True Freedom

Allah (swt) says: “Indeed, those who inject deviation into Our verses are not concealed from Us. So, is he who is cast into the Fire better, or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do” (41:40).

The “deviation” (ilḥād) mentioned here refers to turning away from the Ayat (verses, signs) of Allah and disregarding the guidance they contain. These signs comprise both: Universal signs: the evidences found in creation, as in His saying: “Say, ‘Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds’” (41:9) and Revealed verses: the guidance conveyed through revelation, as in His saying: “And those who disbelieve say, ‘Do not listen to this Qur an, and speak noisily during [its recitation] that perhaps you will overcome’” (41:26). Such deviation originates in the corruption of one’s will and misuse of free choice. Free will is, in fact, the central element of life’s tests, as Allah (swt) says: “Do whatever you will; indeed, He sees all that you do” (41:40). And: “And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord — so whoever wills, let him believe, and whoever wills, let him disbelieve’” (18:29).

Every choice a person makes in life is guided by awareness and the pursuit of happiness. A servant’s understanding of what constitutes true happiness determines the direction of his/her choices. Allah Almighty says: “That is because you rejoiced on earth without right and because you were exultant” (40:75). The root of misguidance, then, lies in seeking joy — joy pursued apart from rightful guidance. This brings us to a crucial point: the belief a servant holds regarding freedom. One’s understanding of freedom shapes the choices and actions taken in pursuit of his/her goals. Indeed, this belief governs the formation of personal desires, which arise from innate inclinations. These desires, in turn, are directed either toward the Hereafter or toward worldly life.

Worldly or material “freedom” consists of indulging in one’s whims, whereas true freedom and liberation lie in restraining the soul from its base desires. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Every person goes forth in the morning, selling his soul — either setting it free or destroying it.”

To grasp the reality of true liberation — restraining the soul from its whims — we must first recognize the nature of following those whims. Only then can we rid ourselves of their influence and purify our hearts, lest we be counted among the deviators.

In the materialist worldview, the foundations of the concept of freedom are as follows:

human development, growth, and the pursuit of happiness and security are seen as achievable solely through material advancement – measured by technological progress, economic growth, infrastructure, and comfort of living. Moral and spiritual values are largely neglected, replaced by the illusion of unlimited progress.

- Within this framework, freedom is detached from divine authority, which is dismissed as the ultimate source of moral order. Human autonomy, reason, and social contracts are instead elevated as the basis of ethical and societal regulation.

- Freedom is treated as an absolute, independent value, disconnected from any moral framework. This produces an “anarchy of freedom,” where liberty serves individual consumerist and material desires, rather than the cultivation of human character and virtue.

- The unilinear notion of progress, combined with the concept of absolute freedom, organizes relationships and societal priorities around utilitarian pleasure. Morality is reduced to a calculation of outcomes, divorced from any fixed standard of good and evil.

When morality is removed, what is considered enjoyable or beneficial is determined solely by shifting social consensus. The inevitable outcome of such a system is deviance. In short, when pleasure becomes the ultimate moral authority, corruption and perversion are not accidental byproducts — they are inherent and unavoidable. As Allah the Exalted says: “And who is more astray than one who follows his own desires without guidance from Allah?” (28:50). And, “Have you seen the one who takes his own desire as his god? Will you then be a guardian over him? Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are nothing but like cattle — no, they are even more astray in way” (25:43-44).

The doctrine of the utilitarian pleasure principle is encapsulated in the slogan: “Be all you can be.” It promotes self-actualization and personal growth within a framework that is neither moral nor divine. Inevitably, this leads to the distortion of character and deviation in creed.

Recognizing this, we see the necessity of implementing the system of true freedom — the freedom that makes a human genuinely human and honors his/her dignity. The foundation of this truth lies in restraining the soul from its desires. This does not require uprooting desires entirely — for that is beyond human capacity — but rather, entails striving to curb, control, and discipline them. For this effort, Allah (swt) has promised immense reward: Paradise, so that the servant may fully grasp the significance of this struggle: “And as for those who were in awe of standing before their Lord and restrained themselves from ˹evil˺ desires, Paradise will certainly be ˹their˺ home” (79:40-41) .

True humanity is not forged by indulging in the soul’s every whim, but in the discipline of the soul, the struggle against the ego, and the ascent toward moral excellence. This is the freedom worthy of human dignity: the freedom to rise above one’s lower self, to master desire, and to break the chains of lust. This is the liberty that ennobles free will and empowers the conscience to rule with wisdom and justice.

Material freedom, on the other hand, is an animalistic liberty, that shackles the heart to its cravings, enslaves the mind to its passions, and strips the soul of its honor. As Allah (swt) warns: “Do whatever you will; surely He sees what you do” (41:40).

Succumbing to material freedom corrupts the heart, deafens one to the truth, and leads to rejoicing in falsehood — all of which culminate in misery. On the Day of Resurrection, the wrongdoers will cry out: "Our Lord, our misery overcame us, and we were a people astray” (23:106). They will be reprimanded: “Did you deny My signs without encompassing them in knowledge, or what was it that you used to do?” (27:84).

Reflection and contemplation upon the signs of Allah constitute the path to true knowledge and sound choice. Indeed, restraining the soul from its desires is the highest honor, and this constitutes real liberation. Therefore, the servant must beware of being among those whom the Almighty will rebuke on that Day, saying: “Remain despised therein, and do not speak to Me” (23:108).

The path to such liberation lies in establishing worship upon a solid foundation, by fulfilling its pillars and realizing its intended purposes. The following Hadith presents a comprehensive framework for worship and offers a divine perspective on the path to spiritual enlightenment and the illumination of the heart: “Purification is half of faith; 'Al-Hamdu lillah' (Praise be to Allah) fills the scale; and 'Subhan Allah' (Glory be to Allah) and 'Al-Hamdu lillah' fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is a light, charity is a proof, patience is an illumination, and the Quran is a proof either for you or against you. Everyone sets out in the morning and sells his soul, either freeing it or ruining it.”