Does Islam teach the hatred or subjugation of non-Muslims? Most Muslim scholars and people do not accept the view that Islam teaches the hatred or subjugation of non-Muslims. Those scholars or individuals who do propagate this ideology are a minority in the global Muslim population, and are generally viewed as extreme in their interpretation of Islam. Most scholars teach that people of other faiths are free to practice their religion, and that it is forbidden to convert anyone by force. They often cite Qur’anic verses, such as: “There is no compulsion in religion” (Qur’an, 2:256), or others that emphasize the plurality of religious practice. Specifically, the Qur’an mentions “People of the Book,” which is generally understood to refer to Jews and Christians. Muslims are commanded to safeguard their right to worship and their places of worship. The existence of old churches and synagogues throughout the Muslim world in places like Egypt, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Bosnia as well as the existence of minority religious populations in those areas, as well as Hindus in India, demonstrates that this command was historically followed by many Muslim societies. While today there are instances of tensions between Muslims and practitioners of other faiths in their countries, these are typically due to either an extreme interpretation of Islam or the manipulation of religious differences for political purposes by one or both parties.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 03:41:07 +0000