* The Statement [see the Archive]
* The Signatories [see the Archive]
To add your name to the signatories, send an email to islambychoice@gmail.com with your name, affiliation/occupation, highest degree/field, country of residence.
" ... Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error ..." [The Qur'an 2/Al-Baqara/256]
This is Islam's unambiguous affirmation of freedom of faith, which also applies to changing of faith. The Qur'an illuminates before the humanity the two highways [90:10], one of which leads to salvation. Islam is an invitation to the highway toward salvation, but it is based on FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
[In alphabetical order of the last name]
1. Dr. Asma Afsaruddin [Associate Professor, Arabic & Islamic Studies, University of Notre Dame]
2. Dr. Omar Afzal [retired from South Asian Collection, Cornell University]
3. Dr. Ahrar Ahmad [Professor of Political Science, Black Hills State University]
4. Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad [President/Director, Minaret of Freedom Institute, Bethesda, Maryland; USA]
5. Dr. Mohammad Fadel [Faculty of Law, University of Toronto]
6. Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq [Upper Iowa University]
7. Mike Mohamed Ghouse [President, Muslim World Congress]
8. Shah Abdul Hannan [Chairman of Islamic Economic Research Bureau; Director, Islamic Bank Bangladesh Ltd; Bangladesh]
9. Dr. Layla al-Marayati [Muslim Women's League]
10. Dr. Sulayman Nyang [Professor, African Studies Department, Howard University]
11. Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina [Professor, University of Virginia]
To be a Muslim or Believer is to stand for justice for ALL
"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that you do." [4/an-Nisa/135]Seeking common grounds is an Islamic imperative
Jalaluddin Rumi
The way of love is not a subtle argument.
The door there is devastation.
Birds make great sky-
circles of their freedom.
How do they learn it?
They fall, and
falling they’re given wings.
Hafiz
Let's offer flowers, pour a cup of libation,
split open the skies and start anew on creation.
If the forces of grief invade our lovers' veins,
cupbearer and I will wash away this temptation.
With rose water we'll mellow crimson wine's bitter cup;
we'll sugar the fire to sweeten smoke's emanation.
Take this fine lyre, musician, strike up a love song;
let's dance, sing all night, go wild in celebration.
As dust, 0 West Wind, let us rise to the Heavens,
floating free in Creator's glow of elation.
If mind desires to return while heart cries to stay,
here's a quarrel for love's deliberation.
Alas, these words and songs go for naught in this land;
come, Hafez, let's create a new generation.
Allamah Muhammad Iqbal
If the kings know not their Sustainer,
they are beggars,
And if the beggars do
they are Darius and Jamshed;
Freedom of the heart is sovereignity;
stomach is death,
The choice is yours;
heart or stomach?
Kazi Nazrul Islam
(translated from Bangla by Mohammad Omar Farooq)
We haven't embraced your message,
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
We have forgotten your ideals
And the path for us that you did set.*
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
You trampled like dust
Luxury and wealth, O master!*
You never dreamed that
We will be kings or lords of disaster!*
In this world's resource and treasure
Everyone has right of due measure;*
You proclaimed, on this earth,
Equal son's treatment all will get.*
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
In your religion, toward the unbelievers
You did not direct any hate;*
You served them as your fellows,
For all of them was open your hospitable gate.*
To demolish temples of others anywhere on land,
O valiant, you did not ever command;*
Now even difference in opinion from others
We can't bear or tolerate.*
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
You did not seek in the name of faith
Meaningless and shameful killing or fight;*
You did not place sword in our hand,
Rather gave us guidance, so noble and upright.*
Ignoring your tolerance and Magnanimity,
We have elevated fanaticism to a warped nobility;*
Is that why, from the heavenly fountain,
Does not flow that mercy, so divine and great?*
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
We haven't embraced your message
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
We have forgotten your ideals
And the path for us that you did set.*
Please forgive us, O Prophet!*
Hakim Sanai
Your heartrending fire
made me bloom like a rose.
I died at your feet
and returned fast to life.
My inborn freedom
offered nothing in profit;
but now I am free,
since becoming your slave.
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