When did Freethought Cease in the Muslim World?
others are inappropriate. This instinct is suppressed in the Muslim world at a fairly early stage in life because questioning is discouraged by the parents and the elders. It is curiously considered a sign of disrespect. According to a common adage among the Muslims, questions should not be asked in matters of religion – particularly about Islam; religion should be practiced uncritically according to the usual rituals. For the troubleshooters, there is the law of ‘blasphemy’. According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, “freethinker is one that forms opinion on the basis of reason independently of authority; especially: one who doubts or denies religious dogma.” Take for instance the Ptolemaic thesis: Earth is stationary and is the center of the universe. The Sun and other planets revolve around Earth. This was based on Ptolemy’s astronomy, which somehow became an article of Christian faith. One could have disagreed with Ptolemy’s formulation with impunity if it didn’t have the Chri
