Why do Muslims expect tolerance but don't give it in return?

Question

Muslims in Europe and the US are always preaching that we should be more understanding and tolerant of their religion. Yet there are no Christian churches in Saudi Arabia, a non-Muslim can't even VISIT Mecca (a very large city), and it's against the law to even be seen with a Bible in Saudi Arabia. Isn't that a double-standard?

UPDATE: In response to hayaa_bi_taqwa's answer, you're wrong. In fact non-Christians may enter Vatican City. You are simply trying to defend the intolerance of your religion by bringing up false counter-points.

Answer 1

Because islam teaches dogmatism and hypocrisy. Muslims say that Islam is tolerant but your absolutely right, in every Islamic country they subjugate the minorites to dhimmi status. Dhimmis are forbidden to preach their religions, carry religious relics, and they must pay a tax (jizya) under penalty of death. And a prime example of religious intolerance is the apostates that choose to leave Islam, muslims are ordered to execute them.

Answer 2

Actually the double standard lies in those who spout that Muslims are intolerant while also spouting that Muslims should be banned in America, Muslims are (insert insult here), the Quran is (insert insult here). See above answers for examples.

Actually, contrary to what you've been told, Muslims are very tolerant. While some laws may prohibit non-Muslims from entering Mecca, there are also laws that prohibit non-Christians from entering the Vatican. Mosques, synagogues and temples are not built in the Vatican. This is because it is a holy place to Christians, and everyone else respects and honors that. Otherwise everyone would point at Christians and complain about their own intolerance for this reason only.

So where is the Muslim tolerance?
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/519572.html
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=December&x=20061212165055bcreklaw0.8355371
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/180/story_18045_1.html
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=259874&area=/insight/insight__africa/
also trying to get the link for the Umma clinic but it isn't loading properly

Please remember this the next time you think of Muslims and intolerance, and also remember the answers above and just how intolerant they are.

Edit: Ah, maybe I should correct myself. Non-Christians are not allowed past the Basillica and museums. The rest of the city is closed off even to Christian tourists! Lol! Anyways, I'm not complaining about the Vatican or using it as an excuse. I'm using it as an example. It has no importance to me whatsoever, why should I fight and rant and rave because I'm not allowed? See, here I thought you were going to be one of those looking for answers rather than looking for someone to agree with you. I suppose I was wrong about that. Oh well, that's what I get for giving people the benefit of the doubt.

Answer 3

So you are saying all Muslims follow the laws of Saudi Arabia? I don't preach any such thing but you are not on the receiving end of constant media scrutiny the way Muslims are. If John Doe down the street murders his entire family its reported "Man slays family" If a muslim man where to do the same thing the report is "Muslim man slays family" now if the first guy is a catholic the headline does not say "Catholic man slays family" does it? No. You are free to visit Saudi Arabia plenty of non believers do. To enter holy places that is something different they are for worship they are not tourist sites after all. There are plenty of muslim countries where christians live side by side with muslims with love and respect for there neigbours so what your saying is not true. Muslims acutally buy churches that where to be pulled down and preserve them as churches. If you are going to judge all muslims by the laws of Saudi Arabia then you dont have a clue what you are talking about. I am a muslim and tolerant of every faith, why would i not be? What is it i am doing that is not tolerant or respectful to people of other faiths? I dont live in Saudi Arabia so how do the laws of that country apply to me? I am a british citizen and live by the laws of my country. My husband is from a muslim country that has Jews and Christians and they live perfectly happy side by side, no conflict, no hate, no intolerance so if all you have to go on is Saudi Arabia you are the one who is not looking at the whole picture, you are looking at a corner and thinking you know the whole picture well you dont. Put hey stereotypes never get old do they.

Answer 4

No, it's not a double standard. Saudi Arabia, thankfully, is one of the few countries that is willing to ban missionaries. Missionaries are one of the most insidious groups that ruined much of world history.

They established poverty and racism in Africa, in South Asia, parts of the Middle East, and all throughout South America.

Saudi Arabia does not hide the fact. They are a MUSLIM country. Mecca is the holiest MUSLIM cite in the world. The US claims to be a secular society, therefore to run it by a version of religious law would be ludicrous. At least the Saudis (in this instance, not usually) are practicing what they preech.

Good for them. If you're enough of a damn fool to prosyletize in Saudi, your dumbasss SHOULD be kicked out/killed, etc.

Answer 5

It is true that non-Muslims are not allowed in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, by law. The following points will serve to elucidate the possible reasoning behind such a restriction.


1. All citizens are not permitted in the cantonment area
I am a citizen of India. Yet, I am not permitted to enter certain restricted areas like the cantonment. In every country there are certain areas where a common citizen of that country cannot enter. Only a citizen who is enrolled in the military or those who are connected with the defence of the country are allowed in the cantonment area. Similarly Islam is a Universal Religion for the entire world and for all human beings. The cantonment areas of Islam are the two holy cites of Makkah and Madinah. Here only those who believe in Islam and are involved in the defence of Islam i.e. the Muslims are allowed.

It would be illogical for a common citizen to object against the restriction on entering a cantonment area. Similarly it is not appropriate for non-Muslims to object against the restriction on non-Muslims against entering Makkah and Madinah.


2. Visa to enter Makkah and Madinah

Whenever a person travels to a foreign country he has to first apply for a visa i.e. the permission to enter that country. Every country has its own rules, regulations and requirements for issuing a visa. Unless their critera are satisfied they will not issue a visa.

One of the countries which is very strict in issuing a visa is the United States of America, especially when issuing visas to citizens of the third world. They have several conditions and requirements to be fulfilled before they issue a visa.

When I visited Singapore, it was mentioned on their immigration form - death to drug traffickers. If I want to visit Singapore I have to abide by the rules. I cannot say that death penalty is a barbaric punishment. Only if I agree with their requirements and conditions will I be permitted to enter the country.

The Visa – The primary condition required for any human being to enter Makkah or Madina is to say with his lips, La ila ha illallah Muhammed ur Rasulullah meaning that ‘there is no God but Allah and Muhammed (pbuh) is His Messenger.’

Answer 6

I feel like you asked a pretty reasonable question, but unfortunately there are some horrible bigots that like to answer questions on here. Some people apparently think that the right way to handle this is to ban Islam in America, which as far as I can tell would mean that Christians were doing pretty much the same thing. Sad.

Answer 7

You are 100% correct. Youre sounding like a hate-mongering Christian conservative! : p

Yes the Muslim world is EXTREMELY intolerant towards other religions especially Judaism and Christianity. The critics can say whatever they want about how intolerant Christians are, but you dont see us burning down mosques, kidnapping, torturing, or dismembering Muslim children when their parents refuse to convert. It is a false Gospel that only teaches Arab pride and how to be a more evil evil person.

Answer 8

Because of the Doctrine of the Koran, any non-Muslim is a 2nd class citizen. However, most Arab countrys, like Iran and Syria, have secular governments.

What you are talking about is American Muslims, most of whom are moderate and patriotic (to an extent). The Liberal Democrats and the ACLU are more to blame for that because of their hatred of Christianity and apparent love and support for everything opposed to Christ and George W. Bush.

Have you not learned that the US will allways be villanized so long as we are an ally of Isreal? Muslims believe (and are correct in general) that Jews spat on the Scriptures they were given. They just go a step further and decide to kill them off. This hypocracy is hundreds of years old.

Surprisingly, most Black Muslims here dont feel that way, they just want the government to give them free land to repay slavery. You have heard of "40 Acres and a mule?".... Spike Lee named his company after that concept.

Some Muslims are good people, most in the US are good, but when a religion preaches that killing or discrimination of a non-believer is the correct way it becomes their concept of common sense. It is unfortunate, but true.

Answer 9

There is injustice all over the world! Many, many Muslims are descent law abiding people. As everyone knows, it only takes a very small percentage of any certain group to givethe whole group a black eye. People will behave according to what they want to learn. we all have choices in life. Lets pray that we make the correct ones!

Answer 10

have you ever heard something named the 1923 inhabitants replace between Turkey and Greece? this is the clarification why the inhabitants of Christians decreased in Turkey. You tell me what got here about to lots of the Muslim Turks in Balkans or the Caucasus?