It is instructive to learn the opinion of Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, chairman of Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), on this important and relevant subject.
One of the most celebrated features about Islam is that it honours freedom of conscience. And the most oft-quoted verse is “There shall not be any coercion in matters of faith” (2:256)
This verse is one of the many other verses that affirm the principle of free choice in matters of personal belief.
Many quarters among the adherents of the faith, scholars not excluded, have an interpretation that the verse only means that non-believers should not be coerced into the religion. However, once the faith is professed, there is no way out.
Similarly a person, who is born a Muslim, must profess the faith, despite it being contrary to the entire precept of freedom of conscience.
Suffice it to say that the Qur’an is replete with evidence apart from the quoted verse above that depicts the human as a free agent empowered to make his or her own free choice. The argument that once someone is a Muslim, then he or she must remain a Muslim forever is nothing but a fallacy.
Such an argument does not render the true message of freedom of belief. Since Islam etymologically means to attain inner peace through willing and voluntary submission to God, it becomes inconceivable in attaining that peace if someone is coerced to become a Muslim or to remain so against his free will.
Such an argument, no matter under what excuse and justification, is inconsistent with the main tenet of the Qur’an. It is against the incontrovertible verses in the Qur’an that uphold freedom of conscience that is above all an inner feeling of acceptance and conviction.
Footnote:
Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa is an academician at Monash University. He was trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon and an ardent researcher who has presented his works across Asia and Europe. Apart from his academic and surgical world, he is actively involved in social work. He is an active Islamic worker and had delivered talks related to Islam in universities and other Islamic centres in Malaysia. He is currently the Chairman of Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), the newly launched intellectual movement and a think tank focusing on youth empowerment and promotion of intellectual discourse and reformation.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
