Should we be free to lie? I know this is a leading question. It can be asked the other way: where should freedom of speech stop?
Simple fun lies should be no problem. I mean if I can’t lie to my friends and family, I won’t be able to give them a lot of surprises.
Where is the limit? Where is the border?
There is a grave chance of it being misused, if implemented. If we try to regulate lies, even legitimate claims may be called a lie and the person excecuted. Where is the way out?
For example the recent Tasleema controversy. What she did was basically ill-translated the Qur’an, quoted Surahs that did not exist (in the name she quoted) and did all sorts of things one can do to prove oneself, except by being truthful and impartial.
She will be widely read. A lot more people will misunderstand Islam. A lot more people will hate Islam. More bigots will get more petrol in their raths. The Last Day will draw a little nearer.
Should she be not held responsible for that?
How can we ensure that nobody can knowingly and purposely lies, at the same time ensuring that it does not stop legitimate criticism and be misused?
There is a huge difference between criticism and plain, bare-faced lying.
Criticism is where you base your argument on observations, facts, and personal opinion.
Lying is, well, just making stuff up! What else can i say?
Lying is also called “slander”, and if it is done in the public arena, the culprit can be sued (in the UK), under the Defamation Act, i believe. I have seen it being used by various celebrities and politicians, who have claimed that the press have made certain stories up about them. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose – it depends on the evidence, and the judge.
I’m not sure how successful individuals and religious groups would be, if they were to use the Act… it’d be interesting to see if there have been any such cases. I don’t know of any, off the top of my head.
I agree with the view above. There is a difference between a criticism and a lie. But I disagree that a lot more people would mis-understand Islam because of that. Because sources are too many these days that one can verify whatever claim one makes.
They will diganta. For two reasons:
1. Most will not check because it was published in Outlook. How often, after reading an article, do we go and check all the references?
2. Many people have the idea that Islam is very oppressive, their ideas will only get confirmed. Satisfied, they won’t check.
Ms. Taslima is a crook as is Mr. Rushdie. A mere refutation is the least they deserve (perhaps they should marry
). Its not about lying but its about making things up to promote one’s propaganda. Can anyone find fault with the Quran??!! They are all insane rants of people with demented mentality trying to raise clamour over frivolous issues, just to earn name and fame.
BTW, i forget each time, Ummah includes everyone. Each living creature on this planet irrespective of his/her religious affiliation. Remember the Hadith where the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) cried for a funeral procession of a jew?
Lieng for fun should be fine I guess.Most of the jokes on the planet are exagerrations of any situation and that can come in the category of lieing. If there were no jokes, world would be a boring place.
Don’t just talk about Tasleema Nasreen’s lies. Bush lied about WMD,s and the result was IRAQ war, Musharraf’s is a habitual lier, we have so many of them in our own countryt(most politicians fall under this category.Children lie to their parents, parents are not very far behind(the intent is different).If our lies don’t harm anybody I think they should be permissible especially if they benefit somebody.
I forgot to ask, does Ummah actually mean everybody because I heard it only from Musharraf and he certainly meant muslims. I will be glad to know the real meaning.
Prerna,
Ummah means the whole of mankind. To be frank it includes every living creature who was born after the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was given the knowledge of Quran. We all are his Ummah. Similarly there were many more prophets of Islam and each had their Ummah. Prophet Isa (Peace be upon Him) or Jesus for many, is the only prophet who will also be a part of another prophet’s ummah (I am referring to his decent on earth after Mr. Dhajjal is let lose)
Okay Sharique, thanks for clearing up. I didn’t know the subtle difference. The difference is not that subtle though.
I don’t know. But the moment she published, I checked them out in net. She has clearly used her own translation. If people want be fools, then you can’t stop them.
Otherwise, she only ’suggested’, hence I do not find any offence in her. Had she tried to establish as ‘truth’, I would have taken your stance.
The question of where to draw the line and who to decide that point is is interesting in the larger sphere of life as well. Freedom of speech surely means freedom to say anything; yet the freedom to say nasty, unfounded things infringes upon other peoples freedom. Therefore is the principle of freedom of speech flawed? But if it is, what does it leave us with? A state where freedom of speech does not exist will be so oppressive. Or won’t it?
Diganta,
Suggested? Should she not have verified her translation before going on to publishing it? Especially so when she was basing her arguments on the translation? (Or rather the distortions of the translation)
For example take this:
“Tell the faithful women that they must keep their gaze focused below/on the ground and cover their sexual organs”
It actually is
“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof”
Do you want to call that Suggesting?
She says there is a Hadeeth that says “they(women) should not go to the mosque to read the namaaz,”
If this is not a lie then what is? The actual Hadeeth is “If your women want to pray in the mosque do not stop them, but praying at home is best for them.”
Is that suggesting your honour?
Hi Sharique,
Thanks for responding to the earlier comment and clearing the doubt. I agree with Sporadic on the freedom of speech issue. Let me add something on visiting the Mosque by women issue. In Malaysia and Maldives I have seen women in Mosques. I have myself entered mosques in these countries although as a tourist. The only restriction was that people should be dressed properly(skirts and shorts should cover the knees). The environment was friendly.That was long time back, much before 9/11. I hope it is the same now.
Who is this Tasleema Nasreen?
There is a hadith in Bukhari that translates roughly to saying that “He has not lied who has spoken an untruth to preserve kinship between two people.” Obviously, that’s not the circumstance here, so she’ll be accountable for this.
Dishonesty is against the grain of a Muslim, and ultimately, Allah promises that Truth will stand clear from falsehood.
I’ve been following the Tasleema Nasrin saga for a while now, when she first “emerged”, so to speak. She has absolutely no credibility, and lacks even basic intelligence. This much becomes obvious to anyone who actually reads any of her fiction – she’s simply not a talented writer or thinker. But by playing the persecution card, she has managed to garner international attention. She’ll fall back on that persecution card in the face of any criticism, and it’ll only increase her appeal to the confused souls she’s influenced.
There is legal reprise against slander, as iMuslim stated, but the real responsibility remains ours, to present our own picture and delivering our own message. Simply refuting her will only increase the sympathy people have for her; our goal should be to provide enough logical alternatives that her message gets drowned away. There are some people who will never accept, but most people are logical and sensible, and will accept logical arguments when they are presented to them.
Prerna,
A state without freedom of speech will not be criticised. Without criticism, even if led by a good leadership, will not recognise it’s faults. And then…
Little sister Mouse,
Tasleema is a bangladeshi writer(!). She won her fame by attempting to defame Islam. She’s weak with her pen and brain (Faraz has already said that).
She’s famous because she’s controversial. Unfortunately some people among us have fallen into her tactic, by threatening to kill her.
Obvious enough, thease threats, even if it comes from the least authority in the Islamic world, reaches headlines. The logical refutations are tucked under carpet. Thus, Tasleema gets credibility.
Most of these controversies are best left alone.By threatning people and taking law into our hands we make them popular. Most people wouldn’t have read Tasleema Nasreen or for that matter Salman Rushdie had they not been threatened. The other side of the coin is that people tend to condemn things even before reading them, both the extremes are bad. Let me make it clear I am against hurting anybody’s sentiments, and when I say anybody I want to include all religious and ethnic groups.I should not do to others what I don’t want for myself.
The reason why there are Muslims who resort to such threats is perhaps, because we are not all blessed with the ability to express ourselves eloquently. I am quite pathetic at debating in person. I would not say that all these people are ‘uneducated’ in the deen, or otherwise. They love Islam, and they want to defend it, and because they don’t think they can by writing fancy articles or what-have-you, they resort to lesser tactics.
I am not defending these actions as correct, but am simply trying to understand the motivation. Most Muslims (and people, in general) do not have a voice; they feel powerless and exploited, and so they use the one form of protest that still packs a punch – quite literally.
Gaining more influence in society would help matters. You can tell a people to be patient for only so long; it is easier to be patient when you can see that your leaders are trying to do something to fight the evil. However, just spouting words such as “have trust in Allah”, and then twiddling one’s thumbs – that’s asking for trouble, IMO.
[...] given her ignorance and mendaciousness. While freedom of expression is, without doubt, a virtue, freedom to lie is a [...]