Islam and Human Rights — Page 169
Article 20 169 expression. The need for its specific formulation has arisen in consequence of certain political and economic developments in recent times. Paragraph 2 of the article has direct reference to political and economic systems in which membership of certain parties, groups or organisations is sought to be secured or promoted through compulsion or coercion. Islam stands firmly and uncompromisingly on freedom of conscience. It does not seek to secure even belief in God, which is the principal concern of religion, through compulsion or coercion. Much less does it obstruct free association for the achievement of beneficent and lawful purposes through peaceful methods. Indeed, it encourages and even enjoins such association and co-operation, but forbids co-operation in sin and transgression, which obvi ously cannot be described as “peaceful”. “Co-operate with one another in the promotion of virtue and beneficence; but co-operate not with one another in fostering sin and transgression. Be mindful of your duty to Allah; surely, Allah is severe in retribution” (5:3). Conspiracies are severely condemned; all association and conferring together must be for the promotion of beneficence. “O ye who believe, when you confer