Q. Does Religion Produce Hardliners?

Q. Is Islam Intolerant of Other Religions? A. Islam is not intolerant of other religions. However, many Muslims behave intolerantly, which tarnishes Islam’s image. Tolerance and mutual respect are central tenets of Islam, as stated in the Quranic formula, ‘Follow one and respect all humans.’ (109:6) Islam teaches its adherents to respect others in the same way they wish to be respected, be tolerant, and engage in dialogue with people of other faiths. Q. Can Muslims Wish Non-Muslims on their Festivals? A. Absolutely! Opportunities for engaging in interaction should never be lost. Greeting others is a part of social ethics. Q. How Should Muslims Treat Non-Muslims? A. Today, we live in a world of equal citizenship. Any categorisation of and discrimination against citizens of a country based on their religion or community is wrong. A person should be regarded as either an immigrant to a country or a citizen of that country, without their religion making a difference to their status. This is the universal norm, and Muslim-majority countries should adopt this principle. They should not differentiate among people based on religion and community. Such a thing would be unacceptable to the modern mind. Q. Does Islam Deny Religious Freedom to Others? A. Religious freedom is a basic human right. The Quran states: “There shall be no coercion in matters of religion.” (2:256) The Quran also states: “You have your religion, and I