Tolerance is an essential virtue for families as it strengthens affection among spouses and helps keep marriages happy and stable, said a family and marriage counsellor. Islam teaches tolerance on all levels: individuals, groups, and states. Tolerance makes it possible for people to coexist peacefully. It is the basis for a fair society in which everyone can lead their lives as they wish. 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:

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 is the structure that upholds human rights, cultural diversity and the rule of law. Islam may tolerate anything but it teaches zero tolerance for injustice, oppression, and violation of the rights of other human beings. 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. 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)

Tolerance also means that one’s views are not to be imposed on others. We have to tolerate others according to their point of view we can’t just impose our point of view on others. Tolerance is a fair and objective attitude towards others and is usually a conscious effort from the individual. Most people have trouble being tolerant of others. As a living, breathing society, everyone is constantly learning and adapting to each other—it comes with the territory.

Here are some ways to build Tolerance in your life:

1. Tolerance helps communicate different ideas about something
2. Tolerance involves respect, acceptance and appreciation
3. Tolerance ultimately leads to peace and happiness
4. Tolerance can be felt and experienced in the mind
5. Tolerance charges our erroneous thinking habits
6. Tolerance is ignoring the person or situation
7. Tolerance is easy to understand each other
8. Tolerance is best explained by examples
9. Tolerance is a basic principle of Islam
10. Tolerance is a religious moral duty
11. Tolerance will never lead to peace
12. Tolerance is a must in a large family
13. Tolerance can help in cultivate meditation
14. Tolerance toward falsehood is Intolerance
15. Tolerance is a crucial factor in a happy life
16. Tolerance is empowering and has noble results
17. Tolerance leads to inaction or leaving the matter
18. Tolerance liberates the mind and refreshes the heart
19. Tolerance serves well to pay a kind of grace forward
20. Tolerance keeps fresh the soul and brings joy and peacefulness

The literal meaning of Tolerance is “to bear.” Tolerance is a basic principle of Islam. It is a religious and moral duty. Tolerance is an important concept that helps people to live together peacefully. To be tolerant means that you accept other people’s opinions and preferences, even when they live in a way that you don’t agree with. Tolerance also means that you don’t put your opinions above those of others, even when you are sure that you are right. Tolerant people show strength in that they can deal with different opinions and perspectives. Allah says:

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“Thus, We have ordained a law (shari’a) upon you in the matter, so follow it and do not follow the whims of those who know not.” (Surah Al-Jathiyah 45:18)

Teaching children about tolerance is the best gift that you can give them. Children shouldn’t grow up with feelings of hate and suspicion. Children who grow up with hate and jealousy of others turn into unhappy people. And children who are forced to believe certain opinions will develop into people who aren’t free or independent thinkers. If children experience love and tolerance, they will be able to grow up and lead happy and peaceful life. Allah says:

لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ

“Allah does not forbid you that you show kindness and deal justly with those who did not fight you in your religion and did not drive you out from your homes…” (Surah Al-Mumtahinah 60:8)

Tolerance means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally distinct in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour, and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are. When one looks into the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), one may draw on many examples to portray the high level of tolerance shown to people of other faiths. 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 does mean giving up one’s own way of life. Tolerance is following the motto “Live and let Live”. Tolerance is just understanding another person’s beliefs, practices and habits without necessarily accepting them or following them. It is simply being a little unselfish. It is giving others a small piece of the pie. It is adjusting to others a little giving up to someone happy. It is understanding that everyone has, more or less the same basic needs as oneself. It is realizing that ultimately everyone wants to be happy and peace full.

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.” (Qur’an, 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 is your ability to deal with the disagreeable. Sometimes, someone’s disagreeable nature can simply be an annoyance, while other times, it may be much more intrusive. The practice of tolerance, however, is more about your relationship with yourself instead of with other people. Tolerance can be thought of as emotional or mental perseverance. It is your attachment to the feelings behind the experience that allows it to linger. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا

“Only we feed you for (the) Countenance (of) Allah. Not we desire from you any reward and no thanks.”  (Surah Al-Insan 76:9)

Tolerance signifies mutual respect and peaceful harmony between conflicting religions and ideologies. When you know more about different thinking and ideas from around the world, it will help you to understand the world better. It needs to be clear that everyone has their own opinions and values and that these need to be respected and accepted. If we want to live in a peaceful society, there is no alternative to tolerance. Remember your own faults and that life has given you grace.

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. We should impart to our children the quality of tolerance, and forgiveness because the family is the first school of privilege. We should more concentrate on this virtue of tolerance so that we can live a peaceful and happy life. Muslims have been generally very tolerant people. We must emphasize this virtue among us and in the world today. Tolerance is needed in our communities. In this way, e can portray the real and very good image of our religion Islam.