This is a reply for the whole Forum.
Lion of Jordan in his private message to me noted that there are those in Middle Eastern countries who would like to see Masonry cease to exist. He also posed the question whether his Islamic faith would be in conflict with the teachings of Freemasonry with regard to religion. I shall reply, but I invite others to add their views as well.
Freemasonry, with its lessons of the equality of men and its desire to pursue truth without regard to political systems, has always been hated and repressed by tyrants who see Freemasonry as a threat. In the 20th century alone, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Franco all ordered lodges shut down, confiscated their property, and arrested, tortured and killed Freemasons; there were plenty of others who did the same on a smaller scale in preceding centuries. The dictators are gone, and in their countries Freemasonry has been able to set itself back up again.
There still are today, however, places where the governing regimes do not permit Masonry, for the same old reasons—they fear and despise our refusal to be constrained by anyone’s political or religious dogmas. There is at least one middle eastern country which permits no religion other than their own strict form of Islam to be practiced or even spoken of within its borders, and they have very rigorous import controls to make sure no printed matter can come into the country which they disapprove of.
As to any conflict between Islam and Masonry, I must start by repeating what has been said millions of times: FREEMASONRY IS NOT A RELIGION. However, it has been said that Masonry is the handmaid of religion; i.e., that Masonry teaches a man to value and to practice to the best of his ability whatever religion he believes in. It is also a fact that no atheist can be made a mason, at least in a regular and recognized lodge. There are lodges in which no supreme being is recognized and which admit atheists, but these lodges have been cast out and are held to be irregular by all regular lodges throughout the world. No regular mason is permitted to enter or sit in such a lodge. So, our position is explained to every person who has an interest in becoming a mason: You must have some belief in a supreme being, but we do not care what you call him, what you believe about him, or how you worship him or how often, or whether you belong to any organization for doing so, or what book or writings you believe reveal him.
There is nothing in Masonic regulations or practices which would prevent a Muslim from being a Mason, and there are Muslim masons, not only in the USA but all over the world. The holy book which is usually displayed on the altar of a lodge in the USA is the Holy Bible, almost always opened to a page in the Old Testament to avoid any semblance of Christian sectarianism, and on this book a candidate lays his hand to attest to the promises he makes at initiation. However, a Jew may bring a copy of the Torah, a Muslim may bring the Qran, a Hindu, Sikh, Parsee or other believer may bring his own holy book to be used instead, which will lie alongside the lodge’s Bible. I participated in an exaltation to the Royal Arch last week where one candidate, an orthodox Jew, brought a Torah which he used, and which was treated with the same respect and veneration as the Chapter’s Bible.
The only Muslim who would not belong in Masonry is one like those who seem to proliferate in the middle east, whose views of Islam forbid any toleration of other religions. A freemason is obliged to give full respect and toleration to the religion of other men. As Masons, we all believe that there is no single path to God, and that every man is entitled to our respect and support on his way.
