it as al-awwalan (the two first ones), while Ibn Sirin read it as al-awwalan (the first ones in general). (Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Vol. 6, p. 359)
On one occasion, Ubayy ibn Ka’b recited this verse according to his own recitation, which differed from that of the second Caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab. When Umar heard it, he said, “You have lied”. Ubayy responded, “You are an even greater liar”. Upon hearing this, someone said to Ubayy, “Are you calling the Commander of the Faithful a liar?” He replied, “I have greater respect for the rights of the Commander of the Faithful than you do. But I have denied him in the matter of affirming the Book of God. I did not affirm the Caliph in a matter that amounts to denying God’s Book.” Umar ibn al-Khattab then said, “He has spoken rightly.” (Tarikh al-Madinah by Ibn Shabbah, Vol. 2, p. 709)
This conversation took place between two senior companions. The objecting companion did not soften his tone when he heard a different recitation, saying something like, “O respected teacher, pardon me, perhaps you made a mistake in recitation.” Rather, he expressed his reaction straightforwardly, saying, “You have lied.”
From this incident, an important principle is derived: that freedom of expression should exist without condition. Imposing conditions leads to situations where people feel one thing in their hearts but express something else with their words. This style of communication gradually fosters pretence in people, and pretence eventually takes the form of hypocrisy.
When a person considers something to be true, they naturally wish to express it without dilution. If artificial restrictions are imposed, it results in far greater harm—it creates a dual personality within individuals.
