Freedom / Right to Choose

The word independence is only mentioned once in Quran and has a different meaning than the definition we in the US celebrate on July 4th.

[23:91] GOD has never begotten a son. Nor was there ever any other god besides Him. Otherwise, each god would have declared independence with his creations, and they would have competed with each other for dominance. GOD be glorified; far above their claims.

The world freedom is not mentioned directly in the Quran except as an explanation in 33:72 We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant. 

There were 17 definitions for freedom in a dictionary I looked at. Here are 10. 

1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.
2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. the power to determine action without restraint.

4. political or national independence.
5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery.
6. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.
7. a particular immunity or privilege enjoyed.
8. civil liberty, as opposed to subjection to an arbitrary or despotic government.
9. the right to enjoy all the privileges or special rights of citizenship, membership, etc.
10. the right to frequent, enjoy, or use at will.

The freedom that we celebrate in the US on July 4th concerns our independence from British rule. 

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical. By the middle of the 1776, however, many colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain

 

 and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776. The main points made in the pamphlet were that government’s purpose was to serve the people and America had a rare opportunity to create a new nation based on self-rule. Centuries before the existence of the internet, Common Sense managed to go viral, selling an estimated 500,000 copies. 

Now it’s 246 years later and so much has happened. Although this country has done so many wrongs to so many people, we are still one of the most free and prosperous nations on earth. God has truly blessed us to live in a free country. To be able to practice our submission, openly and freely. In our busy lives I feel it is easy to take for granted just how blessed we are to not be living in an oppressive country where despots and tyrants rule and have no regard for their people who suffer greatly often just to obtain the basic needs of life. May God help us to continue to be appreciative that we live in one of the freest countries in the world.

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