RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN THE LIGHT OF THE QUR'AN AND SUNNAH

التسامح الديني والتعايش السلمي في ضوء القرآن والسنة

Abstract

Religious tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, as a religious, political, and philosophical concept found in Islamic traditions, was sporadically utilized, always subject to the dictates of history. There is significant value in exploring Islam‘s rich tradition of tolerance, explicating its humane conceptualizations and heartening examples. Religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence are noble Islamic thoughts suggested in many verses of Quran in different forms, with complete emphasis and explicitness. Peace, justice, equality and brotherhood are its guiding principles to develop the mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence. Islam is synonymous with peace. It encourages its followers to explore every possible avenue for peaceful negotiations to sort out the conflict among the people and put their all efforts to establish peace in the society. The Holy Quran appeals to Muslims to engage in constructive dialogue with the people of other faiths on the basis of what they have common belief and doing of righteous deeds. The Holy Quran emphasizes that all the people have the right to follow the religion of their own choice. Islam calls on people of different faiths to have mutual respect for each other on the basis of their common humanity while following their own religions. The aim of this paper is to discuss the Qura’nic position of tolerance to establish the manner of universal brotherhood. This paper also will explore the ability of Quranic teachings to overcome the inter-religious conflicts in various parts of the world and goodwill among the flowers of different religion can be established.