What is the Muslim view on freedom of religion?

[ZooGirl02]

Hey everyone. What is the Muslim view on freedom of religion? I am aware of the Koranic scripture which says there is no compulsion in religion but if that is the case, then why do Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia prohibit the existence of Christianity in some cases and in others they prohibit proselytization?

 

[bowingtoGod]

Hey everyone. What is the Muslim view on freedom of religion? I am aware of the Koranic scripture which says there is no compulsion in religion but if that is the case, then why do Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia prohibit the existence of Christianity in some cases and in others they prohibit proselytization?

There is freedom of religion. You are free to believe whatever you want. Forced conversions are absolutely illegal in Islam.
Saudi Arabia contains the Holy Land. The Hijaz area (Mecca, Medina, etc) is off limits to non Muslims. As such, that is why other religions are prohibited there. But not all of Saudi Arabia is holy. There are Christians there. But Saudi Arabia has a strict literal interpretation of sharia, so they are much harsher in their laws against other religions being able to exist. They are called "Wahabi". All other Islamic nations that I know of allow other religions to exist.
Proselytize of other religions is I believed illegal in Sharia. Whereas we allow the freedom of religion, it is an Islamic state. Trying to get people away from Islam is considered treason and dangerous to the state. As such it is illegal. But hardly any Muslim nations actually believe this interpretation. But they still frown upon it (as do Christians when Muslims give out free Qur'ans).

Hope I helped Salaam

 

[ZooGirl02]

There is freedom of religion. You are free to believe whatever you want. Forced conversions are absolutely illegal in Islam.
Saudi Arabia contains the Holy Land. The Hijaz area (Mecca, Medina, etc) is off limits to non Muslims. As such, that is why other religions are prohibited there. But not all of Saudi Arabia is holy. There are Christians there. But Saudi Arabia has a strict literal interpretation of sharia, so they are much harsher in their laws against other religions being able to exist. They are called "Wahabi". All other Islamic nations that I know of allow other religions to exist.
Proselytize of other religions is I believed illegal in Sharia. Whereas we allow the freedom of religion, it is an Islamic state. Trying to get people away from Islam is considered treason and dangerous to the state. As such it is illegal. But hardly any Muslim nations actually believe this interpretation. But they still frown upon it (as do Christians when Muslims give out free Qur'ans).

Hope I helped Salaam

How can Islam truly allow religious freedom if it does not allow others to proselytize? That is not true freedom of religion in my opinion.

 

[Bismillah]

Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance

religious freedom for Muslims, Jews and pagans was declared by Muhammad in the Constitution of Medina. The Islamic Caliphate later guaranteed religious freedom under the conditions that non-Muslim communities accept dhimmi (protected) status and their adult males pay the jizya tax as a substitute for the zakat paid by Muslim citizens

Freedom of religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm not sure what there is to argue.

 

[bowingtoGod]

How can Islam truly allow religious freedom if it does not allow others to proselytize? That is not true freedom of religion in my opinion.

they are free to believe in what they want. But you must understand that an Islamic state is a religious state, and as such it believes that Islam is the true religion. To proselytize other religions is not only dangerous to the state, but for the individual as well.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

So a person can even be a Pagan or the like in Islamic state if they didn't proselytize? I've seen some say this only applies to Jews and Christians. Not Pagans, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.

 

[bowingtoGod]

So a person can even be a Pagan or the like in Islamic state if they didn't proselytize? I've seen some say this only applies to Jews and Christians. Not Pagans, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.

Yes even pagans are allowed, although I believe they do not get their own courts as Christians and Jews do. For example, Buddhists and Hindus were granted Dhimmi status in Islamic states

 

[ZooGirl02]

they are free to believe in what they want. But you must understand that an Islamic state is a religious state, and as such it believes that Islam is the true religion. To proselytize other religions is not only dangerous to the state, but for the individual as well.

Interesting. I can see how allowing proselytization in an Islamic state could be dangerous to the state. But it still seems like it would be interfering upon another person's freedom of religion somehow.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I don't think a person should proselytize when they live in a state belonging to a specific religion. Maybe that's just me.

 

[beenie]

I don't think a person should proselytize when they live in a state belonging to a specific religion. Maybe that's just me.

agree. why would one want to do that? practice your religion...fine. but to willingly move to an Islamic state and start proselytizing? why?

 

[Amica]

Once a country has a state religion, that means that the religion is also political system (or part of the political system) of that country. That is why it is considered treason when the state religion is betrayed or attacked by proselytizing.
However, I think that since Islam guarantees religious freedoms, people should be free to explore if they so choose. Qur'an no where others punishment for apostates besides mentioning that the punishment of the apostates is in the Hereafter.

On the other note, I must mention that calling some Muslims 'Wahabis' is inappropriate. I listened to a speech of a brother who reminded us Muslims that 'Al-Wahab' is one of the Holy Attributes/Names of Allah SWT. Calling people 'Wahabis' in a demeaning way could be interpreted as mocking Al-Wahab Himself as 'Wahabis' might imply that the followers of Al-Wahab are somehow evil because of it.