This apparent human rights related issue is highly sensitive to the multiracial and multi-religious character of Malaysia. It turns to be problematic, untenable to some, especially when it deals with conversion into and out of Islam. It’s true, the whole question involves certain legal and social implications. At times, its repercussions appear to rattle the social solidarity and religious harmony of our peaceful nation. All these threatening consequences are actually caused by ignorance. This writing is not to incite further dissension, neither is it intended to sound apologetic. On the contrary it calls for all parties directly or indirectly affected by the subject matter, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to view it with an open heart guided by wisdom.
Scholars have admitted that Islam is the most misunderstood religion of all world religions. Misrepresentations and misperceptions about it are causing many to hurriedly develop an unjustified Islamophobia. This syndrome is actually a ‘fear of the unknown’ as these people don’t really understand what Islam is all about. Many simply accept the many global misrepresentations incessantly put to them via the media.
Seen through the lens of discourse on human rights, apostasy in Islam has been notoriously brought into conflict with the doctrine of human rights in general, and with the notion of freedom of religion in particular. Among the questions raised is, if Islam can easily be embraced, by the same token, why does it not allow Muslim(s) to leave Islam? Is this just? Does such a restriction exist in other religions?
It is unquestionable that Islam indeed recognizes human rights, in fact from its very inception, long before these ideas were developed and documented in its modern secular form by the West like the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. Islam, as systematically reflected by the Cairo Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights, 1981, advocates human rights via the Syariah, or rather the maqasid al-syariah (the objectives of law). These objectives include the establishment of justice, individual education and preservation of human welfare or interests by, among others, protecting and preserving the freedom of thought, worship, rights to property and preservation of the progeny. These constitute the inviolable principles of ‘human rights’.
What many fail to comprehend ‘deliberately or otherwise’ is that, Islam is probably the only religion that honours its followers to the utmost. Islam regards its adherents, both originally born Muslim as well as converts, as invaluable assets. Once they come to the fold of Islam, they stand equal. Therefore, the responsibilities, duties and rights of all Muslims are basically the same. Individually, they are equally entitled to achieve success in this world as well as salvation in the Hereafter, of course, guided by and within the parameters set up by the Syariah.
Muslims firmly believe that they are in the territory of truth, the right path. They are bathed in the brightest light. For the Muslims, Truth is light, falsehood is darkness. Therefore, it is a grave injustice to them if they were to deviate from that Truth. From another angle, Islam is the last Semitic religion. Logically, being the last from among the ‘revealed religions’, implies that Islam is the more complete. It is inconceivable for someone who is already in a state of completeness to opt for imperfection. Furthermore, the fact that Islam prohibits apostasy reflects the integrity and credibility of the religion. If Islam were to grant permission for Muslims to change religion at will, it would imply it has no dignity, no self-esteem. And people may then question its completeness, truthfulness and perfection.
Echoing the observations of Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas, ‘rights’ or huquq in Islam refers to something which is right, true, correct, proper, etc. ‘Freedom’ or ikhtiyar means a choice for the good or better. So it is neither one’s right nor is it freedom to choose something evil, false, wrong, incorrect, imperfect, etc. Religiously, morally and legally, man has no right to do wrong.
Nevertheless, there are feeble confused Muslims around. They may be the result of improper or inadequate education, the lack of exposure to the more comprehensive teachings of Islam. And due to worldly temptations, this weakness causes their religious foundations to become shaky. Certain converts who embrace Islam for practical or utilitarian purposes, like marriages or for certain socio-political privileges, may fall into this situation. Apparently, their common feature is a lack of knowledge and understanding of Islam. So if one insists on adopting the aforementioned wrong conception of ‘rights’ and ‘freedom’, one is actually exposing one�s own shameful ignorance! Sadly, certain people just don’t have any shame anymore!
For a convert, before he/she becomes a Muslim, no matter for what reason(s), it is only reasonable that he/she must have a certain degree of basic knowledge about Islam. He/she must take efforts to study the fundamentals of the religion first. This is actually his/her responsibility and duty. Take note that rights do not come out of vacuum. They are accompanied by certain responsibilities and duties. For example, before one can exercise one’s right or freedom to buy a car of his choice, one must first obtain a driving license. Without that document, he/she will only endanger himself as well as others perhaps with fatal consequences. He/she cannot scream to be given the right or freedom to buy if the requirement of responsibility is not fulfilled beforehand.
Muslims must understand, inter alia, that once they come into the fold of Islam, there is no question of leaving the faith or reverting to one’s earlier belief even if the very reason for one to come to Islam in the first place ceases to exist, or later becomes a burden. One may be a bad or a non-practicing Muslim, but there’s hardly any room available for one to denounce that religion. This is the more accepted position of Islam.
One cannot argue that Islam does not recognize the idea of freedom of worship. First and foremost, the very doctrine of Islam, as reflected in the Holy Qur’an, teaches that there’s no compulsion. Once one is a Muslim, there’s no excuse for one not to abide by its teachings. Another reading of the verse suggests that for those already born Muslims, they must understand that they too must practice the religion sincerely without any element of force or coercion. Otherwise, all their actions become meaningless.
Freedom of worship, therefore, is to be understood not only in the sense of making a choice for the better, but also in the sense of freedom to practice a particular religion. Once one accepts Islam or decides to become a Muslim, he/she is subjected to all the rules and regulations prescribed by the religion. If Islam forbids apostasy, not only the Muslims must observe it, but the followers of other religions that do not have such provisions, must appreciate and respect this position as well. Islam must be allowed to apply and enforce its teachings without unnecessary interference. This is actually the freedom of worship that must be perceived by all. This explains the importance of having correct knowledge or understanding before ones makes any vital decisions or evaluations in one’s life.