[Quranic Reflection]: The tolerance the Quran gave non-believers

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

The attitude of a Muslim towards non-belief and to non-believers has been a source of constant criticism of the Quran; claimed by many to be "extremist and non-tolerant" towards non-belief.

But the contents of the Quran are the exact opposite. Reading the verses in the Quran regarding how to treat non-belief and non-believers can tell us a lot:

1- Sura 2, 256:

Sura 2, The Quran:
https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/index.php?l=en#...rans=en_sh

( 256 )   There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

This ancient verse can be located in Sura 2, verse 256. It's obvious as daylight: compulsion and enforcing of Islam is highly forbidden, since the right course is clear from the wrong.

2-Sura 60, 8:

Sura 60, The Quran:
https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/index.php?l=en#...rans=en_sh

( 8 )   Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

This ancient verse can be located in Sura 60, verse 8. It's also obvious as daylight, that being "just" and "righteous" towards non-believers who don't fight Muslims because of their choice of faith is a cause of God's love.

Other implicit meanings of tolerance towards peaceful non-believers are also present and numerous in the Quran.

I should note that these verses existed since 1400 years with archeological evidence on their side:

https://atheistforums.org/thread-60183.html

2:191 And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.

Boru