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Why, as a Muslim, I Defend Liberty
Islam, the second largest religion in the world, unfortunately has some authoritarian interpretations today that defy human freedom--by executing "apostates" or "blasphemers," imposing religious practices, or discriminating against women or minorities. In Why, as a Muslim, I Support Liberty, Mustafa Akyol offers a bold critique of this trouble, by frankly acknowledging its roots in the religious tradition. But Akyol also shows that Islam has "seeds of freedom" as well--in the Quran, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and the complex history of the Islamic civilization. It is past time, he argues, to grow those seeds into maturity, and reinterpret Islamic law and politics under the Quranic maxim, "No compulsion in religion."Akyol shows that the major reinterpretation Islam needs now is similar to the transformation that began in Western Christianity back in the 17th century, with the groundbreaking ideas of classical liberal thinkers such as John Locke. The author goes back and forth between classical liberalism and the Islamic tradition, to excavate little-noticed parallels, first highlighted by the "Islamic liberals" of the late Ottoman Empire, unknown to many Muslims and non-Muslims today. In short chapters, Akyol digs into big questions. Why do Muslims need to "reform" the Sharia? But is there something to "revive" in the Sharia as well? Should Muslims really glorify "conquest," or rather believe in social contract? Is capitalism really alien to Islam, which has a rich heritage of free markets and civil society? Finally, he addresses a suspicion common among Muslims today: What if liberty is a mere cover used by Western powers to advance their imperialist schemes? With personal stories, historical anecdotes, theological insights, and a very accessible prose, this is the little big book on the intersection of Islam and liberty.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 20, 2021
This is a great and accessible book for readers who want a glimpse into how the Islam faith can allow you to support liberty & freedom from oppression.
January 2, 2022
Mustafa Akyol is a Turkish writer, journalist and erudite, who has a deep knowledge of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism (theistic religions). In his books, he mainly advocates individual freedom of religious people and social, political and economic freedom especially in Islamic countries. His main goal is to make the Islamic world reinterpret and reconsider the Qur’an and restore the most important message of the Qur’an: "Verse 2:256 - There is no compulsion in religion!"
This book is a brief introduction to the idea of liberty in Islam, in which the author shows the beginnings of Islam with freedom of choice, freedom of speech and women’s rights and later the evolution of Islam throughout history, in which Islam was mostly been a tool for authoritarian regimes. Here he shows how some verses of the Quran that were meant to protect people were inverted and used against them. He believes in a clear distinction between the divinely revealed Qur’an and the post-Qur’anic sources and the human interpretation of the Sharia.
The book was written for Muslims and non-Muslims simply to understand the true face of Islam and to distinguish it from what is currently practiced.
This book is a brief introduction to the idea of liberty in Islam, in which the author shows the beginnings of Islam with freedom of choice, freedom of speech and women’s rights and later the evolution of Islam throughout history, in which Islam was mostly been a tool for authoritarian regimes. Here he shows how some verses of the Quran that were meant to protect people were inverted and used against them. He believes in a clear distinction between the divinely revealed Qur’an and the post-Qur’anic sources and the human interpretation of the Sharia.
The book was written for Muslims and non-Muslims simply to understand the true face of Islam and to distinguish it from what is currently practiced.
May 19, 2022
If there is anything that can save Islam and the way the world views Muslim, adapting to the kind of Islam that Mustafa Akyol promotes is the surest way of doing so. Unfortunately, just as libertarianism is a fringe in the west nowadays, it is even more so in the Muslim east. Akyol shows how it is possible for Islam to adapt, not against its roots, but more as going back to its roots in order to transform Islam back to how it was supposed to be. This means reinterpreting sharia and changing a lot of things that are traditional in Muslim countries today. I'm a Christian, but I found this view of Islam a refreshing rededication to some true political values that are not afraid of other thinking or other believing people. Liberalism has its place in Islam, as Akyol shows, and it seems to, as I love liberty, that that is easily the best way to go in order to be able to live together in this world with toleration toward each other and other beliefs.
October 2, 2022
A wise and readable short publication. The author provides reasoned and well-supported arguments. He provides analysis and commentary on freedoms of economy (free markets); belief (freedom to not be a believer); and the right to really, making one's own decisions within Islam. His chapters on rethinking the Sharia (working with the "spirit" of the Sharia rather than interpreting it for corrupt despotic gain) and the issue of liberty as a "Western Conspiracy" are especially resonant. He cites many western and eastern prominent thinkers, and leaves us with a robust "to read" list and citations of great integrity.
October 1, 2022
The shift from cold breezy February to itchy early days of heat has proved informative in terms of exploring Islam in the context of liberty , understanding loopholes in the existing interpretation of sacred texts & considering the author's reformist instructions. This book throws light to some harsh interpretation that defy human freedom i.e. by imposing religious practices, discriminating against women or minorities, or executing apostates or blasphemers.
Thematically, the book advocates the compatibility of Islam with liberty. Islam has capacity to adopt itself with liberal notions. Liberal values which have ever been part of Islam like rule of law, capitalism, civil society, free market & human rights but little efforts in this regards were being paid due to complex history. The author also mentions early proponents of liberty from early eras that were being unnoticed for their ideas.
Moreover, The author digs some thoughtful questions like is there something to revive in Sharia? Why do Muslim need to reform Sharia? The book also provides reason why Muslim predecessors were antagonistic towards liberty. And many other such questions
This book in short, with personal stories, historical anecdotes & theological insights, is a little big book on the intersection of Islam with liberty.
Thematically, the book advocates the compatibility of Islam with liberty. Islam has capacity to adopt itself with liberal notions. Liberal values which have ever been part of Islam like rule of law, capitalism, civil society, free market & human rights but little efforts in this regards were being paid due to complex history. The author also mentions early proponents of liberty from early eras that were being unnoticed for their ideas.
Moreover, The author digs some thoughtful questions like is there something to revive in Sharia? Why do Muslim need to reform Sharia? The book also provides reason why Muslim predecessors were antagonistic towards liberty. And many other such questions
This book in short, with personal stories, historical anecdotes & theological insights, is a little big book on the intersection of Islam with liberty.
July 30, 2025
"Without liberty . . . humans are degraded into instruments. [So] liberty is the witness of human dignity; if there is no liberty, there will be no dignity. Liberty is also the source of all kinds of progress; if there is no liberty, there will be no progress." —Münif Pasha, Ottoman statesman and intellectual, 1830-1910
Disclaimer
I'm not a Muslim. I do not know whether Akyol's interpretation of Islam is true or false - but I do know that it is the interpretation that's conducive to human flourishing. Ultimately however, what matters in terms of real world consequences is not the true interpretation of a religion, but its popular interpretation. Akyol has laid out the argument. It is up to Muslims to engage with it and popularize it within the Muslim world.
Why This Book Matters
1. Muslims are the second largest religious group, and the fastest growing religious group between 2010–2020. [Pew Research Center]
2. Muslim-majority countries are lower than the world average in terms of personal freedom, women’s freedom, and economic freedom. [Cato Institute: Freedom in the Muslim World]
3. Personal & economic freedom is the cornerstone of peaceful coexistence and prosperity, especially in an increasingly multicultural world. [Atlantic Council: Freedom and Prosperity Center - See table 3, figures 5 & 6]
4. Therefore, liberalization of the Muslim world is a (though not the only) critical component to ensure prosperity and peaceful coexistence among the people of the world.
The Argument in a Nutshell
Akyol defines liberty, in the context of this book, as “the absence of coercive constraint.”
Akyol emphasizes relying on reason (instead of blind faith) to reinterpret Islam and separate out its timeless aspects from its historically contingent aspects. He argues that:
1. Liberty is compatible with Islam — if it is understood as a voluntary faith, and not a coercive system. That is because Islam, at its core, rests on the sincere relationship between God and the individual, which can exist only in a medium of freedom, not coercion. The latter can create only hypocrisy, not piety.
2. “However, quite a few Muslims understand Islam, indeed, as a coercive system — a system that will dictate piety by force, while eradicating impiety, apostasy, or blasphemy, also by force. Moreover, those coercive Muslims are not groundless: they rely on traditional interpretations of the Sharia — Islamic law — which needs a frank discussion, and some major reinterpretation, for Islam to be compatible with liberty.”
3. Yet there is also better news: the two fundamental sources of the Sharia — the Qur’an and the Prophetic example — also include “seeds of freedom”
Epilogue
Akyol concludes the book by saying, “I tried to show that while [liberal] values [such as rule of law, separation of powers, political contract theory, individuality, freedom of speech, freedom of belief/religion, and economic freedom] have been better articulated and advanced in the past few centuries in the liberal West, they all had precedents in the Islamic civilization — precedents that could have been developed within.”
“If we Muslims had kept appreciating “the value of freedom,” and systematized it with a political philosophy, we could have also defined it. Instead of “liberalism” (or “libertarianism”), we could have named it with more familiar terms. Perhaps, on the basis of Qur’anic words, la ikraha fi’l-din (no compulsion in religion), we could have called it la ikrahiyya (no compulsionism). Instead, we ended up not only failing to do that but also rejecting liberty, dogmatically, because it is supposedly alien.”
“Today, it is past time to overcome this parochialism, and to open up to the achievements of humanity, in particular liberty. Because we are paying a heavy price for its absence. We are suffering from dictatorships that kill, jail, or torture their dissidents, sometimes in the name of Islam. We are suffering from corrupt bureaucracies or oppressive communities that do not allow Muslim individuals to realize their God-given potential. We are also suffering from the lack of a free market of ideas, which makes us reiterate the same old narratives, and repeat the same old mistakes. At the extremes, we are even suffering from terrorist groups that bomb the mosque of the “heretical” sect, or kill innocent people of the wrong persuasion.”
“Liberty, in other words, remains the greatest knot untied,
and the greatest dream unfulfilled, in the Muslim world. [..] That is why, as a Muslim walking in the footsteps of those forefathers in the early 21st century, by honoring their sacrifices and sharing their hopes, I still defend liberty.”
Links
1. eBook
2. https://medium.com/@yasharya1991/notes-why-as-a-muslim-i-defend-liberty-by-mustafa-akyol-a22935483426
Disclaimer
I'm not a Muslim. I do not know whether Akyol's interpretation of Islam is true or false - but I do know that it is the interpretation that's conducive to human flourishing. Ultimately however, what matters in terms of real world consequences is not the true interpretation of a religion, but its popular interpretation. Akyol has laid out the argument. It is up to Muslims to engage with it and popularize it within the Muslim world.
Why This Book Matters
1. Muslims are the second largest religious group, and the fastest growing religious group between 2010–2020. [Pew Research Center]
2. Muslim-majority countries are lower than the world average in terms of personal freedom, women’s freedom, and economic freedom. [Cato Institute: Freedom in the Muslim World]
3. Personal & economic freedom is the cornerstone of peaceful coexistence and prosperity, especially in an increasingly multicultural world. [Atlantic Council: Freedom and Prosperity Center - See table 3, figures 5 & 6]
4. Therefore, liberalization of the Muslim world is a (though not the only) critical component to ensure prosperity and peaceful coexistence among the people of the world.
The Argument in a Nutshell
Akyol defines liberty, in the context of this book, as “the absence of coercive constraint.”
Akyol emphasizes relying on reason (instead of blind faith) to reinterpret Islam and separate out its timeless aspects from its historically contingent aspects. He argues that:
1. Liberty is compatible with Islam — if it is understood as a voluntary faith, and not a coercive system. That is because Islam, at its core, rests on the sincere relationship between God and the individual, which can exist only in a medium of freedom, not coercion. The latter can create only hypocrisy, not piety.
2. “However, quite a few Muslims understand Islam, indeed, as a coercive system — a system that will dictate piety by force, while eradicating impiety, apostasy, or blasphemy, also by force. Moreover, those coercive Muslims are not groundless: they rely on traditional interpretations of the Sharia — Islamic law — which needs a frank discussion, and some major reinterpretation, for Islam to be compatible with liberty.”
3. Yet there is also better news: the two fundamental sources of the Sharia — the Qur’an and the Prophetic example — also include “seeds of freedom”
Epilogue
Akyol concludes the book by saying, “I tried to show that while [liberal] values [such as rule of law, separation of powers, political contract theory, individuality, freedom of speech, freedom of belief/religion, and economic freedom] have been better articulated and advanced in the past few centuries in the liberal West, they all had precedents in the Islamic civilization — precedents that could have been developed within.”
“If we Muslims had kept appreciating “the value of freedom,” and systematized it with a political philosophy, we could have also defined it. Instead of “liberalism” (or “libertarianism”), we could have named it with more familiar terms. Perhaps, on the basis of Qur’anic words, la ikraha fi’l-din (no compulsion in religion), we could have called it la ikrahiyya (no compulsionism). Instead, we ended up not only failing to do that but also rejecting liberty, dogmatically, because it is supposedly alien.”
“Today, it is past time to overcome this parochialism, and to open up to the achievements of humanity, in particular liberty. Because we are paying a heavy price for its absence. We are suffering from dictatorships that kill, jail, or torture their dissidents, sometimes in the name of Islam. We are suffering from corrupt bureaucracies or oppressive communities that do not allow Muslim individuals to realize their God-given potential. We are also suffering from the lack of a free market of ideas, which makes us reiterate the same old narratives, and repeat the same old mistakes. At the extremes, we are even suffering from terrorist groups that bomb the mosque of the “heretical” sect, or kill innocent people of the wrong persuasion.”
“Liberty, in other words, remains the greatest knot untied,
and the greatest dream unfulfilled, in the Muslim world. [..] That is why, as a Muslim walking in the footsteps of those forefathers in the early 21st century, by honoring their sacrifices and sharing their hopes, I still defend liberty.”
Links
1. eBook
2. https://medium.com/@yasharya1991/notes-why-as-a-muslim-i-defend-liberty-by-mustafa-akyol-a22935483426
March 7, 2025
It is a highly engaging and thought-provoking book that effectively demonstrates the compatibility between Islam and freedom. Akyol presents his arguments in a clear and well-organized manner, making complex ideas accessible to all. His work is particularly valuable in breaking down prejudices and challenging preconceived notions about Islam and liberty. The book serves as an important resource for both Muslims and non-Muslims, fostering dialogue and understanding.
April 30, 2023
i love mustafa akyol and i love that the cato institute wants to indoctrinate me into becoming a libertarian by having a bunch of libertarian books online available for free. this is a great arrangement.
December 28, 2025
A glimpse of liberty of Islam, how it turned from the religion that advance human’s right, protect people, especially women to what it is practiced today. A good start for someone who wants to have a new insight of Islam
February 13, 2024
This captivating book by Mustafa Akyol dives deep into the complex relationship between Islam and liberalism. He tackles thorny issues like religious coercion, Sharia interpretation, economic freedom, and responding to dissent. He not only presents the liberal perspective but also highlights its historical presence within early Islam, citing the Quran and Prophet Muhammad's life as examples.
Importantly, Akyol avoids creating artificial concepts like "Islamic democracy" and even criticizes such attempts, notably concerning Islamic economics. His core argument is that being a Muslim not only harmonizes with being liberal but also aligns more closely with Islamic values.
To further enrich understanding, Akyol provides historical context, making the book compact yet comprehensive. While offering a solid overview, it also entices curious readers to delve deeper through suggested sources at the end.
The book can be accessed for free through:
https://www.libertarianism.org/books/...
Importantly, Akyol avoids creating artificial concepts like "Islamic democracy" and even criticizes such attempts, notably concerning Islamic economics. His core argument is that being a Muslim not only harmonizes with being liberal but also aligns more closely with Islamic values.
To further enrich understanding, Akyol provides historical context, making the book compact yet comprehensive. While offering a solid overview, it also entices curious readers to delve deeper through suggested sources at the end.
The book can be accessed for free through:
https://www.libertarianism.org/books/...
March 29, 2022
An excellent book. Deals with the topic very crisply and concisely. The readers of this book must also read his earlier book "Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance".
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews