Most people understand that the tolerance (Tasamuh) is to justify and follow the faith, belief, paradigm, and worship, ritual, habits of others. Whereas the principle of tolerance – in Islam – is clearly stated in the surah Al- Kafirun that tolerance is each carry conviction without having to invite other people or follow other people’s beliefs.
In this Surah Makiyyah , there are lessons that we can take:
- There is no tolerance of belief (iman or aqeedah) and worship, tolerance only applies to social issues (mu’amalah). This has been exemplified by Prophet Muhammad SAW in both Mecca and Medina. In Mecca he did not accept invitations to pagans, the day he was with the Muslims to worship the God of unbelievers (statue) and the next day the unbelievers worship Allah SWT. Likewise, when in Madinah, the Prophet did not force other religions (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, polytheists) to embrace Islam, or otherwise the Muslims followed their religion, or bear a religion agreement (syncretism) or justify all religions (religious pluralism), but established common rules in the agreement or social interaction, this is what we are familiar known as Charter of Medina;
- When we say no to people of other faiths to follow their worship or ritual, it does not mean no tolerance, it is precisely tolerance. This is done by Caliph Umar when – in the year 637, he freed Jerusalem from the grip of the Byzantine rulers – he was invited to pray by the Christian clergy in the church, Umar refused. He insisted that if he prayed there, Muslims would use it as an excuse to turn a church into a mosque. Of course it would deprive Christians. Finally Umar prayed outside the church.
- Tolerance does not mean condone or allow all of it, but must obey the rules. In Islam, there is no compulsion of other faiths to convert to Islam, but when one chooses Islam, he/she must obey the rules of Islam. Hence the Prophet Muhammad pbuh cleaned statues around the Kaaba, because in the rules of Islam should not be any statue in the house, let alone in the house of God (baitullah, the Holy Mosque), but it does not matter if it is in the neighborhood of non-Muslim places of worship, this was conducted by Umar bin Khattab during liberated Jerusalem and Amr ibn ‘Ash while freed Egypt, he let both church and synagogue and its contents;
- There is no tolerance in faith and worship, as well as in terms of disobedience or violation of the rules of Islam. As the prophet did, he did not wear silk, because in Islam should not be. “From Ibn Umar, he said: Umar RA had seen a piece of silk that was being sold, and he said:” O Messenger of Allah! Buy this and wear silk on Friday, and if come to you messengers. “He said:” It’s just wearing this silk is that people will have no part at all in the afterlife. One day the Prophet Muhammad had been given a few strands of silk clothes, and then he sent some to Umar, and Umar said: “How can I put it on while you said silk like that?” He said: ‘Indeed, I do not intend to give it to you to wear, but you sell it or put it on to others. “Then Umar sent it to one of his relative who was in Makkah, before his relative converted to Islam.”
- In social interaction (mu’amalah) we do good without have to distinguish among people’s beliefs, such as in doing good to neighbors. “From Mujahid, he said: ‘I’ve been on the side of Abdullah bin’ Amr and when his servant was skinning a goat. Abdullah then said: ‘O servant! When you are finished then prioritize our Jewish neighbor. ‘Suddenly one said: “(You’re precedence) the Jews? May Allah correct you! “Abdullah said: ‘I heard the Prophet SAW intestate about neighbors, to the extent that we were afraid or we even assumed that he would classify them as heirs.”
Once again, the essence of tolerance is steadfast in faith, but flexible in socialize. This is the meaning of “lakum dinukum waliyadin”.
Well, have you applied tolerance correctly?
And Allah knows best.
Illustration by AA Sumadri
