Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Alhassanain (p) Network for Islamic Heritage and Thought

Freedom, The Unstated Facts and Points

In this text, Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi explains the different kinds of freedom in great detail. He dwells on the understanding of Freedom in its different forms that exist before us today.

Author(s): Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi

Translator(s): Mansoor L. Limba

Publisher(s): Ahlul Bayt World Assembly

www.alhassanain.org/english

Table of Contents

Foreword 4

Note 5

Preface 6

The Various Meanings of Freedom 7

The Importance of Understanding the Various Meanings of Freedom 7

1. Freedom as existential independence 10

2. Freedom as “free will” 10

3. Freedom as “the lack of attachment” 13

4. Freedom vis - à - vis “slavery” 14

5. Freedom in the legal and political parlance: mastery over one’s destiny 15

Notes 15

Freedom from the Viewpoint of Islam 17

The Need for the Restraining Law 17

The Difference between Moral and Legal Laws 18

The Divine and Atheistic Cultures and the Difference of Their Perspectives on Law 19

The Three Pillars of the Western Culture 20

The Fundamental Clash between the Western Culture and Islamic Culture 23

The Difference between the Islamic and Western Perspectives on the Scope of Freedom 25

The Preeminence of the Spiritual and Religious Interests over the Material Interests 27

The Natural Law School 28

The Limit of Human Rights in the West 29

The Emergence of Contradictions on the Limit of Freedom 30

The Realm of Freedom in the Human Rights Declaration 31

The Problems of Categorizing Freedom in the West 31

Notes 32

The Freedom of Belief and Expression 33

Freedom of Belief as an Affair beyond the Realm of Law 33

Freedom of Expression in the West: From Slogan to Reality 34

The Islamic View on Freedom of Expression and the Press 35

First Exposition 35

Second Exposition 38

Nonverbal and Media Expression 39

The Responsibility of Expression 41

The Freedom to Ask 42

Notes 43

Clarification of Doubts 45

Doubt 1: Mandatory laws are against the demand of humanity 45

Reply 45

Doubt 2: The government’s imposition of limitations is against the demand of freedom 45

Reply 45

Doubt 3: The need for obeying God and the Prophet is against the demand of the Qur’anic verses 47

Reply 48

The Reason behind the Difference between the Two Approaches in the Qur’an 49

Doubt 4: The imposition of limitations in actions is against the demand of the natural law 52

Reply 53

Doubt 5: Religion cannot impose limit on freedom 53

Reply 54

Doubt 6: Servitude is against the demand of the natural disposition [fitrah] of man 55

Reply 55

“Real Ownership” [malikiyyat - e i‘tibari] and “Delegated Ownership” [malikiyyat - e i‘tibari] 57

The Requisite of Divine Godhood as Cosmic and Religious Lordship 59

Doubt 7: The era of duty - centeredness has ended and the modern man is in pursuit of his rights 61

Reply 62

The Background of Those Who Rebelled against God 63

Adherence to God and Freedom 65

Doubt 8: The demand of the Divine Vicegerency [khilafatullah] means absolute freedom of man 67

Reply 67

Doubt 9: Creating ambiguity in defining the legitimate freedom 69

Reply 69

Doubt 10: Observance of the religious precepts is against the demand of the sovereignty of man over his own destiny 70

Reply 70

Notes 71

Foreword

The precious legacy left behind by the Holy Prophet’s Household[ahl al - bayt] (may peace be upon them all) and their followers’ preservation of this legacy from the menace of extinction is a perfect example of an all - encompassing school[maktab] , which embraces the different branches of the Islamic knowledge and has been able to train many of the talented personalities by quenching them with this gushing - forth fountain.

This school has presented scholars to the Muslim ummah who, by following the Holy Prophet’s Household (‘a),1 have occupied the station of clarifying the doubts and skepticisms brought forth by the various creeds and intellectual currents both inside and outside the Muslim society, and throughout the past centuries, they have been the presenters of the firmest answers and solutions to these doubts.

Anchored on the responsibilities it is shouldering, the Ahl al - Bayt (‘a) World Assembly has embarked upon defending the sanctity of risalah[messengership] and its authentic beliefs - truths which have always been opposed by the chiefs and leaders of the anti - Islamic sects, religions and trends. In this sacred path, the Assembly regards itself as a follower of the upright pupils of the Ahl al - Bayt’s (‘a) school - those who have always been ready to refute those accusations and calumnies and have tried to be always in the frontline of this struggle on the basis of the expediencies of time and space.

The experiences in this field, which have been preserved in the books of the scholars of the Ahl al - Bayt’s (‘a) school, are unique in their own right. It is because these experiences have been based upon knowledge[‘ilm] and the pre - eminence of intellect and reasoning, and at the same time, devoid of any iota of blind prejudices as well as whims and caprices. These experiences address the experts, scholars and thinkers in such a manner that is acceptable to a healthy mind and the pure human natural disposition[fitrah] .

In a bid to assist those who are in quest of truth, the Ahl al - Bayt (‘a) World Assembly has endeavored to enter the new phase of these worthy experiences within the framework of research and writing works of the contemporary Shi‘ah writers or those who, through the divine guidance, embraced this noble school.

This Assembly is also engaged in the study and publication of the valuable works of the pious predecessors and outstanding Shi‘ah personalities so that those who are thirsty of truth could quench their thirst from this refreshing fountain by listening and embracing this truth, which the Holy Prophet’s Household (‘a) has offered as gift to the entire world.

It is hoped that the dear readers would not deprive the Ahl al - Bayt (‘a) World Assembly of their valuable views and suggestions as well as constructive criticisms in this arena.

We also do invite the scholars, translators and other institutions to assist us in propagating the pure Muhammadan (S) Islam.

We ask God, the Exalted, to accept this trivial effort and enhance it further under the auspices of His vicegerent on earth, Hadrat al - Mahdi (may Allah, the Exalted, expedite his glorious advent).

It is appropriate here to express our utmost gratitude to Ayatullah Muhammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, the author of this book, and to Mr. Mansoor Limba for translating it, as well as to all our honorable colleagues in accomplishing this task especially the dear ones in the Translation Office for performing their responsibility.

Cultural Affairs Department

Ahl al - Bayt (‘a) World Assembly

Note

1. The abbreviation, “‘a” stands for the Arabic invocative phrase, ‘alayhis - salam, ‘alayhimus - salam, or ‘alayhas - salam [may peace be upon him/them/her], which is used after the names of the prophets, angels, Imams from the Prophet’s progeny, and saints (‘a). [Trans.]

Preface

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds

And may the benedictions of Allah be upon

Muhammad and his pure progeny

The issue of“freedom” is one of the most controversial subjects in the recent years, which has caught the attention of cultural and political figures. So many scholars have delivered speeches or written articles and books about“freedom.”

Undoubtedly, one of the most scholarly discussions of the issue of freedom is the speeches of the eminent thinker, Ayatullah Misbah Yazdi (may his blessings last), which were delivered in a series of talks on“the Political Theory of Islam” and“the Legal Theory of Islam” prior to the delivery of the Friday congregational prayers khutbahs[sermons] in Tehran. In his speeches with such a rare precision, lucid expression and scholarly approach, while discussing“Freedom and Its Different Laws,” His Eminence has also clarified so many doubts.

In view of the importance of this talk, the Islamic Cultural Propagation Office decided to extract subjects of the discussion regarding“freedom” from the collection of Professor Misbah’s speeches, and present the same to the interested readers in a new compilation and in the form of a separate book.

Thanks to God, it was accomplished, and now the book,“Freedom: The Unstated Facts and Points” is at your disposal, dear readers. We hope the publication of this work could help those who have enthusiasm for the pure Islamic culture in understanding better the religious teachings, God willing.

Islamic Cultural Propagation Office