Is Islam tolerant of other religions?

Answer 1

Islam is not a violent religion, nor is it an intolerant religion, and we Muslims are told to be peaceful. Unfortunately, we have a few who have made a bad impression for many; but so does other groups, religious or not.

The Quran promotes freedom of religion

Quran 2:62 Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.

Quran 2:256 There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

Quran 5:48 Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD's revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed laws (shari'ah) and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny - all of you - then He will inform you of everything you had disputed.

The Quran promotes friendship between people regardless of their religion; however, we Muslims are told to stay away from those who want to make trouble and fight just because we have a different religion.

Quran 60:8 GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable.

Quran 60:9 GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.

The Quran encourages Muslims to stay polite and not argue about our beliefs and differences.

Quran 41:34 Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

Quran 9:15 He will also remove the rage from the believers' hearts. GOD redeems whomever He wills. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

Quran 48:26 While those who disbelieved were enraged, and their hearts were filled with the pride of the days of ignorance, GOD blessed His messenger and the believers with peaceful contentment, and directed them to uphold the word of righteousness. This is what they well deserved. GOD is fully aware of all things.

Quran 16:126 So, if you have to respond to an attack in argument, respond only to the extent of the attack leveled against you. But to bear with patience is far better for the steadfast.

Quran 29:46 Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner - unless they transgress - and say, "We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters."

Quran 49:11 O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors.

The Quran promotes freedom of speech

Quran 4:140 He has instructed you in the scripture that: if you hear GOD's revelations being mocked and ridiculed, you shall not sit with them, unless they delve into another subject. Otherwise, you will be as guilty as they are. GOD will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers together in Hell.

Quran 6:68 If you see those who mock our revelations, you shall avoid them until they delve into another subject. If the devil causes you to forget, then, as soon as you remember, do not sit with such evil people.

The Quran promotes racial equality

Quran 49:13 O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.

The Quran promotes gender equality

Quran 3:195 Their Lord responded to them: "I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female - you are equal to one another. Thus, those who immigrate, and get evicted from their homes, and are persecuted because of Me, and fight and get killed, I will surely remit their sins and admit them into gardens with flowing streams." Such is the reward from GOD. GOD possesses the ultimate reward.

The Quran promotes critical thinking

Quran 17:36 You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them.

49:6 O you who believe, if a wicked person brings any news to you, you shall first investigate, lest you commit injustice towards some people, out of ignorance, then become sorry and remorseful for what you have done.

The Quran discourages aggression and encourages self-defense

Quran 2:190 You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.*

Quran 2:193 You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.

Quran 49:9 If two groups of believers fought with each other, you shall reconcile them. If one group aggresses against the other, you shall fight the aggressing group until they submit to GOD's command. Once they submit, you shall reconcile the two groups equitably. You shall maintain justice; GOD loves those who are just.

Quran 9:6 If one of the idol worshipers sought safe passage with you, you shall grant him safe passage, so that he can hear the word of GOD, then send him back to his place of security. That is because they are people who do not know.

Quran 8:70 O you prophet, tell the prisoners of war in your hands, "If GOD knew of anything good in your hearts, He would have given you better than anything you have lost, and would have forgiven you. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful."

Another View:

There are many peaceful Muslims who are quick to quote the more positive and less aggressive parts of Islam - which is all well and good. However, very few admit that, because there are many verses in the Koran that contradict other verses, long ago Islamist leaders formulated the principle of naskh, or "abrogation," which teaches that Allah's later revelations override His earlier ones. So what is the impact upon the adherents of this faith and to others in the world?

This "abrogation or naskh' is made clear to all who study the Koran in Sura 2:106, which says, "If We [Allah] abrogate any verse or cause it to be forgotten, We will replace it by a better verse or one similar. Do you not know that [Allah] has power over all things?"

As Muslims believe Allah revealed the Koran to Muhammad over a span of 22 years, what is found to be most interesting is that almost all of the peaceful, tolerant verses appear in the earlier "Meccan" suras (chapters) of the Koran, but the verses promoting violence and holy war emerge in the later "Medinan" suras.

What is most discerning then is this principle called Naskh is that it is not some esoteric theory with no practical consequences. As an example, two years before killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, the Muslim U.S. Army Major Nidal Malak Hasan cited this principle in relation to jihad in a presentation explaining Islam that he gave at Walter Reed Hospital. Jihad, of course is called 'holy war' by some in Islam.

Consider the following: Why does the Chinese government have far less fear of an attack on Beijing from Buddhist Tibetans than the Russian government fears an attack on Moscow from Muslim Chechens. Why are 2nd generation Muslims in Europe causing such a stir. Is it a geographical issue, poverty or education as most in the Social Sciences point to? No, studies abound showing these have little if any impact upon people's violent tendencies. But to the contrary, religious teachings have impacted adherents in the past and still do to this very day to perform many of these violent acts. Perhaps this is the way of mankind. If only we all would listen to the words of Jesus, Himself, who taught us to love all as He did so peace may abound for everyone:

Matthew 26:52

New International Version (NIV)

52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Answer 2

Religious tolerance in Islam

Forced conversion to a religion is forbidden in quran

"There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient. "(Quran 2:256)

"Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good counsel. And argue with them in the best of manners. Surely, your Lord knows best the one who deviates from His way, and He knows best the ones who are on the right path." (Quran 16:125)

　

Muslims are allowed to have non-muslim friends

"Allah does not forbid you as regards those who did not fight you on account of faith, and did not expel you from your homes, that you do good to them, and deal justly with them. Surely Allah loves those who maintain justice." (Quran 60:8)

　

Using abusive language against non-muslims is forbidden

"Do not revile those whom they invoke other than Allah." (Quran 6:108)

"Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good counsel. And argue with them in the best of manners. Surely, your Lord knows best the one who deviates from His way, and He knows best the ones who are on the right path." (Quran 16:125)

　

Praying for non-muslims

"So, turn away from them (disbelievers) and wish them peace." (Quran 43:89)

Refer to related question below for more information.

Answer 3

Islam absolutely teaches tolerance. If Muslims have abused that then it is not because of Islam.

We can all live together as different faiths. There is, in fact, a special relationship between Islam and Judaism and Christianity. Muslims believe in the God of Abraham. So we are supposed to live in harmony with Jews and Christians. It has not always been that way, but it should be that way.

People are supposed to have the right to believe as they choose. Islam only teaches that Muslims should establish justice - not convert people by force.

Answer 4

Answer 1

Yes, of course. Not all Muslims are like al-qaeda and the taliban.

Answer 2

The word "tolerance" is used quite often in connection with Islam, but it is worth defining what that means. It does not mean that other religions are equal with Islam and it does not mean that all religions are tolerated. The term "toleration" means that a person of a different faith is allowed to live their life under discriminatory circumstances. (It is roughly analogous to someone from 1920s Louisiana saying that "Blacks are tolerated in Louisiana".) It does not mean that they are accepted, liked, or treated well, only that they are not slaughtered. In almost all Muslim-majority countries, there is persecution of religious minorities, especially when those minorities are not monotheists such as Hindus, Buddhists, and Animists.

As for whether any Muslim as an individual accepts and treats as equals individuals of other faiths, this is wholly dependant on the Muslim in question. Thankfully, many Muslims choose to treat everyone as equals regardless of religion, but that does not change or abrogate Islamic Law, the laws of Muslim-majority countries, and the persecutorial events that go on in Muslim-majority countries.

Answer 5

Muslims as individuals are overwhelmingly tolerant of other people's religious beliefs. However, the question does not ask what the view is of Muslims as people, but Islam as a religion and what values it preaches. Islam does not argue for the equality of all religion or equal treatment of the adherents of Non-Islamic Religions. There are several reasons for this:

1) Islam's Supremacy: There are Qur'anic verses that have been interpreted to hold that Islam is an inherently superior religion to others. Q: 3:19 claims that the only religion that is acceptable to God is Islam. Q: 3:110 claims that Muslims are the best people in all history. Q: 8:55 claims that those who disbelieve are the worst of animals. Q: 9:29 argues for the repression and inequality of Jews and Christians before Muslims.

Islamic Law has set out that Non-Islamic Countries should capitulate to Islam. The governments of those nations are not required to compel conversion of their citizenry, but they must employ an Islamic style of government and an imposed inequality between Muslims (who would be first class citizens), Jews and Christians (who would be second-class citizens), and Polytheists and Atheists (who would be subject to violence and/or persecution).

2) Restrictive Speech Freedoms: Islam argues that the freedom of speech ends where statements offensive to Allah or Mohammed begin. Islam has consistently argued for and helped enforce blasphemy laws.

3) Apostasy and Proselytism: Leaving Islam is considered to be a death penalty offense, due to several critical Hadiths, precluding any true freedom of choice in the religion. Additionally, Islam holds that it is perfectly legitimate to ban proselytism and "boisterous open practice" of any Non-Islamic faith, again preventing any true equality and tolerance between faiths.

Answer 6

Yes, Islam teaches not only tolerance of other religions but kindness and cooperation for mankind benefits. Refer to question below.

Answer 7

Sure it is. Muslims have to respect other religions/believes in spite of what they are, even Atheism.

Answer 8

Islam teachings call for tolerance and forgiveness and respect of all otherfaiths Refer toquestionbelow.

Answer 9

By modern standards, Islam is quite intolerant. However, it is certainly more tolerant than Christianity was throughout most of its history.