The Responsibility Of Free Speech - Restricting Expression In The West

'A'udhu bi’l-Lahi, min ash-Shaytan, al-la'in, ar-rajim. Bismi-Llah, Al-Rahmani, Al-Rahim. Al-hamdulil-Lahi Rabbi al-‘Alamin, wa as-salat wa as-salam 'ala Muhammad, wa 'aalihi at-tahirin. Dear sisters and brothers in Iman, as-salamu alaykum wa Rahmat Ullahi, wa barakatuh.

A major mark of distinction of human beings over other living things is the ability to speak. Speech is, after all, the most precious gift that Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala has given to us. Right in the beginning of Surat ur-Rahman, Surah number 55, Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala says: "Ar-Rahman" (55:1), "'Allima al-Qur'an" (55:2), "Khalaqa al-Insan" (55:3), "'Allamahu al-Bayan" (55:4). The very first thing about human being is that Allah created the human being "'Allamahu al-Bayan" (55:4), and then He taught him the ability to speak.

In Islamic logic, when we look at the definition of a human being, we describe him as the speaking animal, and other creatures are described as the silent animal. Through speech, we can communicate with one another, we can articulate our views and ideas, we can express our feelings and sentiments, we can describe our dreams and aspirations, and we can chart our plans and expectations for the future, writing and drawing our dimensions of human ability to express our ideas and thoughts.

And so this brings me to this very important question, which is very relevant now. And that is that: is freedom of expression absolute and unlimited? Can a person write, say, draw or paint whatever he or she likes? Or are there some limitations on that freedom?

While speech is the most precious gift given to us, it also has the potential of hurting others. The key to success in character building is achieving that proper medium in various virtues. When it comes to the virtue of speech, you have to train yourself to think before you speak, and not to speak before you think. We have ahadith where the Ma'sum says: a wise person's tongue is behind his mind, while a fool's mind is behind his tongue. This becomes even more important when you write or speak as a public figure.

No right exist in vacuum. It is always coupled with an equal level of responsibility. In many civilized societies, saying or writing something that incites violence against an identifiable group, especially a minority, is considered as illegal. Similarly, to defame a person's reputation is also illegal.

Britain, for example, restricts the right of free speech on grounds of national security and prevention of disorder. Restrictions and limits are put on statements that hurt the sensibilities of certain groups in the West. Britain also has a blasphemy law which bans the defamation of Christian God, but not of other faiths. Nonetheless, many European countries, as well as Canada, forbid questioning or denying the Holocaust. Remember the case of the British historian by the name of David Erwing and his trial for Holocaust denial in Austria? That's a living example of how sensibilities of certain groups are respected in Europe.

In this backdrop, it is indeed very sad to see that the Europeans have no respect or any regard for Muslim sensibilities. Muslims' religion, culture, and their prophet may be defamed in any way they like, all in the name of freedom of expression or free speech. They seem to ignore the present reality that France and Germany have millions of Muslims and that Bosnia, and Albania, two Muslim countries, are as Europeans as Spain or Croatia.

Let it be stated clearly that Muslims do not question the right of any writer speaker who adapts academic methods to criticize Islam and Muslims. Articles and books and speeches critical of Islam and Muslims are published at all times. Caricaturing Muslims, even clerics and political leaders, is also common, but you never hear the Muslims protesting them. However, the Danish cartoons published five years ago, were not of academic nature and the fact that they were insulting is also beyond any doubt, especially those portraying the Prophet of Islam as a terrorist.

They strengthen the subliminal stereotype in Europeans mind that Islam is a religion of violence and that Muslims are terrorists. As if to add salt to the injury, the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo republished those cartoons and that fade into the appetite of the terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda who ended up killing some of the workers of that weekly newspaper. But now that the trial of those who had helped those murderers had started, the magazine has reprinted the controversial cartoons and has rekindled the protest in many Muslim countries.

Muslims have been truly heard by the portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, as a man who promotes violence, the Prophet is the example par excellence of a perfect human being, "al-Insan Al-Kamil", every aspect of his life is the good role model, "uswa al-Hasana" for Muslims. Prophet Muhammad is the spiritual father of the Muslim community, and naturally no faithful child will tolerate the defamation of his or her father. So the reaction of the Muslims in the form of peaceful protest marches are very natural, and there is no law which disallows this kind of protestation.

May Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala bring about the day when people and communities will respect the sensibilities of one another, and Insha'Allah, we will see peace and justice all over the world with the appearance of the Imam of our time, ajal Allahu Ta'ala farajahu ash-Sharif. Wa as-salamu alaykum, wa Rahmat Ullahi, wa barakatu.