1- Freedom of thought and expression is one of the rights guaranteed by Islam,
since the entire universe with the heavens and the earth and all that lies
between them inspires thought and meditation as is expressed in the following
Quranic verse:
"And
He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the Heavens and on
earth : behold, in that are signs indeed for those who reflect” (45/13).
The
Quran reproaches those who do not employ their mental and intellectual
faculties and considers them to be of a level lower than that of animals. The
Quran contains many verses urging people to acquire knowledge and to exercise
their intellectual faculties and their powers of reasoning . The Quran also
orders people to populate the earth and to do their utmost to let it prosper
for the welfare of all mankind. People are religiously obliged to think and
reflect and meditate upon the universe that surrounds them. Islam encourages
freedom and expression of thought provided that it promotes the welfare of
humanity.
2- Every nation has its own sacred values which it reveres and its inherent
beliefs to which it adheres, all of which leave a decisive mark upon the
nation’s culture. Ridiculing these values and beliefs is the same as ridiculing
the whole nation and its regime. Every nation is entitled to protect its values
and beliefs and to defend itself against any form of sacrilege. This explains
the hostile attitude of Muslims towards Salman Rushdy, for they believe that he
has trampled upon their sacred beliefs which they value and that he has
insulted their prophet. Naturally their attitude towards Salman Rushed is fully
justified.
3-
It is therefore evident that the issue concerning Salman Rushdy has no bearing
whatsoever upon principle of the freedom and expression of thought but that it
is the manifestation of the freedom of slandering, abusing and insulting if we
are to give it its true name, and no nation would accept such slander. We
Muslims would be equally indignant if the prophets Moses, Jesus or any other
prophets of God were slandered. This does not mean that we approve of or agree
to the idea of executing Salman Rushdy or even trying him in court, for the
simple reason that he does not live in a Muslim country.
4-
The press and media of the western world have confused and are still confusing
the issue by not differentiating between the freedom and expression of thought
and the freedom to slander abuse and insult when it is essential to differentiate
between them. The fact that Salman Rushdy chose to slander and abuse the sacred
beliefs and the Islamic holy values is proof that he has run out of inspiration
and it is a well known fact that when a writer lacks inspiration, he chooses a
delicate issue that is related to sacred beliefs and values which
attracts many readers in order to regain his previous fame. It would have
been wiser for the Muslims to have ignored Salman Rushdy’s slander, for he is
not the first person to attack the sacred values and beliefs of Islam, nor will
he be the last. None of Salman Rushdy’s works or any body else’s works will
have any effect upon the Faith of Islam, which has endured for over fourteen
centuries and still endures the hostile and unjust attacks upon it.