Liberalism is a ten-letter word but to many
Muslims, it’s a five lettered one – HARAM. As such, they see this word as a bad
word and not in line with Islam - which is rather unfortunate.
On the other hand, I see Prophet Muhammad as
the ultimate liberator of humanity. Let me explain.
While the West and the world generally see John
Locke, the 17th century English philosopher and physician, as the Father of
Liberalism, I found my liberal role model in Prophet Muhammad. With all due
respect to John Locke, to me, none in history can beat the Prophet in
liberating humanity. The Quranic verses shared below will provide ample
evidence.
But first we need to relook the preconceived
notion of the word liberal. By liberal, I do not mean liberalism in the loose
sense that is promoted by the hedonistic and freewheeling Western media-driven
culture and the misunderstandings by a large segment of Muslim opinion makers.
We are not asking or telling mankind to sunbathe or run around in the nude.
That is an extremely shallow idea of liberalism.
By liberal, I am suggesting the ideas of
liberty and equality, not unrestrained freedom.
We want to free humans to discover their real
potential and explore their talents. The type of liberalism that encourages
people to listen to others, be our best and to act with empathy, just like the
Prophet did - as a mercy to all creations. A true liberator.
We must remember that when the Prophet
announced these Quranic guidance, that was 1400 years ago. Furthermore, he did
not just propose a theory or a philosophy but acted on them – he created a
liberal society long before the word liberal was coined. He was a liberator
that impacted his society and generations to come in mind, body and spirit.
This time around I will quote Quran based on
areas of which the Prophet acted as a liberator and share one verse explaining
it. You can look for a few other verses on the same subject in an earlier
article here http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2017/10/15/why-prophet-muhammad-is-my-liberal-role-model/
Let me share 10 in this entry. All emphasis are
mine to help readers focus on a particular message.
1. The Prophet liberated women
making them equal to man: -
·
As for anyone - be it man or woman - who does righteous
deeds and is a believer withal - him shall We most certainly cause to live a
good life and most certainly shall We
grant unto such as these their reward in accordance with the best that they
ever did. – Quran 16:97
2.
Gave
rights to everyone to do business and be successful: -
·
If one desires the rewards of
this world, [let him remember that] with
God are the rewards of [both] this world and the life to come: and God is
indeed all-hearing, all-seeing.- Quran 4:134
3.
Liberated
humans from ridiculous beliefs, or kepercayaan-kepercayaan
mengarut, and instead he guided man to contemplate the wonders of creation:
-
·
ARE, THEN, they who are bent
on denying the truth not aware that the
heavens and the earth were [once] one single entity, which We then parted
asunder? – and [that] We made out of
water every living thing? Will they not, then, [begin to] believe? - Quran
21:30
4.
Made
the freeing of and liberating slaves and those in debt, helping the poor etc as
a duty (Taqwa)
·
The offerings given for the
sake of God are [meant] only for the
poor and the needy, and those who are in charge thereof, and those whose
hearts are to be won over, and for the
freeing of human beings from bondage, and [for] those who are over burdened
with debts, and [for every struggle] in God's cause, and [for] the
wayfarer: [this is] an ordinance from God - and God is all-knowing, wise. –
Quran 9:60
5.
Liberated
mankind through education and encouraging the pursuit of knowledge - gave
rights to education for all men and women equally: -
·
READ
in the name of thy Sustainer, who has-created man out of a germ-cell, Read
- for thy Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One, who has taught [man] the use
of the pen – taught man what he did not know! Quran
95:1-5
6. Liberated the orphans, the
poor and the needy from the clutches of poverty by giving them rights to the wealth
of the nation: -
·
And in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them], for such as
ask [for help] and such as are
deprived [of what is good in life] - Quran 70:24-25
7. Liberated mankind to choose
what to believe by declaring that there is no compulsion in religion
·
THERE
SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith. Distinct
has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the
powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most
unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing. –
Quran 2:256
8. Liberated places of worship
and set rules to protect them: -
·
Those who have been driven
from their homelands against all right for no other reason than their saying.
“Our Sustainer is God!” For, if God had
not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, all] monasteries
and churches and synagogues and mosques - in [all of] which Gods name is
abundantly extolled - would surely have been destroyed [ere now]. And God will most certainly succour him who
succours His cause: for, verily, God is most powerful, almighty. Quran 22:40
9.
Gave
rights to all ways of live/faith to co-exist with Islam and declared that
religious diversity is intentional: -
·
And unto thee [O Prophet] have
We vouchsafed this divine writ, setting forth the truth, confirming the truth
of whatever there still remains of earlier revelations and determining what is
true therein. Judge, then, between the followers of earlier revelation in
accordance with what God has bestowed from on high, and do not follow their
errant views, forsaking the truth that has come unto thee. Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of
life. And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single
community: but [He willed it otherwise] in order to test you by means of
what He has vouchsafed unto, you. Vie,
then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return;
and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to
differ. Quran 5:48
10. Declared
that Diversity and Inclusion is the right way and making consciousness as the
criteria for morality: -
·
O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female,
[and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one
another. Verily, the noblest of you
in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold,
God is all-knowing, all-aware. Quran 49:13
Please do contribute more Quranic verse/s with
the same theme should you like to.
Google and find out more. 😊
Peace, anas
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