The Noble Qur’an: its Virtue and Status as a Source of Legislation (Part 1)

Islamic world is overly dependent on Western legal systems, while Islam itself has provided a more effective regulatory system for human civilization. Al-Qur'an should be the main source of law in determining what is outward and inward. It has been revealed to act as a guideline for mankind. But people now still ignore the purpose of Al-Qur'an in our daily life. Some people said it should be separated with our daily life because religion's matter should not be involved in some parts of everyday life. This idea of secularism is still in the process of colonizing people's mind so that people will ignore about purpose of human being and the afterlife. Now I would like to share about Al-Qur'an in perspective of laws. Allah, the Most Gracious, said in the Qur'an:

وَأَنِ ٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَہُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ
"And make judge among you from what Allah has revealed"
(Al-Maiedah : 49)

From this verse, Allah s.w.t has ordered human being to make a decision in any matter based on His rules (Al-Qur'an). So why people still did not understand this? Why do we preach but we do not practice? This is because the concept of understanding is different with the concept of knowledge. People could posses the knowledge but also could not posses the ability of real understanding at the same time.

The Miracle of Holy Al-Qur'an

The Noble Qur’an is Allah’s Word through which He expressed His commands and teachings. It is raised above any possible description. The Noble Qur’an was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and was accepted by the believers as being the essence of truth. Moreover, the believers maintain that it is the Word of Allah and not the words of any of His creatures. Thus, whosoever claims that it is the words of a human being becomes a disbeliever.

Allah described the Qur’an in the following verses:

"And verily, it is an honourable well-fortified respected Book (because it is Allah’s Speech, and He has protected it from corruption). Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it: (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allâh).

(Fussilat:41,42).

The Qur’an was also described by Allah in this verse:

"(This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge), and then explained in detail from One (Allah), Who is All-Wise Well-Acquainted (with all things).

(Hud:1)

In fact, the verses of the Noble Qur’an are very accurate, clear and obvious; they are perfected by the All-Wise and detailed by the All-Aware. This Qur’an will remain a miraculous Book with regard to the rhetorical, legislative, scientific, and historical aspects. It will remain unchallengeable in these and other aspects till the end of the world. It is preserved from the least kind of distortion; as Allah said:

"Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). (Al-Hijr:9)

The world as a whole has not got such a conclusive and comprehensive book as the Noble Qur’an, that contains all kinds of goodness, all the methods for guiding humanity to the straight path and all the means of happiness for humankind in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah said:

"Verily, this Qur’an guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him)) who do deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise)". (Al-Israa:9)

The Noble Qur’an was revealed by Allah s.w.t to his Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in order to lead the people out of the darkness of ignorance and polytheism to the light of guidance and monotheism. He said:

"(This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allâh and Islâmic Monotheism) by their Lord’s Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise". (Ibrahim:1)

Through the Noble Qur’an, Allah s.w.t recovered the eyes blinded from seeing the truth, the ears deafened from listening to the truth and the hearts sealed and hindered from assimilating the reality. Through the Holy Qur’an, Allah promised happiness for Muslims in this world and in the Hereafter if they recite it in the way ordained by Allah, understand its Surahs and verses; comprehend its sentences and words, consider the limits of Allah included therein; follow its orders; refrain from its prohibitions; adjust their way of life in accordance with the legislation included therein and apply its principles and values to themselves, their families and communities. Allah, the exalted and glorified be, said:

"Those (who embraced Islam from Banî Israel) to whom We gave the Book [the Taurat] [or those (Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) companions) to whom We have given the Book (the Qur’an)] recite it (i.e. obey its orders and follow its teachings) as it should be recited (i.e. followed), they are the ones that believe therein. And whoso disbelieve in it (the Qur’an), those are they who are the losers)". (Al-Baqarah:121)

The well-known companion, Ibn ‘Abbas, said that this verse means:

"Those are the people who follow the Noble Qur’an in the way it should be followed. They regard the unlawful included therein as unlawful and the lawful as lawful. They do not change the words from their (right) places."

The companion of the Prophet, Qatadah, said:

"The reference in the verse is to the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) who believe in the Book of Allah [the Noble Qur’an], confirm this belief in their hearts, consider its lawful as lawful and its unlawful as unlawful and act according to the teachings included therein".

That is why the Jinn were impressed with the Noble Qur’an when they heard it. Their hearts were filled with its love and they hastened to call their people to believe in that Glorious Book. Allah s.w.t said:

"Say (O Muhammad): "It has been revealed to me that a group (from three to ten in number) of jinn listened (to this Qur’an). They said: ‘Verily, we have heard a wonderful Recitation (this Qur’an)! ‘It guides to the Right Path, and we have believed therein, and we shall never join (in worship) anything with our Lord (Allah). ‘And He, exalted be the Majesty of our Lord, has taken neither a wife nor a son (or offspring or children). (Al-Jinn:1-3)

In another instance, Allah described the reaction of the Jinn when they heard the recitation of the Noble Qur’an. He said:

(They said: "O our people! Verily, we have heard a Book (this Qur’an) sent down after Musa , confirming what came before it: it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path . O our people! Respond (with obedience) to Allah’s Caller (i.e. Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him)), and believe in him (i.e. believe in that which Muhammad (peace be upon him) has brought from Allah and follow him). He (Allah) will forgive you of your sins, and will save you from a painful torment (i.e. Hell-fire)." (Al-Ahqaf:30,31)

To be continued..

Reminder for Government and People: The Evils of Gambling

oleh HusinLempoyang

Gambling has unfortunately become an acceptable practice in Muslim Society due to its wide scale promotion by the media (especially in our newspaper) with the power given by the Governement. Now the government start to promote football gambling. It has been announced by our Muslim leader in this 'Islamic' country which is a one of the most shameful statements we ever heard. A large number of good Muslims are also caught in that 'ritual', not realizing that they are gambling and that the earnings from the gambling is haraam.

The following is a translation of a scholarly article by the late Mufti Muhammad Shafi which is being published to make Muslims especially in this country aware of the different forms of transactions and other items which are classified in Shariah as gambling.

THE DEFINITION OF GAMBLING

Every transaction in which gain and loss is obscure is known as Qimaar and Maisar in the Shariah terminology, and as Juwa in the Urdu language. For instance, if two people compete in a race with the following conditions, that 'if you surpass me, then I will give you a thousand ringgit and if I surpass you then you will have to give me a thousand ringgit'. Or if someone says, 'If it rains today you will have to give me a thousand ringgit and if it does not rain then I will give you a thousand ringgit.'

Likewise if some packed boxes are being sold for a fixed price, for example four ringgit per box and some of the boxes have contents with a value of five pounds with others containing a value of two ringgit, then the purchase of these boxes will be Qimaar. Because of the obscurity of the gain and loss. There are numerous methods of gambling and in every age and region, gambling has been played in different forms and methods.

There was a certain procedure amongst the Arabs for gambling. There would be ten arrows, each with a special name, all having different shares allocated to them, for example, one share, two shares, three shares, etc. There would also be some without a share at all. They would then jumble the arrows and ask someone to pick an arrow for each person. Whichever arrow was picked out for a person, that would be his allocated share and thereafter would be considered the owner of it. On the other hand, whosoever happened to acquire a share-less arrow he would receive nothing at all. The custom, which went hand in hand with this, was that a camel would be slaughtered and distributed according to the shares entitled to them by the arrows. A person who was unlucky would not only be deprived of the camel meat but he would also have to pay for that camel. This kind of gambling has been labelled Maisar and Azlaam by the Qur'aan. Maisar is that particular camel which is slaughtered and distributed because of gambling and Azlaam are the arrows that are used to define the amount of the shares in gambling. Apart from this, gambling was prevalent in trade in different forms. They were known as Mulamasa and Munabaza, etc., the prohibition of which is present in the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Before the advent of Islam, gambling was not only customary but also taken to be a cause of pride, nobility and honour. For excessive show of pride, these people would distribute their share of the winnings amongst the poor.

THE PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING

As Islam plays a moderate role in worship, similarly it plays a role in economics and social orders. How can Islam, the moderate way of life, cope with a state where one can take possession of somebody else's property without any valid reason, due to which, the latter gets poorer and his state diminishes and the former, without working, gathers the wealth equivalent to that of Qaroon (Korah, a kaafir whom Allah bestowed with great wealth at the time of Musa a.s)? Alternatively, without any religious excuse, a great amount of wealth is taken from the poor people's pocket and a single person is made to own it. Therefore, it was vital for Islam to prohibit these unfair ways of taking possessions. For this reason the open mindedness of the all-encompassing religion, Islam, took consideration and concern of the human passions. When alcoholic drinks and gambling were intended to be banned, their prohibition was not revealed immediately, but firstly all the disadvantages concerning them were made clear. Once these were totally engraved into their hearts, then the laws of prohibition were revealed.

In the early days of Islam the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w was questioned regarding the permissibility of gambling and alcohol. The first verse that was revealed regarding this, is in Surah Al-Baqarah which is as follows:

"They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say, 'In them is great sin and some benefit for men; but the sin is greater than the benefit."

(Qur'an 2:19)

In the above sign, the permissibility and non-permissibility of wine and gambling is not clarified. Soon after understanding the tone of discountenance in the verse, the highly ranked companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w abstained from them. On the other hand, Muslims in general were still involved in them and the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w had not said anything that indicated their prohibition, until Allah revealed the following verse (Qarinah for the above sign):

"O believers! Intoxicants and gambling, worshiping stones and divination by arrows are impure, of syaitan's handiwork: refrain from such abomination that ye may prosper. "

(Qur'an 5:90)

In this verse, the total prohibition of alcoholic drinks and gambling has been clearly revealed. Its prohibition has been mentioned with such assurance that Imaam Razi states as follows:

"Firstly, the Arabic word innama has been placed in the beginning of the verse. In Arabic, this creates emphasis on what is mentioned afterwards. Secondly, these prohibited things have been classified as being rijs (impure), from which natural disposition abstains. Thirdly, they have been branded as satanic acts. Fourthly, their severity has been categorised in the same level as idol worshipping (shirk) in the sense that they all are links of a single chain."

After mentioning that these all are rijs (impure), Allah S.W.T orders:

"Keep away from them."

Allah S.W.T does not terminate the subject here, but He carries on mentioning their religious and worldly harm in the following sign. Allah, the Almighty states conclusively that syaitan wants to ruin our worldly life and the life of the Hereafter. These forbidden things, (alcohol and gambling), lay the seeds of hatred and hostility between human beings. These evil outcomes are innumerable. Their habit distracts a man from obligatory duties such as prayer (Solat) and the remembrance of Allah.

May Allah protect all the Muslims in this country from their evil. Spread this!

MERDEKA RAKYAT NEGARA PERKASA

Krisis dalaman PAS: Mari Merenung Kembali

Salah satu artikel yang pernah dikeluarkan oleh Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Sama-sama kita renungkan..

RAKYAT TERENGGANU SALAH PILIH PESURUHJAYA

1. Saya telah membaca dengan teliti pandangan Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu yang kali ini lebih gemar menggunakan nama beliau sebagai pengamal dan penganalisis politik daripada bertindak sebagai seorang Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri. Walaupun sewaktu beliau berdiri sebagai penganalisis politik dalam mana-mana waktu sekalipun, pada saya, beliau tetaplah Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri Terengganu. Baik dalam keadaan berdiri, duduk, atau berbaring, Mustafa bin Ali adalah seorang Pesuruhjaya PAS.

2. Dengan demikian, mahu tidak mahu pandangan beliau itu tetap mencerminkan pandangan PAS Terengganu. Lebih mendukacitakan lagi ialah apabila pandangan beliau ini bersifat anti keputusan Muktamar. Sekaligus, ia menentang arus Syura yang memutuskan untuk mengukuhkan Pakatan Rakyat dan tidak sebaliknya seperti yang sedang dilakukan oleh Mustafa Ali. Dalam respons dan setiap ayat yang digunakan, saya tidak nampak sikap Mustafa yang boleh mengukuhkan Pakatan Rakyat seperti yang diputuskanoleh Muktamar secara “standing ovation”.

3. Sepatutnya tugas pemimpin termasuk Pesuruhjaya ialah mendukung dan mengukuhkan keputusan Muktamar. Sifat rajin mengeluarkan kenyataan walaupun tidak disuruh adalah sesuatu yang aneh dan menghairankan. Lebih-lebih lagilah ia mencanggahi keputusan Muktamar. Sepatutnya ceramah atau temuramah bersifat lanjutan kepada keputusan Muktamar.

4. Saya membuat perbandingan antara kenyataan Mustafa di muka surat 1 dan 3 Utusan Malaysia, 11 September 2008 dengan kenyataan Dato’ Johari Baharom, Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri sendiri termasuk kenyataan PM sendiri dalam Berita Harian pada hari yang sama. Mesejnya sama iaitu tidak ada apa yang akan berlaku pada 16 September 2008 iaitu “tidak mungkin ada undi tidak percaya kerana Parlimen tidak bersidang.” Sentimen Mustafa yang “terus terang tidak yakin adanya bilangan sebanyak 30 orang yang akan melompat parti” betul-betul serupa dengan nada Presiden Umno. Betul-betul serupa.

5. Lidah Mustafa boleh dikatakan sudah menjadi lidah Umno. Kita kena faham bahawa lidah ini adalah jurubahasa kepada hati. Jika begitu keadaannya apa yang ada dalam hati, maka lebih baik terang-terang sokong Umno. Hujah untuk “meredakan keresahan rakyat” yang digunakan oleh Mustafa tidak tepat. Apa yang tepat ialah kita kena tanya rakyat resah kerana apa? Jawabnya, rakyat resah kerana pimpinan di bawah Umno selama ini telah menimbulkan seribu satu macam keresahan. Usaha Pakatan Rakyat yang sama-sama sedang didukung oleh PAS, PKR dan DAP ini adalah usaha untuk memulihkan keresahan rakyat. Pemulihan dan keyakinan akan berlaku apabila Pakatan Rakyat menguasai di peringkat Pusat. “Cross over” kepada Pakatan Rakyat yang menuju ke arah peralihan kuasa sama ada 16, 17, 18, 19 atau 20 September 2008 hendaklah menjadi agenda setiap orang : agenda setiap Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri termasuklah Mustafa bin Ali. Inilah semangat Muktamar yang telah kita sama-sama putuskan secara sebulat suara. “Standing ovation” itu adalah sebulat suaralah tu. Keputusan Muktamar ini, bukan kerja main-main.

6. Apa tujuan kita adakan kursus, seminar, ceramah, tamrin, usrah, doa, sembahyang hajat, munajat, pagi, petang, siang dan malam kalau tidak kerana untuk menumbangkan sebuah pemerintahan yang tidak cenderung kepada Islam. Jika Umno hendakkan Islam, sudah lama dia laksanakan Islam.

7. Saya tidak fahamlah bila Mustafa menyebut bahawa dia bercakap secara bebas dan pendirian beliau bertaraf peribadi; bukan atas kapasiti seorang pemimpin PAS. Pada saya, beliau adalah Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu. Dalam Islam, seseorang itu hanya boleh mempunyai satu sahsiah saja. Sesiapa yang cuba bermain-main dengan dua atau lebih rupa sahsiah, tidak layak menjadi pemimpin gerakan Islam. Sebab itu, Islam selalu menekankan soal tauhid, yakni penyatuan segala perkara di atas satu dan menuju kepada satu. Dalam PAS, tidak ada dua wajah sahsiah. Jika ada juga, maka ia sesuai untuk mewakili Umno.

8. Jika Dr. Mahathir pernah berkata bahawa ia tersalah pilih Perdana Menteri maka dalam konteks ini boleh jadilah Terengganu sudah tersalah pilih seorang Pesuruhjaya. Dalam akhir ayat Mustafa Ali, ada juga saya terbaca beliau menyifatkan isu ini timbul disebabkan keghairahan satu pihak untuk mengambil alih kerajaan. Di sini, saya cukup tidak fahamlah. Seolah-olah pada Mustafa, adalah satu kesalahan apabila kita ghairah nak gantikan kerajaan secara demokrasi. Sejak bila pula Mustafa jadi begini? Kita kena faham bahawa isu menghuruharakan ini timbul kerana sejak 50 tahun Umno memimpin negara, rakyat tidak dipimpin dengan jelas dan betul dari segi Islam atau demokrasi. Keadilan tidak diberi kepada orang-orang Melayu, Cina, India, Siam atau Kadazan. Ini yang kita ghairah untuk menggantikan kerajaan. Kita bawa Islam kerana Islam itu adil. Islam itu untuk keamanan dan kesejahteraan seluruh kaum yang bermastautin di Malaysia. Apabila nampak bahawa Kerajaan BN/Umno sudah panik dan resah sehingga terpaksa melarikan 50 Wakil Rakyat, maka pada saya, ini adalah petanda kejayaan. Tak tahu lah pula saya kenapa Mustafa Ali terpaksa bersusah payah untuk menjelaskan situasi sebenar demi meredakan. Meredakan hati siapa? Hati pemimpin Umno?

9. Dalam keadaan beginilah hati saya cepat-cepat teringat tentang HARAKAH. Saya tak dapat bayangkan bagaimana HARAKAH boleh memainkan peranan sebagai lidah rasmi parti dan organ parti, apabila orang nombor satu yang merupakan Pesuruhjaya PAS Terengganu ini telah mengambil sikap membelakangi keputusan Muktamar. Saya percaya, ini sedikit sebanyak akan mempengaruhi pojok, cerita, berita dan analisis yang dibuat. Dengan dibenarkan penerbitan dua kali seminggu maka lebih cepat lagilah ia boleh merosakkan imej HARAKAH. Pada logiknya, pembaca HARAKAH akan berkurangan. Saya fikir suatu keputusan perlu dibuat mengenai perkara ini.

10. Saya sebenarnya masih mahu mengambil sikap bertangguh dari terlalu cepat mengemukakan respons. Dengan begitu, saya akan cuba ikuti lagi apa rentak yang akan dibawa oleh pemimpin seperti Mustafa Ali. Saya percaya, mungkin ada satu atau dua orang lagi yang bersama dengan beliau. Selaku orang tua dalam parti, saya telah mengikuti orang penting dan orang yang tidak penting keluar masuk ke dalam parti. Bahkan Allahyarham Dato’ Haji Asri Muda sekalipun pernah meninggalkan Parti PAS. Pada waktu itu beliau adalah di kerusi Presiden. Beliau akhirnya masuk Umno dan semua orang tahu bagaimana beliau mengakhiri karier politiknya.

NIK ABDUL AZIZ BIN NIK MAT
Bertarikh : 11 Ramadhan 1429
11 September 2008.

Risalah terbuka untuk PKR

by HusinLempoyang

Isu keluar parti dikalangan ADUN dan AP terus hangat dibicarakan dan dibincangkan. Isu ini kali pertama muncul di Perak selepas pilihanraya umum ke 12 yang lalu sangat mendukacitakan banyak pihak sehingga mencemarkan institusi di Raja dan kehakiman. Kini, ia berulang kembali di Pulau Pinang dan juga di Perak. Malangnya, hampir kesemua kes ini melibatkan mereka yang bertanding di atas tiket PKR.

Ini telah memberikan kesan atau impak yang sangat besar kepada PKR dalam soal kepimpinan dan kredibiliti parti. Pada pandangan penulis, sejak awal lagi PKR adalah parti serpihan UMNO di mana ahli UMNO yang tidak bersetuju dengan peristiwa 98 akan menyertai parti ini (keAdilan) pada ketika itu. Secara tidak langsung budaya gerombolan telah berjangkit sedikit sebanyak kepada parti ini dan menyebabkan mereka yang sebahagiannya lupa terhadap perjuangan parti dan mengkhianati perjuangan rakyat.

Penulis juga mendapati bahawa terkadang PKR terlalu mudah memilih calon untuk sesuatu jawatan dalam parti mahu pun bertanding pada pilihanraya. Secara umumnya, budaya UMNO masih berleluasa di dalam PKR. Tidak perlu penulis menulis semula tentang latar belakang mereka yang keluar parti ini. Mengapa setelah ini berlaku baru sibuk mengatakan soal masalah dan disiplin? Adakah lembaga disiplin hanya sebuah lambang? Isu ini sepatutnya tidak timbul. Kesalahan tidak boleh hanya di tuju kepada mereka ini. Kepimpinan juga harus dipersalahkan kerana tidak tegas dan tidak teliti dalam merancang sesuatu. Kurangnya strategi dan permuafakatan di antara ahli juga menyebabkan masaah ini terus berlaku.
Penulis juga meramalkan bahawa didalam PKR, masih terdapat budaya politik wang. Penulis mengatakan ini kerana berdasarkan situasi yang berlaku sekarang. ‘Seolah-olah tidak mampu lagi untuk menanggung, maka dilepaskan’. Ini kerja politik apa? Soal moral dikalangan ahli juga sangat mengecewakan. Saya sangat bersetuju dengan Tulang Besi dalam isu ini(sila rujuk http://www.marhaen.info/v2/mar_a_abdrahmantalib363.html).

Ketika ini pula, PAS dilihat sangat tenang walaupun suatu ketika dahulu heboh dengan isu UG, namun ianya telah selesai setelah beberapa siri perjumpaan dan perbincangan dan juga ‘kemarahan’ yang di zahirkan oleh Pemimpin Tertingginya (ketegasan yang wajar dicontohi oleh PKR).

Dalam isu seperti ini, PAS lebih bijak memilih calon dan mengatur strategi bagi menghadapi peristiwa seperti ini. Seperti contoh, bai’ah telah diinstitusikan bagi menghalang mereka ini mencipta ‘kejutan’ di kemudian hari.
Secara jelas, tidak boleh disamakan diantara PAS dan PKR. Namun begitu, tidak salah untuk PKR belajar daripada PAS mengenai sebahagian perkara yang wajar dipraktikkan didalam PKR untuk kebaikan Pakatan Rakyat; wadah perjuangan rakyat. PKR harus melakukan rejuvenasi dalam partinya agar virus-virus merbahaya ini dapat diusir segera daripada terus merebak merosakkan parti yang sangat berpengaruh kini. PKR dilihat lebih mampu menguasai pemuda-pemuda dan mahasiswa yang berfikiran liberal dan neutral untuk bersama-sama dengan Pakatan Rakyat. Apa yang pasti, tindakan segera perlu diambil untuk mereka yang sedang melakukan masalah supaya proses memantapkan Pakatan Rakyat berlangsung tanpa masalah seperti ini.

(Ini adalah pandangan dan andaian penulis semata - mata)

BENAR LAGI MEMBENARKAN – RAKYAT MERDEKA NEGARA PERKASA

Freedom of Speech According to Islamic Perspective

by Kamil al-Malizi

IPTA in this country recently has provided the stage for public speaking to allow students to make any speeches but they must follow the rule of speaks according to the University's rule. Because of this, many of my friends have asked me about the rules. I said, "If you have something very important to share, or you want to express about what you feel something that it is no rights on we(student), I cant avoid you from telling the truth. Just ignore the rules!". So, the question is, are we really understand what is the meaning of Freedom of Speech? Because of this, I did some research related to this slogan so that we can understand clearly about this matter. Not only for student but also for the people outside there especially for the ignorance!.

The concept of ‘freedom of speech’ is derived from the Capitalist ideology that is based on the belief that God and religion should be separated from life’s affairs (secularism). Human beings define how to live their lives free of the constraints of religion which is why freedom of individual, ownership, religion and speech are essential cornerstones of Capitalism. The right to speak and what are the limits of speech are therefore all defined by human beings.

This view completely contradicts Islam. In Islam it is the Creator of human beings Allah سبحانه وتعالى who gave the right of speech to people and defined the limits on what is acceptable and unacceptable speech.

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him speak good (khair) or remain silent.”

Khair in this hadith means Islam or what Islam approves of.

Every word a human being speaks is recorded by the two angels Kiraman Katibeen. Even the speaking of one ‘bad’ word may lead someone to the hellfire.

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "The person who utters a word which meets with Allah's favour may think it has not been heard, yet for this Allah will raise him to a higher level of Paradise. Conversely, the person who utters a word that stirs Allah to anger may give no thought to what he said, only to have Allah cast him in Hell for seventy years."

This is why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم emphasised the importance of controlling the tongue.

Mu'az ibn Jabal narrated: I was in company with the Prophet in a travel, and one day I was close to him while we were travelling. So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an act which will take me into Paradise and will keep me away from Hell fire…shall I not tell you of the foundation of all of that?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah,” and he took hold of his tongue and said: “Restrain this.” I said: “O Prophet of Allah, will what we say be held against us?” He said: “May your mother be bereaved of you, Mu’az ! Is there anything that topples people on their faces - or he said on their noses into Hell-fire other than the jests of their tongues?”

There are some situations where Islam has obliged Muslims to speak out against oppression and evil (munkar).

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Whoever saw a Munkar, let him change it by his hand and if he cannot then by his tongue and if he cannot then with his heart and that is the weakest of Imaan."

Many Muslims nowadays are attracted towards the concepts of human rights and freedom of speech due to the medieval oppression waged against them by the corrupt governments in the Muslim world.

In the majority of Muslim countries today speaking out against the munkar and oppression of the governments is made illegal by the rulers and their agents. They brutally suppress all political opposition and try to silence Muslims through torture and imprisonment. Even in the west they are also moving towards silencing Muslims who criticise foreign policy or hold what they deem ‘extreme’ political views under the guise of anti-terror policy.

Despite all these limits they are trying to impose on Muslims speaking out, the fact remains that it is Allah سبحانه وتعالى who defined what is acceptable and unacceptable speech. Therefore if He سبحانه وتعالى obliges Muslims to speak out against munkar and oppression then no government in the Muslim world or western world can take away this right.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The master of martyrs is Hamza bin Abdul-Muttalib and a man who stood to an oppressor ruler where he ordered him and forbade him so he (the ruler) killed him.”

Muslims who account their governments or speak out against oppression are not doing it because of freedom of speech or because the west allows them to speak. Rather they are doing it as an obligation from Islam even if it leads to death.

(These are my opinions and what I have learned.)