Ayatollah Rashad: Violation of Others' Freedom Amounts to Self-Violation
Ayatollah Rashad: Violation of Others' Freedom Amounts to Self-Violation

Tehran, Iran – Violating the freedom of others violates one's own freedom, said Ayatollah Ali Akbar Rashad, Head of the Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought.

“In Islam, freedom and liberty are two sides of the same coin, holding equal value,” Ayatollah Rashad said during the first pre-session of the International Conference on People’s Rights and Legitimate Freedoms in the Thoughts of Ayatollah Khamenei held last week in Tehran.

He added that worshiping tyrants is not true worship but submission to oppressive forces, adding, “A fundamental principle in political, social, and freedom of expression and belief is that, in the Islamic world, we cannot separate freedom from liberty. These two concepts are interconnected, and each is incomplete or even non-existent without the other. Freedom is among the most basic human rights, yet it also carries responsibility. Humans, by their inherent and divinely ordained nature, are responsible. If one is not free, one cannot be held responsible. A bound person cannot fulfill obligations. Similarly, those without intellect and discernment are not held responsible.”

Ayatollah Rashad further explained that rights and responsibilities are inherently linked. “Every right entails a responsibility, and every responsibility may create a right. Therefore, when discussing the relationship between human freedoms and rights, it is crucial to recognize their connection to justice. Justice is the greatest human right and responsibility. Legitimate freedoms and rights are two sides of the same coin, inextricably linked.”

He emphasized that in Islam, the foundation of human freedom is monotheism (Tawhid). “From every perspective, the connection between monotheism and freedom is clear. God created us free; as Imam Sajjad (PBUH) stated, God created humans free. No one can be a servant to anyone other than God. To worship and understand monotheism and divine attributes, mystics use the term "opposition," which helps us align our behavior with divine names. Each divine name interacts with others, and the manifestations of these names have boundaries.”

Pointing to verse 64 of Surah Al-Imran, Ayatollah Rashad stated that the Prophet (PBUH) was commanded to tell Christians, "Come to a common word between us and you," referring to monotheism.

“We must then ensure that we worship none but God and associate no partners with Him, neither people nor things, even if they are stones or idols. The conclusion is that we must study freedom and liberty together. If we do not view external freedom within the framework of principles that realize monotheism and compel humans to adhere to it, that freedom will not be genuine and will not be practically achieved.”


2025-03-17 (3 MesHace)
La conferencia internacional sobre derechos del pueblo y libertades legítimas en el sistema intelectual del ayatolá Jamenei se celebra con los objetivos de: 1. Releer el pensamiento y la conducta del ayatolá Jamenei sobre los derechos de la nación y las libertades legítimas, 2. Delinear el sistema óptimo de derechos del pueblo y libertades legítimas basado en los pensamientos del ayatolá Jamenei, 3. Garantizar y proteger los derechos y las libertades legítimas del pueblo y la manera de promoverlos con base en las opiniones y pensamientos del ayatolá Jamenei
Instituto de Investigación y Estudios Culturales de la Revolución Islámica
Instituto de Investigación del Consejo Constitucional