Tuesday, August 16, 2011

What is the Ruling on the Statement "Freedom of Ideology"?

Al-Imaam Ash-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy upon him) was asked:

Q. "We read or hear the statement -Freedom of Ideology- and it is a call to the freedom of belief. What is your comment regarding this?

A. "Our comment regarding this is that the one who allows the person to be free to have any belief that he chooses from the different religions, indeed this person is a disbeliever. That is because anyone who who believes that it is allowed for one to have a religion other than the religion of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), indeed he is a disbeliever in Allaah. Repentance is sought from him. If he repents (then he is considered a Muslim).  If he doesn't, then capital punishment is mandatory (in the lands where Islaamic Law is implemented). Religion(s) are not ideologies, rather they are revelation from Allaah azza wa jall which He sends down upon His Messengers and that which His servants traverse upon. This statement and I mean  the statement -Ideology- which the intent of it is religion, it's obligatory that it be removed from the Islaamic Books. That is because it leads to this corrupt meaning. The overall answer is that whoever believes that it is permissible to practice any religion one wants to practice and that he is free in that which he practices, indeed he is a disbeliever in Allaah azz wa jall. That is because Allaah has said:

               "Whoever desires a religion other than al-Islaam it will never be accepted from him"
(Aali 'Imraan: 85)

Also the statement of Allaah:
                                           "Indeed the religion with Allaah is al-Islaam"
(Aali 'Imraan: 19)


It is not permissible for anyone to believe that a religion besides Al-Islaam is permissible (to practice) and that it is permissible for the person to worship (Allaah) with it. Rather, if the person believed this, the scholars have clearly stated that he is a disbeliever with the type of disbelief that expels one from the religion." 

Source: Majmoo' Fataawaa Ash-Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (3/99 # 459)

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