Are there any documents indicating freedom of expression in the Quran and in hadith narrations?

- Is it not contrary to the freedom of expression for Muhammad to order the people criticizing him to be killed?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- In Islam, freedom of expression is much more than in any other system. That non-Muslims have practiced their faiths freely throughout history including the Era of Bliss is a clear evidence of it. 

“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.” (al-Baqara, 2/256),

“Say, "The truth is from your Lord": Let him who will believe, and let him who will, reject (it).” (al-Kahf, 18/29),

“Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish. Thou art not one to manage (men´s) affairs..” (al-Ghashiya, 88/21-22)

The verses above and similar ones show that a free life is ensured in Islam.

There are hundreds of examples showing that freedom of expression is much more than that of democracies today. Here are a few of them:  

Abu Hurayra narrates: We sat in the mosque with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the mosque every morning. When he wanted to go home, he would stand up and we would stand up with him and wait standing until he went home. Once, when he reached the middle of the mosque, a Bedouin came over and said, “O Muhammad! Give me two camel loads of grain; you do not give them from your own wealth or from your father’s wealth.” Meanwhile, he seized the Prophet’s garment and pulled it. The Prophet’s neck became red. Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “No. I ask forgiveness from Allah (I take refuge in Allah from saying what I give belongs to me or to my father), but I will not give you anything unless you release my garment.” He repeated it three times. Then, he called somebody and said to him, “Give this man two loads of camel, one load of barley and one load of dates.” (Kanzul-Ummal, h. No: 18709)

Hz. Aisha narrates:

“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) never took revenge from anyone for the injustice done to him. He punished only those who disobeyed Allah’s commandments and prohibitions.” (Bukhari, Manaqib, 23).

That the Prophet forgave all of his enemies after the conquest of Makkah shows his extraordinary solemn position and tolerant and forgiving characteristic.

- The crime of some people who were executed was not to criticize the Prophet but to curse all holy things of the religion of Islam, to prevent people from becoming believers and to try to organize various conspiracies to eliminate the Islamic state, and to commit similar crimes. 

Otherwise, it is known that the Prophet forgave so many people that criticized him.

Abdullah b. Masud narrates:

While the Prophet was distributing the booty after the Battle of Hunayn, somebody said, “By Allah, Allah's consent has not been aimed in this distribution.” I told the Messenger of Allah about it, He said,

“If Allah and His Apostle did not act justly, who else would act justly. May Allah be merciful to Moses, for he was harmed with more than this, yet he kept patient.” (Bukhari, Khumus,19)

Questions on Islam