Abdus-Salam al-Basuni

In this short but important treatise, Shaykh ‘Abdus-Salâm al-Basyoni weighs in on the ongoing global discourse about freedom of expression. He reviews the history of freedom of opinion in the West and compares that with how Islam approaches the issue. He examines the arguments in favour of unrestricted freedom of expression in light of some actual consequences. Shaykh al-Basyoni demonstrates that the freedom to express one’s opinion is a fundamental right that is respected and protected by Islamic law. He argues that this right is embedded in the laws and principles of Islam, and shows how crucial limitations placed upon freedom of opinion work to protect the rights of individuals, their privacy, their property and their honour, as well as to preserve the sanctity of human life and the security of human societies. The English translation of this book was written by Ahmad Rami ash-Shahid.