Tolerance Flashcards
Quran 2
There is no compulsion in religion
3 interpretations
Abrogation
Verse was repealed
Relevant in Mecca not medina
Religious freedom had been and gone
3 interpretations
Unique specificity
Verse stopped forced conversion of Jews and Christians before Islam
Only relevant to this situation
3 Interpretations
Freedom for Dhimmis
Dhimmis are protected as they are people of the book and pay poll tax - jizya
Mutazilites on the verse
Descriptive of facts
1- God does not force us to believe, we have free will
2- it’s impossible to force someone to believe, their internal self is in their full control
External self should be altered to fit society by true belief is free
Golden Age
James L Heft
“Rare period in history”
Where people didn’t “keep their distance”
Previously attacked each other
Golden age
711 Muslims conquered Iberian peninsula
Ruled by the ummayad
Literature and public baths and architecture thrived
Life for non Muslims in golden age
Not forced to be slaves
Had pleasant jobs like banking
Paid jizya
Clothing restrictions
Not allowed weapons
Public precessions of faith banned
Golden age
Bat Ye’or
Society was sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines
12th century ruling
No Muslim should massage or clean a Latrine of a Jew/Christian as..
“The Jew and the Christian are better fitted for such trades, since they are the trades of those who are vile”
Why non Muslims were tolerated
Monotheist religions Christians outnumbered Muslims Mass conversion not practical Encouraged loyalty Passages in Quran encourage it
Oppression
Alnanzor
Looted churches and imposed strict rules
Apostasy
Can be in action and omission- neglecting to do prayers etc
Riddah
Hadith on Apostacy
Whoever changes his religion, execute him
Al Bukhari
Traditional views on apostasy
Traditionally seen as immutable, resulting in marriage annulment, seizure of their children and property and death for the apostate
Still illegal in Afghanistan
