Tradition

بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ قَوْمٌ يَمْشِى الْمُؤْمِنُ فيهِمْ بِالتَّقِيَّةِ وَ الْكِتْمانِ

The Prophet (S) is narrated to have said: “When a believing individual is forced to hide his beliefs and live in a hidden manner amongst a group of people, they are truly a bad people.”1

Brief Commentary

When one is forced to hide their true beliefs and is not able to speak or practice freely, then this is a sign that a selfish majority has forced their views on others and they are preventing the minority from expressing their thoughts and beliefs. There is no doubt that such a society will be unable to reach felicity. Righteous people who live in a healthy society must always be given the right to practice their beliefs and to express their thoughts as they wish. If they comprise a minority in that society, the majority should never prevent them from living in this manner. Their rights should be respected and they should be left free to propagate the truth.

• 1. Nahj al-Fasahah.