Islam_in_Focus_text

10. Under the political system of Islam, every citizen is
entitled to enjoy freedom of belief and conscience; and free-
dom of thought and expression. He is free to develop his po-
tentialities and improve his lot, to work and compete, to earn
and possess, to approve and disapprove of things, according
to his honest judgment But his freedom is not, and cannot
be, absolute; or else it amounts to chaos and anarchy. It is
guaranteed by the Law of God and governed by the very
same Law. As long as it is in line with this Law, it is the
rightful privilege of every individual citizen; but if it trans-
gresses the limits of Law or conflicts with the common inter-
est, it becomes a violation of God's Law and must, therefore,
be controlled. The individual is part of the whole universe,
so he must adjust himself to the Law and order to God, the
Law by which the entire universe is administered. On the
other hand, he is a member of his community or nation, and
must adapt his own rights and interests to those of others in a
mutually beneficial manner. If the individual takes an inde-
pendent attitude on a certain matter of public concern and
finds the majority taking a different attitude, he must in the
end side with the majority to maintain solidarity and co-
operation, provided the majority's decision is not contrary to
the Law of God. Yet in the process of forming a public opin-
ion he is fully entitled to express his own opinion and persu-
ade others of his convictions without disturbance or distor-
tion. When it becomes clear that the majority have chosen a