Pages

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Religious Intolerance



            

    On 29th May, Pakistanis were once again reminded of the religious intolerance prevalent in our societies. Only this one was more brutal. 

LAHORE: Gunmen attacked worshippers from the Ahmadi community in two worship places of Lahore on Friday, taking hostages and killing at least 70 people, officials said. - DAWN.COM







So what is religious tolerance?
Religious tolerance is the willingness to accept and permit religious beliefs and practices which disagree with one's own beliefs. Belligerent preaching or forcibly imposing ones beliefs on the others beliefs, is intolerance. So if you think that others have the right to hold and practice their beliefs, then you have the element of tolerance.

Islam, which is our state religion, clearly upholds religious tolerance. Or rather it is one of the strengths of this religion. In Qur'an it is stated that:











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.
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.
                                  The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) also reflects the significance of religious tolerance:
“Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu Dawud)
                          

According to religioustolerance.org, there are no Muslim countries that received a religiously free in Freedom House Report on Religious Freedom; they were rated 4 to 7. So why is it that the countries, where today Islam prevails, have the highest accounts of religious intolerance? Marmaduke Pickthall explains it in these words:



                                   It was not until the Western nations broke away from their religious law that they became more tolerant; and it was only when the Muslims fell away from their religious law that they declined in tolerance and other evidences of the highest culture.
                    
                                  In this age of enlightenment, ignorance about our own beautiful religion is disheartening. Instead of acquiring knowledge about Islam, we are in pursuit of Western ideals. Instead of learning the lessons of democracy from our own religion, we are following the tenets of administration of the West. Our Islam today is limited to performing rituals; for us it is not the way of life it used to be for the companions of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).


Contrary to popular perception, history reveals that Islam - as preached in the Qur’an and exemplified by the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions - accepts, celebrates and even encourages diversity. - altmuslim                     
                        In order to overcome religious intolerance, we have to look to Islam as our ultimate guide to live in this world. To revive the spirit of tolerance and inclusivity, we have to look to the Qur’an, and emulate the model it lays out. 


No comments:

Post a Comment