[hieklyintinee]

Tolerance is a beautiful word in every language and according to every culture. On a personal level, the word is often used to convey the idea of pardoning someone who does something wrong to you, transgresses against you, or differs with you in an inappropriate manner. According to this understanding, it is a great moral value. Its exercise is a moral victory for the spirit of goodness and decency over the spirit of evil that a person might be impelled to give in to.

Tolerance is the basis for the conduct that should govern people’s dealings with one another. A person who persistently rejects tolerance is a person who insists upon causing harm, to himself as well as to others.

Religious Tolerance

We often hear the word tolerance used in the context of interactions between different faiths. In this respect, we find that the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever wrongs someone with whom we have a covenant, or renounces him, or burdens him with more than he can bear, or takes anything from him without his cheerful consent – I will be his disputant on the Day of Judgment.” [Sunan Abî Dâwûd]

It is a well-known fact of history that members of other faiths – including Jews, Christians, Magians, and Sabians – lived under Islamic rule for many centuries with their honor intact. Their rights and pledges were upheld. This can be compared to the way that King Ferdinand treated the Muslims of Spain when he wrested power from the Muslims who had ruled there for centuries. During the Spanish Inquisition, he expelled or killed the Muslims living under his rule.

The Muslims, throughout their history, did not treat then non-Muslims in that way, though they were in full power over vast expanses of land for over a thousand years. The non-Muslims always lived alongside the Muslims and were free to practice their faith. What theory can be better than what was actually put into practice by Islam for this long stretch of time?

Allah says: “Tell those who believe, to forgive those who do not look forward to the Days of Allah: It is for Him to recompense (for good or ill) each People according to what they have earned.” [Sûrah al-Jâthiyah: 14]

The Muslims here are instructed to forgive the polytheists who do not look forward to the meeting with their Lord.

Allah also says: “Then bear with them (O Muhammad) and say: ‘Peace’. They will come to know.” [Sûrah al-Zukhruf: 89]

“We did not create the heavens, the earth, and all between them, except for just ends. And the Hour is surely coming. So overlook (their faults) with gracious forgiveness.” [Sûrah al-Hijr: 85]

“Keep to forgiveness and enjoin kindness, and turn away from those who are ignorant.” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 199]

“And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, ‘Peace!’” [Sûrah al-Furqân: 63]

The commandments given in these verses of the Qur’ân are decisive. They show us that religious tolerance is an essential principle of Islam. It is a moral value set forth in the Islamic teachings and enjoined upon the Muslims long before the philosophy of tolerance entered into the discourse of modern Western thought.

http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-414-508.htm