THE WORD OF GOD

tradition, personal interests and personal tastes, etc. In such a situation, the virtue of tolerance becomes very important. Tolerance refers to giving consideration to others. It implies unswerving respect for others, whether in agreement or disagreement with them. The tolerant person will always consider the case of others sympathetically, be they relatives, friends, or opponents, and irrespective of the treatment he is given by them, be it of a positive or negative nature. A person of good character should be a person of principle as far as he himself is concerned but should be tolerant towards others. He should judge himself in the light of ideal character but in the matter of his fellow-men, he should show tolerance and broad-mindedness. This is the teaching of Islam. o