Religious intolerance

[HASEEB ANSARI]

Religious intolerance

1. Introduction notes
“Religion is like a pair of shoes.....Find one that fits for you, but don't make me wear your shoes.” George Carlin

2. Definition of tolerance:
1. The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.
2. The ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with.
3. Definition of tolerance according to the 19th century British historian Arnold Toynbee: for a religious establishment to persecute another religion for being "wrong" ironically puts the persecuting religion in the wrong, undermining its own legitimacy.

"A person born in Egypt or Pakistan is very likely to be a Muslim; one born in Burma or Tibet is very likely to be a Buddhist; one born in most parts of India is very likely to be a Hindu; and one born in Britain or the U.S.A. is likely to be a Christian. If God is omni benevolent and just ... he would not put a newborn to a disadvantage. This seems to mean only one thing: All religions give a person the same chance for salvation.”

3. Tolerance comes from our recognition of the following
a. The dignity of the human beings,
b. The basic equality of all human beings,
c. Universal human rights, and
d. Fundamental freedom of thought, conscience and belief

4. Present scenario of religious intolerance in Pakistan
Religious intolerance is a term that is discussed between two different religions. But same is not the case with as far as Pakistan is concerned. It is used here for different Islamic sects, frankly speaking.
a. Shias are targeted rest of the country especially in Quetta. Sunnis are too a targeted sect in Pakistan.
b. Christians feel themselves insecure in certain terms.
c. Hindus are compelled to leave the country because they are, perhaps, the most mal-treated community with regards to religious intolerance.
d. Islam is being used as a tool to get personal goals.
e. Taliban’s terrorist activities.

5. Current instances of intolerance
Most religiously motivated hate crimes are acts of vandalism, but personal attacks are not uncommon. Some acts of such kinds are given below:
a. Muslims of Kashmir are persecuted at the Indian army’s hands.
b. Muslims (Rohingyas) of Burma comprise 4 percent (800,000) of the total population comparing to the 89 percent of Buddhists and the former can never take upon the latter’s wrath upon themselves. According to the UN, they are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
c. Palestinians are persecuted by the Israeli forces.

6. Tolerance in Islam
Islam teaches tolerance on all levels: individual, groups and states. Tolerance is the mechanism that upholds human rights and the rule of law. It allows every human being to profess its religious preference. It teaches that there should not be any compulsion in the religion.
Qura’anic teachings on tolerance:
a. No retaliation: Say ‘... I am (sent) only to warn plainly in public’ [67:26] and “Say, ‘O men! I am (sent) to you only to give a clear warning.” [22:49]
b. Treat people kindly and friendly: God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers." (Quran, chapter 60/ verse 8)
c. Be forgiving: "Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't count on their doings" (Quran, chapter 7, verse 199)
d. Forgive and show indulgence to them! (Qur’an, 2:109)

6. Prophetic SAW teachings on tolerance
a. "Sometimes I enter prayer and I intend to prolong it, but then I hear a child crying, and I shorten my prayer thinking of the distress of the child's mother." Fiqh us-Sunnah, Volume 2, Number 51b.
b. Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “Allah has forgiven a man who was before you: he was tolerant when selling, tolerant when purchasing, and tolerant when repaying.”
[Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book of Business, Number 1320, Sahih]
c. The Prophet SAW would advise: ...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child. And he also said: Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.
d. The Prophet was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?" He said: There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.
e. We can witness that the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw a funeral procession pass by. He stood for it. When he was told that it was the funeral of a Jew, he replied: Was he not a soul?

7. What does Islam say about if how to treat people
a. Killing women, children, old people, or any civilian even in war is prohibited in Islam.
b. Respect other religions:

"There is no compulsion in religion..."
(Qura’an, Chapter 2, Verse 256) "

If God had willed, He would have made you all in one nation and one religion), but that He (God) left you in different religions to compete in good deeds and society benefits. The return of all of you is to God; then He (God) will inform you about that in which you differ"
(Quran, Chapter 5, Verse48)
c. Be honest.

8. Islamic tolerance towards other religions
“And do not abuse those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest exceeding the limits they should abuse Allah out of ignorance. Thus have We made fair seeming to every people their deeds; then to their Lord shall be their return, so He will inform them of what they did.”
Qura’an [6:108]

9. Religious intolerance its causes include:
a. Ego of the Self
b. Mine versus theirs mentality
c. Ignorance (lack of religious knowledge)
d. Desire to be superior
e. Wasted political benefits f. Personal vendettas

Can Infiniteness of God be limited by a name, sect, function or Religion?

10. Ways to improve religious tolerance
a. Erase religious discrimination.
b. Propagate and practice Islamic view point on religious tolerance.
c. Rights and religious freedom given to minorities implemented.
d. The UN should play its role in resolving all the religious based disputes.
e. Ulema should articulate a committee that would address and solve the entire crisis within the different sects of Islam in Pakistan.
f. Media should enhance its importance through arranging especial reports and events thus taking important role to get rid off this chimera.

11. Conclusion notes
Tolerance only for those who agree with you is no tolerance at all.
Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.
Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice.

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