Freedom

What is Freedom? Freedom is something that everybody has heard of but which has different meanings for different people. It might be free to travel, free to speak up, free to dress however you want, free from oppression and prejudice. Freedom by definition is the right or ability to do or say what you want. But with true freedom comes responsibility.

Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for fighting against apartheid in South Africa, wonderfully stated the meaning of freedom as follows, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Freedom of expression is the right to speak, but also the right to hear. Because we need to hear all sides of the story and make our own conclusions. So, if we are concerned only with our own good and give secondary importance to the freedom of others then we cannot boast about living an ideal way of life. Social recognition and being praised do not mean freedom. Our aspirations and ambitions of being somebody are absurd and do not suggest freedom. Education or preaching does not make us free.

Following an ideal person or an example of a master is not a sign of freedom of a person. Freedom is the absence of any pressure from the political, religious and social environment that we live in.

By natural law, all the humans are equal, and they are all born with “inalienable” rights. These rights are God-given and can never be taken or given away. These fundamental rights include the right to live free, the right to enjoy the nature, the right to consume natural resources like air, water and light etc.

One of the greatest blessings given to us by God Almighty is freedom. But contrary to the literal meaning of this word, freedom means responsibility and it means submitting to the laws set by God, the Provider of our true freedom.

[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.

 

God offered the responsibility to the heavens, earth and mountains but they refused to bear it. We see how foolish we humans were and are. Even today we see people challenging God’s might, violating the commandments of God. Therefore, very truly God calls us ignorant and transgressing in the above verse.

Freedom is a gift from God. We have not earned it, initiated it or created it. Therefore, it is essential to follow His laws. God created us, one cannot deny this fact. He decided the time and place of our birth and death, our hair and eye colour, our Mom-Dad, our siblings, our complexion, our abilities, the capability of our brains, the extent of wisdom one would have, the amount of wealth one would earn etc. But He gave us the significant freedom to believe in God or not. To worship Him alone or take a partner with Him. 

God has been just and fair with us. He has allowed us to decide, without any pressure, in whom we choose to believe.

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