| Religious Tolerance Toward
Non-Muslims
This list of verses from the Holy Quran and
the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) show that Islam
at it's core and at its source is a religion of peace. Terrorists who
persecute innocent people because of their faith are not welcome - their
use of Islam as a scapegoat, does not make Islam what they portray it to
be.
Quran:
Sûrah al Baqarah 2:256
There is no compulsion in religion, for the
right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the
forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most
unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing.
16:82
But if they turn away from you, (O Prophet
remember that) your only duty is a clear delivery of
the Message (entrusted to you).
6:107
Yet if God had so willed, they would not have ascribed Divinity to aught
besides him; hence, We have not made you their
keeper, nor are you (of your own choice) a guardian over them.
4:79, 80
(Say to everyone of them) 'Whatever good betides you is from God and
whatever evil betides you is from your own self and that We have (O
Prophet) sent you to mankind only as a messenger and all sufficing is God
as witness. Whoso obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys God. And for those
who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper."
11:28
(Noah to his people) He (Noah) said "O my people! think over it! If I
act upon a clear direction from my Lord who has bestowed on me from
Himself the Merciful talent of seeing the right way, a way which you
cannot see for yourself, does it follow that we can force you to take the
right path when you definitely decline to take it?°
17:53, 54
And tell my servants that they should speak in a
most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs). Verily,
Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is
mans foe .... Hence, We have not sent you (Unto men O Prophet) with power
to determine their Faith.
21:107 to 109
(O Prophet?) 'We have not sent you except to be a
mercy to all mankind:" Declare, "Verily, what is revealed
to me is this, your God is the only One God, so is it not up to you to bow
down to Him?' But if they turn away then say, "I have delivered
the Truth in a manner clear to one and all, and I know not whether the
promised hour (of Judgment) is near or far."
22:67
To every people have We appointed ceremonial rites
(of prayer) which they observe; therefore, let them not wrangle over this
matter with you, but bid them to turn to your Lord (since that is the main
objective of religion). You indeed are rightly guided. But if they still
dispute you in this matter, (then say,) `God best knows (the value of)
what you do."
88:21, 22; also see 24:54
And so, (O Prophet!) exhort them your task is only
to exhort; you cannot compel them to believe.
48:28
He it is Who has sent forth His Messenger with the (task of spreading)
Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to the end that tie make it prevail
over every (false) religion, and none can bear witness to the Truth as God
does.
39:41
Assuredly, We have sent down the Book to you in
right form for the good of man. Whoso guided himself by it does so to his
own advantage, and whoso turns away from it does so at his own loss. You
certainly are not their keeper.
42:6, 48
And whoso takes for patrons others besides God, over
them does God keep a watch. Mark, you are not a keeper over them. But if
they turn aside from you (do not get disheartened), for We have not sent
you to be a keeper over them; your task is but to preach ....
64:12
Obey God then and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away (no blame shall
attach to our Messenger), for the duty of Our Messenger is just to deliver
the message.
67:25, 26
And they ask, "When shall the promise be fulfilled if you speak the
Truth?" Say, "The knowledge of it is verily with God alone, and
verily I am but a plain warner."
60:8
Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your)
Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with
them: for Allah loveth those who are just.
60:9
Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your)
Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support (others) in driving
you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection). It is such
as turn to them (in these circumstances), that do wrong.
Ahadith:
The teachings of the Prophet on how you
and I should treat our Non-Muslim friends and neighbors on a day to day
basis as well as how a government should treat a Non-Muslim citizen of a
Muslim state.
"He who believes in God and the Last
Day should honor his guest, should not harm his neighbor, should speak
good or keep quiet." (Bukhâri, Muslim)
"Whoever hurts a
Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys
God." (Bukhâri)
"He who hurts a
Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state, I am his adversary, and I shall be
his adversary on the Day of a Judgement." (Bukhâri)
"Beware on the
Day of Judgement; I shall myself be the complainant against him who wrongs a
Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state or lays on him a responsibility
greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to
him." (Al-Mawardi)
"Anyone who
kills a Non-Muslim who had become our ally will not smell the fragrance of
Paradise." (Bukhâri)
Living
in Harmony with Religious Diversity: Islamic Perspective Uzma
Mazhar
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