Does Islam tolerate Christianity?

Question

I have just started reading a translated version of the Qur'an ( The Nobel Quran) and am curious about some early passages.


Chap. 2
23. "And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'ân) to Our slave (Muhammad Peace be upon him ), then produce a Sûrah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allâh, if you are truthful.

24. But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers."


Chap 2.
62. "Verily! Those who believe and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, [] whoever believes in Allâh and the Last Day and do righteous good deeds shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve []."


These lines seem contradictory to me, can anyone provide clarification?

Answer 1

005.051
YUSUFALI: O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.

Answer 2

Yes, Islam does tolerate christianity. If you look the early examples, non-Muslims used to live with Muslims peacefully and even had their own rights and freedoms in Muslim lands!

Ch. 2:23 is referring to non-Muslims who doubted the Qur'an. Allah challenged those to produce a similar ayat or proof like that of Qur'an if it is false. Even till now, nobody has been able to live up to that challenge!

2:24 in this ayat (proof, sign, etc.) Allah is telling the challengers that if you cannot and you can never create another ayat (meaning sentence) or even a simple word as alif laam meem, then fear Allah and fear the hell fire in which there will be those who disbelieve and defy ALlah!

2:62 That ayah is saying that those who do believe in ALlah (One God) and the Day of Judgment and do good deeds will be rewarded by ALlah and they will have no fear and they will not grieve. Allah rewards all good deeds even if they are done by non-Muslims! Every good deed is rewarded whether it is in this world or the next!

I hope i answered you well!

Also, you should get a tafsir (explanation) by Ibn Kathir. It'll help you to understand the meaning of each ayat. Because these ayahs are deep and has deep meanings which we can't understand by simply reading them. There were Muslim Scholars who had great understanding and wisdom and they wrote books about these ayats and what they mean. Good luck!

Answer 3

The Arabic translation is very important here. In the first verses God doesn't say that anyone would go to hell but He told them to fear hell. Even Muslims must fear hell. I heard this before when I was younger and asked a religious Muslim "why must we fear hell? We are Muslims, won't we be saved?" He told me "We must fear that are sins will qualify us for hell but have hope that our good deeds will qualify us for heaven. You must strike a balance between the two." I liked the answer; it makes me strive to be better in hopes of heaven, but fear of not being good enough (after all you can never be too good). Another thing, in Arabic a Christian/Jew/Monotheist is not considered a disbeliever; only athiests and polytheists are disbelievers. While God is Most-Merciful (to the extent of forgiving some non-Muslim Monotheists) He is also Just and will not forgive the disbelievers (that have openly denied Him after all He has done for them) who have mocked and belittled the devout monotheists, believing that they are more evolved and logical; when God is truly most logical. The only way a disbeliever *migh* enter heaven is if they never heard the truth; otherwise they do not deserve to mingle with those who strived in God's name. Peace and blessings. I hope I shed light on the verses.

Answer 4

I am reading the qu'ran as well, and I am a Catholic.. Some thing's are not so clear when you try to break your brains to understand it.. I guess see the footnotes.. I do that.. Sometimes It help's sometimes it doesn't (for me)
Though, the Qu'run is not actually saying anything wrong about the christian saints, but they do speak about the people of that time.
Jesus is well respected among Muslims... and so is Moses!

Answer 5

Please read on with patience. To answer the question completely, this much length was a requirement.

Well Friend, let me answer the question step by step:

1. Tolerence of Christainity:

Islam not only tolerates Chrsitainity but any religion. Any one who is not Muslim can not be forced to accept Islam under any cicumstances by Islam. You can find the reference in the Holy Quran that there is no enforcement in case of religion.

2. Chap 2 Verse 23, 24:

The actual arabic words of the Holy Quran are: "Wa (and) in (if) Kuntum (You are) Fee (in) ...". The words in the paranthesis like "Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians" or "i.e. the Qur'ân" are put there for making it more understandable, thats not the part of Holy Quran.

Now what does this "YOU" points to? The next part of the verse tells us: those who are in doubt about what have been sent to Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him); the doubt that this is not Gods message, it is created by the Prophet; the doubt about its truth.

So, there, "you" doesn't specifically point to Christians or any other religion in this sense.

After this, the Holy Quran says; if you doubt then try producing a single surah; a single chapter. This is a challenge for those who think that this Holy Quran is not the word of God (or Allah in Arabic) so they think that this can be produced by some man so try producing something like it yourself, or try taking some help from your helpers; those you worship (Arabs used to worship idols) now that may be a some idol, some spirit, sun or moon; but not Allah; you can call them for help to make somethig like this.

This challenge is a challenge of Holy Quran that proves its truth. I don't think it has to do something with tolerating Christains in particular, or any religion in general.

3. Chap 2, Verse 62:

The Verse sepecifies some groups of people. Lets first discuss them:

=> Those who believe (Muslims)
=> The Jews
=> The Christians
=> The Sabians

=> First ones clearly are the Muslims.

=> The Jews: Here lets define who are the Jews. The Jews are those who are the followers of the Holy Moses (P.B.U.H) and His book, Holy Torah. So, if any one claims to be a Jew and doesn’t follow any of these, he is not a Jew, naturally by defination.

Holy Torah predicts coming of a “Messiah” who is Holy Christ (P.B.U.H). Now if the Messiah is here, then Jews must turn to Messiah for guidence by Holy Torah. In other words, Holy Torah says that Jews should be Christains after the arival of Holy Christ (P.B.U.H). If some Jew is still a Jew, he is no longer a Jew (I think you got that). For reference of all this, try searching yourself. But I can help you with only one reference here http://math.ucsd.edu/~dmcallas/papers/JesusOT.pdf which atleast tells that there WAS a prediction in Holy Torah.

=> The Christians: The group of people who follow Holy Christ (P.B.U.H) and the Holy Bible are Christians. Now failing to follow one of these makes the someone who claims to be Christain, a non-Christian. Same here; Holy Bible also foretells about the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) and in the same way; after the appearance of Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H), Christains are directed to go to him for any further guidence. Which means Christians should be Muslims after the arival of Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H). If some Christian is still a Christian, he is no longer a Christian. Reference: http://www.irf.net/what_the_bible_says_about_muhammad.doc

=> The Sabians: Most of the scholors say that they were people who used to offer prayer five times a day and had most of their living style like Muslims. So, they say that people of Arab used to call the fellows of Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) Sabians.

Now lets go further. The verse say that the people who belong to these groups and believe in Allah and the day of judgement and do good deeds will have their reward from Allah. They should not worry or they should have no fear.

This verse as well has nothing to do with tolerence of Christians. In fact, it is linked with the previous verse: 61. The previous verse explains how the people who are doing wrong deeds would be punished. This one is telling about the reward for those who are doing good deeds.

I think I have answered your question.

And a word for reading english version of Holy Quran. Holy Quran is an Intellectual text, a word of God. People have been researching the meanings and interpretations of Holy Quran and still they don’t claim to understand everything. You need some sort of guidence for Holy Quran. Try to find one.

Any future queries are welcomed, don’t hesitate. I would be happy if I can help.
Best of Luck.

Answer 6

You will find at least as many direct contradictions in the Christian bible.

Muslims are as tolerant of Christians as Christians are of Muslims. The extremist Muslims who attack other religions are just as rare as the extremist Christians who protest soldiers' funerals.

I will point out that the word "jihad" actually refers to the internal battle Muslims fight to keep true to their faith despite religious persecution. It has nothing to do with "infidels." A Muslim blowing up a person of another faith to ascent to a virgin-filled heaven is just as ridiculous as a Christian fighting a "holy war" despite the commandment "Thou shalt not kill."

Answer 7

Islam uses Christianity to TRY and prove its origin. The Qur'an and its contents are against the ONE TRUE GOD because it denies the Son (Jesus Christ). For that reason, the Quran and ISLAM isnt the TRUE or RIGHT religion or faith. You will find many contradictions.

Answer 8

Islam heavily depended on christianity .islam recognizes Abraham , Moses and Jesus . but has reduced them to mere pupets in the court of Allah. The differnece between these two religons seem to be only one thing . Christianity preached love and non-violence , but christians practiced violence in the name of crushade .Islam preaches violence against non-believers .and Muslims also undertook jihad , the equivalence of the crushade .What are the chapters you have quoted ,of - Quoran ? (see chapter 29 of Quoran.)Better read the entire quoran to have a clear understanding of it

Answer 9

None of these religions can tolerate each other... everyone wants to believe they're right.. you just have to go by what you think is best.. and we'll find out when this life ends



muslims are supposed to pray 5 times a day.. and have to wash up before each prayer.. therefore yes.. they do wash their noses 5 times a day.. they have to become 'pure' for god...

Answer 10

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