By Dr. Abdullah Al Luhaidan

El-Griba Synagogue in Jerba, Tunisia

The Qur’an and the Sunnah (the practice and collected sayings of Prophet Muhammad [salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) reiterate that Islam is a religion of tolerance.

{There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has been clearly distinguished from the wrong, so whoever disbelieves in idols and evil powers and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. Allah is Hearing and Knowing.} (Qur’an 2: 256)

The Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) accepted Jews as citizens of the first Muslim state in Madinah. He did not force them to forsake their religion and embrace Islam. The treaty that the Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) drew up upon his arrival in Madinah stated that Jews of the Banu ‘Awf tribe constituted one nation with the believers. The Jews had their own religion, and the Muslims had theirs. This was not restricted to the Jews of Banu ‘Awf but also included the rest of the Jewish tribes.

The meaning of tolerance

The Arabic word for ‘tolerance’, tasâmuh, encompasses many shades of meaning, including forgiveness, ease and smoothness.[1] The Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

<<The most beloved religion in the sight of Allah is benevolent (samhah) monotheism.>> (Bukhari)

In Western political thought, the concept of tolerance emerged after the end of the religious wars in the 17^thcentury. Its acceptance led to the end of sectarian strife and ensured peace in 19^th century European societies.[2] The concept of tolerance is related to pluralism, or accepting differences and allowing freedom of opinion.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

In Islamic thought, tolerance does not mean weakness. Flattery that conceals differences and only appears to be resolving them is not tolerance, nor is devising a false stance of agreement. The Qur’an has condemned those who hide the realities and truths of the religion.

{Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture – those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.} (Qur’an 2: 159)

Within the Muslim framework, tolerance means recognizing differences, and it prevents these differences from developing into attempts at quashing the ‘other’. It also leads to an acceptance of peaceful coexistence. Tolerance has its limits, though; it does not mean surrendering or being submissive in the face of aggression. On the contrary, Muslims have been permitted to repel aggression.

{Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. Indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory.} (Qur’an 22: 39)

{And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient – it is better for those who are patient.} (Qur’an 16: 126)

Today, extremism among some Muslims exists due to international, political, social and economic circumstances. On the ideological level, a misunderstanding of the concept of tolerance has led to extremism. Extremism and lack of tolerance towards the ‘other’ lead people to become frightened of the religion of love and peace, and they cause endless conflicts between Muslim and non-Muslim societies and even within Muslim societies themselves.

{…He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty…} (Qur’an 22: 78)

{…Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship…} (Qur’an 2: 185)

The Prophet (salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

<<May the extremists be destroyed, may the extremists be destroyed, may the extremists be destroyed…>> (Muslim)

This religion came to relieve the burdens of the previous nations. The call to Islam was to be carried out with wisdom and good manners, while no one was to be forced to accept it. Islam came to call for coexistence despite differences.

{Then [, Muhammad,] would you compel the people in order that they become believers?} (Qur’an 10: 99)

{O humankind, indeed We have created you from (a single pair of) a male and a female and made you nations and tribes that you may come to know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you…} (Qur’an 49: 13)

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

[1] It is important to note the different connotations of the English ‘tolerance’ and the Arabic ‘tasâmuh’. Abdel-Haleem makes an important distinction:

…Thus the Muslims in Arabic talk about tasâmuh al-Islâm and at-tasâmuh ad-deeni, in a quite different way from the English usage. Where ‘tolerance’ indicates a powerful authority grudgingly ‘bearing’ or ‘putting up with’ others who are different, the Arabic term denotes generosity and ease from both sides on a reciprocal basis. The term is always used in the reciprocal form.

From Abdel-Haleem, “The Prophet Muhammad as a Teacher,” 121–137.

‘Tasâmuh’ is derived from ‘samhah’. Ibn Hajar defines ‘samhah’ as “easy and based on ease”. Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bâri, 94.

[2]Turkistâni, at-Tasâmuh wat-Ta‘assub, 10.