It is extremely important to understand the difference between ‘Blasphemy’ and ‘Refutation’. Those who fail to grasp this distinction often mistake others’ ‘refutation’ and ‘difference of opinion’ for blasphemy, and in response, they initiate a chain of abuse and blasphemy against them. When told that blaspheming someone is wrong, they retort, ‘We are also blasphemed!’ Even though no one has blasphemed them, but merely refuted them.
This same misunderstanding and stubbornness exists among non-Muslims who blaspheme Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). When protested against, they respond, ‘Muslims also blaspheme our deities and sacred figures. So, if we speak out against your Prophet (peace be upon him), who has committed a crime??’
Some naive Muslims are stunned by this response and start thinking, ‘After all, we too keep speaking against others.’ Then they console themselves by saying, ‘We are on the truth, so we have the right to speak, while they are on falsehood, so we can say anything to them.’
However, this thinking is entirely contrary to Islam. In reality, these people fail to distinguish between ‘blasphemy’ and ‘refutation’ and are caught in a mix-up of concepts.
Islam teaches to call falsehood as falsehood—i.e., to refute the false—but Islam absolutely does not permit the blasphemy of the followers of falsehood. Therefore, responding to ‘refutation’ with ‘blasphemy’ and accusing Islam and Muslims of ‘blasphemy’ when others do so is sheer injustice.
The Holy Quran is filled with refutations of false deities, yet there is not a single word of blasphemy against them throughout the entire Quran. On the contrary, the Quran explicitly prohibits blasphemy or abuse against false deities. Allah says:
{وَلاَ تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَذَلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ}
“And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.” [Surah Al-An’am: 108]
Reflect: If Islam does not permit blasphemy even against the deities placed in opposition to Allah, how can it permit blasphemy against anyone else?
In Islam’s view, humanity’s greatest enemy is ‘Satan’, and the Quran explicitly calls him the ‘open enemy’ of all people at multiple places. Yet, even against Satan, Islam does not permit abuse. Rather, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) explicitly forbade Muslims from blaspheming Satan. The Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) states:
“Narrated by Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do not blaspheme Satan, but seek refuge in Allah from his evil.'” [Al-Mukhtasirah: 1572, authenticated by Al-Albani according to the condition of Bukhari in Al-Saheehah, No. 2422].
Reflect: If Islam does not permit abuse even against its greatest enemy, Satan, can it teach its followers to abuse or blaspheme their opponents??
Not only this—Islam has also forbidden anyone from blaspheming even themselves, even though this is a personal matter that causes no harm to others. The Hadith states:
“Narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘None of you should say, “My soul has become evil,” but rather say, “My soul has become lazy.”‘ [Bukhari: Book of Manners, Chapter: Do Not Say ‘My Soul Has Become Evil’, No. 6179].
In short, Islamic teachings leave no room for blaspheming anyone—whether one’s own people or others, allies or opponents.
However, Islam commands to call falsehood as falsehood and to refute the false. And if a non-Muslim calls Islam false and refutes it, he is free to do so.
But Islam allows no room for blaspheming anyone, nor does it permit others to blaspheme Islam or Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him).
If someone does not accept Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), he is free not to accept him. But if someone blasphemes Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), he is absolutely not free; in Islam, the punishment for this is death.
Islam refutes false religions and also gives others the freedom that if they do not wish to accept Islam, they can refute it—there is no compulsion. Allah says:
{لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لاَ انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ}
“There is no compulsion in religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in the taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 256]
But since Islam does not blaspheme any other religion or its leaders, others have no right to blaspheme Islam or the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him).
It is essential to understand the difference between ‘blasphemy’ and ‘refutation’, and to refute opponents without blaspheming them.
(Kifayatullah Sanabili)
