Freedom Of Expression With Adam, peace be upon him
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (64)
The first teaching that Allah Almighty imparted to Adam (peace be upon him) was speech and expression: {And He taught Adam the names - all of them.} [Al-Baqarah: 31].
All the names so that he could express his desires and name all things by their names. However, today, naming things can sometimes lead to consequences and result in problems.
There is a strong connection between Allah's creation of man and His teaching him expression, as He said: {The Most Merciful (1) Taught the Qur’an, (2) Created man, (3) [And] taught him eloquence. (4)} [Ar-Rahman: 1-4].
Thus, the first thing that Allah taught Adam was not how to perform his prayer, earn his livelihood, or cover his private parts, but rather the first thing He taught him, either after his creation or alongside it, was expression and the names needed for that expression. Allah Almighty said regarding the beginning of human creation: {Have We not made for him two eyes? (8) And a tongue and two lips? (9)} [Al-Balad: 8-9].
It is well known that the primary function of the tongue and lips is expression and articulation. In contrast, we find that the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) ridicules the idols and their futility by highlighting their inability to speak. Allah Almighty said: {They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?" (62) He said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak." (63)} [Al-Anbya: 62-63].
Those who do not speak or express themselves are merely statues, not humans: {Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path].} [Al-Baqarah: 18].
The function of expression and communication is one of the greatest innate characteristics and talents that Allah has distinguished the human race with, making it an inherent part of their being from the very beginning. This aspect forms a significant part of human identity and essence, highlighting the crucial importance of communication in human life and in the collective life of humanity. There is no doubt that expression—which is an integral part of human nature and identity—manifests itself in the honest articulation of what is in the soul, mind, and heart. The human disposition and authenticity are represented in naming things by their true names, that is, in the honest and accurate expression of what is in one’s heart and conscience.
What confirms the innate nature of this behavior and the deviation that arises from opposing it is that all people love to express themselves and value honesty. They appreciate those who are straightforward and who speak the truth. This cherished straightforwardness is, at its core, nothing more than a sincere and sound expression of what is in the heart when the situation calls for it.
Its opposite can either be the failure to express what is in the soul or expressing something contrary to what is in the soul. The scholar Ibn Ashour confirms that the attribute of freedom, including the freedom of speech, is an innate and necessary quality for any human advancement. He stated; "Freedom is an instinctive impulse in human souls, through which human powers of thought, speech, and action grow. It allows intellectual talents to flourish and compete in the fields of innovation and refinement. Therefore, it should not be restricted except by a restriction that protects its owner from a certain harm or brings about a benefit."
If it is established and clarified that the quality of expression and articulation is an innate characteristic of humans, it means that it surpasses the level of acquired rights and rises to the level of "natural rights". In other words, it is not just a right of human beings, but a fundamental attribute of what it means to be human. There is a significant difference between depriving a person of certain rights and stripping them of certain intrinsic qualities. In the latter case, a person is affected at the core of their humanity, not merely in relation to a right they possess.
Therefore, Ibn Ashour believes that the position of determining freedom is a difficult, critical, and delicate matter for the non-infallible legislator. It is the duty of those in authority to be cautious and not to rush, because anything beyond what is necessary to avert corruption and achieve essential benefits through the limitation of freedom constitutes injustice.
He said: "Know that the violation of freedom is a form of injustice. {And He taught Adam the names - all of them.}; Indeed, Allah Almighty endowed Adam with the ability to express the feelings, thoughts, and ideas within himself, symbolizing them with names for the named entities, and assigning names to all things, whether they are living creatures, inanimate objects, thoughts, concepts, or ideas. The Quranic verse clarifies that Allah Almighty taught Adam and empowered him to articulate and symbolize all named entities."
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 476-479.
- The Book of Genesis in the Balance of the Qur’an from Adam to Abraham, Salah Al-Khalidi, p. 56.
- The Objectives of Islamic Law, Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur, p. 287.
- The Origins of the Social System in Islam, Ibn Ashur, p. 177.
- Freedoms from the Holy Quran, Ali Al-Salabi, p. 79.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
