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Friday, December 19, 2014

Freedom of Speech in Islam



There are at least five places, where the Holy Quran claims its uniqueness and puts out a challenge to non-believers to produce its equal:

"And if you are in doubt as to what We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a Chapter like it, and call upon your helpers beside Allah, if you are truthful." (QS 2:24)

"Do they say, ‘He has forged it?’ Say, ‘Bring then a Surah like unto it, and call for help on all you can besides Allah, if you are truthful."
(QS 10:39)

"Do they say, ‘He has forged it?’ Say, ‘Then bring ten Chapters like it, forged, and call on whom you can beside Allah, if you are truthful."
(QS 11:14)

"Say, ‘If mankind and the Jinn gathered together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even though they should help one another." (QS 17:89)

"Do they say, ‘He has fabricated it?’ Nay, but they would not believe.  Let them, then, bring forth an announcement like this, if they speak the truth! "
(QS 52:34-35)

This challenge has never been met in fourteen hundred years, but, there is another aspect to this challenge.  This enshrines the freedom of speech of every non-believer in the eyes of everyone who believes in the Holy Quran to be the literal word of God.

If this is not freedom of speech, I do not know what is. Any man has a God given right to produce the equal of ‘word of God,’ even though Allah says that no one can succeed at this.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

"Now, surely it is one of their fabrications that they say, ‘Allah has begotten children;’ and they are certainly liars. Has He chosen daughters in preference to sons? What is the matter with you? How judge ye? Will you not then reflect? Or have you a clear authority? Then produce your Book, if you are truthful."
(QS 37:151-158)

If writing or producing a book against the claims of Allah is not freedom of speech, I do not know what is, do you?

Wallahu'alam

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