UNDERSTANDING THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

6/4/2017 11:24:00 AM

Muhammad Junaid Nadvi *

The word tolerance means the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or
behavior of others that one dislikes or disagrees with. Example of tolerance can be taken from
this proverb: "The desert camel shows the greatest tolerance to dehydration.", which can
be applied to religious tolerance. [1]
Religious toleration is, people allowing other people to think or practice other religions and
beliefs. In a country with a state religion, toleration means that the government allows other
religions to be there. [2]

Religious tolerance, respect, broad-mindedness and acceptance is one of the most important
characteristics of a human, which a society must show towards the religions of other people
This includes the issue of freedom of choice of religion. Diversity of religious traditions can
ideally help people in comparing the relative strengths of the teachings of their respective
faiths and in adjusting the practice accordingly. The tendency to claim truthfulness of ones
own faith and treating all others as worthy of condemnation leads not only to suffering for
many, but also results in drawing many people away from the idea of taking religion as a
genuine issue. [3]

The term "religious tolerance" has two distinct meanings:

1. Conservatives, often define the term "religious tolerance" as meaning that a person must
believe that all religions and their associated beliefs are true. Of course, this conflicts with a
common belief among religious conservatives in the existence of absolute truth and their belief
that only their faith correctly reflects "God's Word." Thus, many conservatives reject religious
tolerance, as they define it, because they view it as an undesirable goal.

2. Among other individuals and groups, it generally means to avoid fearing, hating, oppressing
or discriminating against persons whose religious beliefs happen to be different from your own.
Religious tolerance then becomes a human rights issue -- something that most people feel is
the desirable goal. [4]

The Islamic perspective of religious tolerance favors, accepts and practices the second
meaning or definition. However, Islam is continually criticized because some of the visitors
assume that Islam uses the first meaning of religious tolerance. The negative terms that
describe fear/hatred/discrimination focused at people because of their gender, race, gender
identity, and national origin has no place in Islam. This is a misconception about Islam. In fact,
Islam condemns all those negative terms that describes the fear/hatred/discrimination directed
or focused at people because of their religion. The record of Islamic history has many
examples religious tolerance. [5]
The following section is a brief overview of religious tolerance from Islamic perspective. The
discussion of some principles will show the importance of religious tolerance in Islam, with a
hope to clarify the misconception about Islam and Muslims.

Islamic Perspective of religious tolerance

The Quran clearly elaborates in various places that the mission of the prophets and
messengers of God was not to forcefully impose their teachings on the people but to guide
them and ask them to accept God with their own will. (And as for my messenger,) there is no
(obligation) on him except to deliver (the message). God knows what to expose and what to
conceal. [6]

But if the people turn away (then do not be sad because) we did not send you to be a guardian
over them. It is for you only to deliver the message. [7]

Islam takes a firm position in claiming that its teachings are the true version of reality from
God, while it also calls for genuine respect for all non-Muslims.

The various verses of Quran about religious tolerance suggest that not only is it the correct
understanding, but it can be supported rationally as well.

Humans were granted freedom in their religious journey. This freedom inclined them to differ
and disagree in religious matters. [8]

God sent prophets who confirmed what was right and rejected what was wrong. In the
presence of the prophets, people could see religious reality in its original form and, therefore,
they had no justifiable excuse to reject it. Those who rejected it, were declared Kafir, which
means a person who denies the truth from God despite knowing it to be from Him. [9]

In times when prophets are not present, neither anyone can be described a Kafir nor can he
be punished in this world for not believing in a message brought by a messenger, because of
the existence of the possibility that the message may not have been properly and fully
delivered by the non-prophet preachers. [10]

Since Muhammad was the last prophet, the possibility of anyone getting labeled as a Kafir or
punished for his disbelief after his death is eliminated forever. [11]

Muslims are expected to show respect to other faiths and behave in a manner that would not
tarnish the image of their own religion. In case a non-Muslim drawn away from Islam because
of a Muslims poor behavior, the latter will be held responsible for his misconduct and its
consequences. The Quran says: Call them to the path of your Lord with wisdom and words
of good advice and reason with them in the best way possible. Your Lord surely knows who
stray from His path and He knows those who are guided the right way. [12] In another
passage, it says: So do not make your oaths a means for deceiving one another ..
Politeness, concern, respect and tolerance are, therefore, at the heart of a Muslims desired
behavior towards non-Muslims.

Misconception about Islam and Moslem and ways to address in Islam is often viewed as an
inherently violent and intolerant world religion. This misconception is powered in part by the
poor behavior of some Muslims, particularly toward those of other faith beliefs. It is for the
Muslims to help the non-Muslims to appreciate the truthfulness of the Islamic teachings. The
absence of the desired behavior on the part of some Muslims has been an important reason
for their failure to present Islam as a message that is worthy of being taken seriously by non-
Muslims. It will only be taken seriously by them if Muslims are peaceful, tolerant, and respectful
towards other faiths while they continue their peaceful struggle to convince non-Muslims
politely. [13]

The following are possible ways for addressing misconception about Islam and Muslims:

Build a behavior of respect for the fellow human beings, irrespective of their faith, besides
promote intelligent preaching. If they desire to criticize other religious views, they should
criticize only ideas, creatively and intelligently.
Muslims are spiritually prohibited from oppressing the adherents of other faith groups. Thus,
killings, mutilation, burnings, discrimination and violence against minority religious
communities by Muslims is wrong.
Islam mandates Muslims preservation of all places of divine worship. Hence the destruction,
desecration or vandalism by Muslims of other houses of worship here or abroad is a gross
violation of Islamic legal principles. These principles derived from the Quran make clear
that all of humankind share the same sanctity of life and honor.
Promote Islam as a public religion that gives a special attention to key social phenomena
and problems through working in the community. These are to be discussed and addressed
together as an agenda with religious perspectives of fairness and justice for all, regardless
of ones religion, ethnicity and other socioeconomic status.

Quotes Promoting Religious Tolerance [14]

1. Zainab Al-Suwaij, co-founder of the American Islamic Congress: "We have to respect
others and we have to understand and not discriminate on the basis of faith. ... When people
do not talk and communicate, everything around them becomes dehumanized. ... When you
mix politics and religion, you get the worst of everything."

2. Anon: "Religious tolerance is not religious indifference. It consists of valuing the right of
another person to hold beliefs that you know absolutely, and without a doubt, to be wrong."
"Religious tolerance means to refrain from discriminating against others who follow a different
religious path. Tolerance is more difficult to maintain when you know that your religion is true
and their religion is wrong."

3. Paul Copan: "Contrary to popular definitions, true tolerance means putting up with error -
not being accepting of all views... It is because real differences exist between people that
tolerance becomes necessary and virtuous." "True for You, But not for Me"

4. The Dalai Lama: I appreciate any organization or individual people who sincerely make an
effort to promote harmony among humanity, and particularly harmony among the various
religions. I consider it very sacred work and very important work.

5. Snoopy: "Have you ever thought that you might be wrong?" Proposed title for a religious
book being written by Charlie Brown's dog! in the Peanuts comic strip.
 Conclusion

Interfaith dialogue should be carried out at national and international level openheartedly. It is
a reality that difference in faith often creates suspicion, prejudice and communication barriers.
The discussion at national level should be brought within an international context, as it is linked
with matters related to any religion not only in a country, but also in many parts of the world.
Such discussions should involve religious leaders from various religions. For example, the
countries with a large and diversified population, with many different religions and faiths should
provide interfaith dialogue forums. There are some serious cases of religious intolerance
within a religion and among the religions around the globe, which some of them have been
dealt successfully. Thus, it is important to share such experiences among the countries facing
with similar challenges.

* Dr. Muhammad Junaid Nadvi is Adjunct Professor at International Islamic University,

Islamabad.

[1] See, Rizvi, S.M., Religious tolerance in Islam. http://www.alislam. org/ articles/ religious-tolerance-
islam-sayyid-muhammad-rizvi [16-5-2017]
[2] https://www.google.com.pk/search?q=religious+tolerance+meaning&oq=Religious+tolerance+me&
aqs=chrome69i57j0l5.18782j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 [18-5-2017]
[3] See, Abdelkader, E., Islamic perspective on religious pluralism. http://
www.huffingtonpost.com/engy-abdelkader/islamic-perspectiveon-religiouspluralism_b_1375452.html.
[18-5-2017]
[4] http://www.religioustolerance.org/quot_tol.htm [18-5-2017]
[5] See, Zaheer, Khalid, Religious Tolerance: An Islamic Perspective.
http://www.khalidzaheer.com/essays/kzaheer/following%20islam/religious_tolerance_an_islamic_pers
pective.ht [19-5-2017]
[6] Al-Quran 5:99
[7] Al-Quran 42:43
[8] Al-Quran 109:1-6
[9] See, Rizvi, S.M., Religious tolerance in Islam. http://www.alislam. org/ articles/ religious-tolerance-
islam-sayyid-muhammad-rizvi [16-5-2017]
[10] See, Abdelkader, E., Islamic perspective on religious pluralism. http://
www.huffingtonpost.com/engy-abdelkader/islamic-perspectiveon-religiouspluralism_b_1375452.html.
[18-5-2017]
[11] See, Zaheer, Khalid, Religious Tolerance: An Islamic Perspective.
http://www.khalidzaheer.com/essays/kzaheer/following%20islam/religious_tolerance_an_islamic_pers
pective.ht [19-5-2017]
[12] Al-Quran 16: 145
[13] See, Zaheer, Khalid, Religious Tolerance: An Islamic Perspective.
http://www.khalidzaheer.com/essays/kzaheer/following%20islam/religious_tolerance_an_islamic_pers
pective.ht [19-5-2017]
[14] http://www.religioustolerance.org/quot_tol.htm [18-5-2017]

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