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 one’s 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 Qur’an 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 Qur’an 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 Muslim’s poor behavior, the latter will be held responsible for his misconduct and its consequences. The Qur’an 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 Muslim’s desired behavior towards non-Muslims.
Misconception about Islam and Moslem and ways to address it 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 one’s 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_perspective.ht [19-5-2017]
[6] Al-Qur’an 5:99
[7] Al-Qur’an 42:43
[8] Al-Qur’an 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_perspective.ht [19-5-2017]
[12] Al-Qur’an 16: 145
[13] See, Zaheer, Khalid, “Religious Tolerance: An Islamic Perspective.” http://www.khalidzaheer.com/essays/kzaheer/following%20islam/religious_tolerance_an_islamic_perspective.ht [19-5-2017]
[14] http://www.religioustolerance.org/quot_tol.htm [18-5-2017]
