Tolerance in Islam is not a mere fairytale phrase, but Muslims live it in reality. Islam urges us to be tolerant and forgive others. This is indicated in both the Quran and the Sunnah. Tolerance and patience are traits of the soul of every Muslim. Tolerance, Patience or forbearance describes the ability of a person to ignore the mistakes of the people. Islam teaches tolerance and puts great emphasis on the importance and benefits of tolerance with the aim to make this world a peaceful place. Islam is the religion of tolerance and ease. Allah says:
وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
“And they say, “Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time.” And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:24)
Islam may tolerate anything, but it teaches zero tolerance for injustice, oppression, and violation of the rights of Our One and only Creator and that of other human beings. Tolerance is a basic principle of Islam. It is a religious moral duty. Islam is the response to humanity’s search for meaning. Human life is a complete ideology of life that deals with the fundamental problems of life on the basis of sensorial observations. Allah says:
فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“But whoever fears from (the) testator (any) error or sin, then reconciles between them, then (there is) no sin on him. Indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, All-Merciful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:182)
Islam teaches tolerance on all levels: individuals, groups and states. It should be a political and legal requirement. Islam emphasizes the establishment of equality and justice, both of these values cannot be established without some degree of tolerance. Whether life is individual or collective, a household or social, the book of life is incomplete without patience. Allah says:
وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
“And they say, “Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time.” And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:24)
Tolerance and patience are characteristics of true faith in Allah, good manners, and upright character. Tolerance according to Islam does not mean that we do not believe in the supremacy of Islam over other faiths and ideologies. It does not mean that we do not convey the message of Islam to others and do not wish them to become Muslims. Remember, Tolerance toward falsehood is Intolerance.
Tolerance is Islam’s cardinal principle, it urges us to be tolerant and forgive others:
- Tolerance helps communicate different ideas about something
- Tolerance involves respect, acceptance and appreciation
- Tolerance ultimately leads to peace and happiness
- Tolerance can be felt and experienced in the mind
- Tolerance charges our erroneous thinking habits
- Tolerance is ignoring the person or situation
- Tolerance is easy to understand each other
- Tolerance is best explained by examples
- Tolerance is a basic principle of Islam
- Tolerance is a religious and moral duty
- Tolerance can help in cultivate meditation
- Tolerance toward falsehood is Intolerance
- Tolerance is a crucial factor in a happy life
- Tolerance does not mean a lack of principles
- Toleration promotes the free exchange of ideas
- Tolerance is empowering and has noble results
- Tolerance leads to inaction or leaving the matter
- Tolerance serves well to pay a kind of grace forward
- Tolerance liberates the mind and refreshes the heart
- Tolerance keeps fresh the soul and brings joy and peacefulness
Tolerance is a basic principle of Islam. It is a religious moral duty. Every messenger who came to spread the religion of Allah was very tolerant and patient toward people. Islam teaches tolerance at all levels: between family members, between husband and wife, between parent and child, and between groups and nations. The best conduct in Islam is to treat human beings with dignity, equality, fraternity and justice. Therefore it is very important for Muslims to be tolerant and patient as it is a part of the faith. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Those who spend in [the] ease and (in) the hardship and those who restrain the anger and those who pardon [from] the people – and Allah loves the good-doers.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:134)
Tolerance is the cordial knot which binds the family, and society and keeps the nation intact. Tolerance is the need of the hour today as it was yesterday. We must emphasise the need for this virtue among us and in the world. We must foster tolerance through deliberate policies and efforts. Our focus should be multi-ethnic. We should teach our children respect for each other irrespective of caste, Society cannot be governed by law alone. Law has a relation with society. It suffers if society is rigid and intolerant.
يَسِّرَا وَلَا تُعَسِّرَا وَبَشِّرَا وَلَا تُنَفِّرَا وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفَا
“Make things easy and do not make things difficult. Give glad tidings and do not repel people. Cooperate with each other and do not become divided.” (Sahih Bukhari 2873)
Tolerance is the gracious knot which binds the family, and society and keeps the nation intact. In the world, there is a large number of people, who have many problems in their lives. Looking at poor people, they are facing a great number of problems like finance, education, health and many other troubles. Even they don’t have proper clothes to wear and cover their body. They eat hand to mouth. But still, they have a smile on their face because they are a willingness to tolerate and they have a capacity of acceptance and are convinced by Allah.
Quranic verses about human life, Allah says in the Holy Quran:
- “Men not created without a purpose.” (Quran 23:115)
- “Allah knows what your hearts contain.” (Quran, 3:119)
- “And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” (Quran 68:4)
- “Man is himself accountable for his own actions.” (Quran 17:1)
- “And God loves those who are firm and steadfast.” (Quran 3:146)
- “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.” (Quran 109: 6)
- “And the Hereafter is better for you than the first life.” (Quran 93:4)
- “you have that day, nor for you will there be any denial.” (Quran 42:47)
- “The life of this world is merely the enjoyment of delusion.” (Quran 3:185)
Tolerance and patience are traits of the soul of every Muslim, a part of his Iman (belief) in the religion of Islam. Tolerance is the ability for someone to endure someone’s belief that they may not agree with. Tolerance is important because it promotes a more cohesive, happy society. Tolerance is a fair and objective attitude towards others and is usually a conscious effort from the individual. Allah says:
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ
“Then he was among those who had faith and advised one another to patience and advised one another to mercy.” (Surah Al-Balad 90:17)
Islam may tolerate anything but it teaches zero tolerance for injustice, oppression and violation of the rights of other human beings. When we are living a happy life and suddenly some unexpected things happen to us, we mostly fail to keep our tolerance and patience. We don’t really tolerate those circumstances. Whatever comes into our mind, just as we are doing, we are failing to remember that Allah is with us, we keep our capacity of acceptance and keep our power of willingness to tolerate those conditions. Alla says:
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَغْفِرُوا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ اللَّهِ لِيَجْزِيَ قَوْمًا بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“Tell those who believe to forgive those who do not look forward to the Days of God: It is for Him to recompense each people according to what they have earned.” (Surah Al-Jathiya 45:14)
Tolerance without greater acceptance indicates a sense of conditioned approval. However, the Quran views tolerance as an important starting point in establishing greater peace. The Quran seeks to establish peace between various religious communities and acknowledges differences of belief and cultures. If we have a capacity of tolerance and patience, firmly believe in Allah, when shut our eyes to others’ mistakes, when giving assistance to each other, and pardon everyone. At that point, we perceive inner pleasure. May Allah grant us a wealth of patience.
