Tolerance, a necessity in contemporary world

Tolerance is a necessity in the modern world, more than ever before. Today, we are faced with major changes in the social behavioral patterns, upon the expansion of communications, collectivism and mutual dependence, massive migration waves, major displacements, and growing number of urbanites.

 In the meantime, mounting intolerance is posing a threat in every region of the world. This trend is not restricted to a particular country and is deemed as a global threat.

The urgent need for tolerance and patience among humans and peaceful coexistence of people next to each other, led UNESCO member states to convene the 28th UNESCO general confab in Paris, as of October 25 to November 16, 1995, in which they approved The Declaration of Principles of Tolerance.

The introduction of this declaration mentions the content and principles of human rights documents. Part of this prelude notes with due regard to UN Charter, we the people of United Nations decide to protect the future generations from the plague of war, re-announcing our faith in human rights, and the honor and value of humanity, peacefully coexisting next to each other in an effort to achieve these goals.

As a reminder, the introduction of UNESCO Charter approved on November 16, 1945, notes sustainability of peace should be founded on spiritual solidarity and wisdom of mankind. This prelude also reminds us of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing everyone maintains the right to freedom of thought, religion, and expression, while educational system should promote good will, forgiveness, respect for opposition views and amity among all nations, races, and religions.

In fact the Universal Declaration of Human Rights intends to implement all necessary approaches for promotion of tolerance, as an honored principle, and a necessity for establishment of peace, and achievement of economic and social growth.

In the meantime, the introduction to the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance mentions given concerns over mounting intolerance, violence, terrorism, xenophobia, crude nationalism, racism, deprivation of others, marginalization and discrimination against national, ethnical, and religious minorities, refugees, migrant workers, immigrants, and vulnerable strata, and bouts of violence and scaremongering campaigns, targeting those, who believe in freedom of thought and expression, The Declaration of Principles of Tolerance is determined to make use of all essential avenues for promotion of tolerance in human communities. This is not just an honored principle. It is a necessity for establishment of peace and for maintenance of economic and social growth of all human beings.

The Declaration of Principles of Tolerance pinpoints that tolerance is to respect, accept and honor the rich diversity of our world’s culture, and methods of expression of our humanity. The growth of tolerance is accomplished via awareness, openness, and communication, freedom of expression and thought, and conscience. This is not just a moral duty. It is also a political and legal necessity. Tolerance makes peace feasible and replaces the culture of war with the most needed culture of peace.

Also, tolerance is not tantamount to grant of concession to others, relinquish of one’s own benefits, or forgiveness. Tolerance is in line with respect for human rights, and is not equivalent to bearing social injustice, or sidelining and undermining personal beliefs. Tolerance means that the individual is free to remain committed to his personal beliefs, and to accept that others also maintain the right to be committed to their beliefs. This, in turn, translates into accepting this fact that human beings are naturally different in appearance, situation, remarks, behavior, and values, and that they have the right to live in peace and remain as they are. This also means that the views of an individual should not be imposed on others.

The UN chief, in a message, marking the International Day of Tolerance, announced that we should stand up against the inclination toward isolation upon revitalizing the power and identity of the culture of tolerance. We should re-emphasize the fact that culture is enriched with mutual communication. We should remind ourselves of historical facts and remember how different people and cultures blended with each other, enriching cultures. Global civilization and cultural heritages attest to this cultural blend. We can show that no culture has grown in isolation, and cultural diversity is a strong point; not a drawback. We should once again point out that tolerance is not tantamount to passive acceptance of differences. In fact, tolerance is a struggle and effort to respect human rights. Promotion of tolerance is one of the goals and themes of UNESCO’s measures, which was approved as an integral part of Declaration of Principles of Tolerance in the year 1995. The cultural tolerance is a source of inspiration for many of the educational, cultural, and scientific plans within the framework of the global decade for proximity of cultures that began in the year 2013 and continues until the year 2022. These plans are in need of support for general policies throughout public speeches, daily behavioral patterns, among media, and at the heart of our cities.

The UN chief added that he wants all UNESCO member states and the international community to receive this message and to take strides to build peaceful and prosper communities, given that such communities are more tolerant.

The sacred religion of Islam values the peaceful coexistence of people with different beliefs. In the view of Islam, peace is compatible with human’s innate nature. Under peaceful conditions; growth, elevation, salvation, and righteousness of mankind becomes possible. One of the principles, governing an Islamic community is peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims. Islam is a peaceful religion. None of the ayahs of Holy Quran force people to accept Islam.

Some People of the Book were non-Muslims who did not convert to Islam following the victory of Muslims. They lived under the protection of the Islamic ruling system and community, and were permitted to live in the Islamic community, conditioned on payment of a per capita tax in return for the support of their lives and assets by the Islamic ruling system.

Peaceful coexistence with non-Muslims is based on ayahs of Holy Quran, hadiths, and the traditions of the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household, and is founded on human dignity.

Islam attaches paramount importance to peace, which was highly evident in the tradition of Prophet Mohammad in the advent of Islam.

The Prophet of Islam, in an instruction to Amr ibn Hazm, upon sending the latter as an envoy to Yemen, noted “any Jew or Christian, who converts to Islam wholeheartedly, is considered to be among the faithful. Whatever Muslims have, belongs to them, too. And whoever that remains a Jew or Christian is never forced to leave his religion.”

The First Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), in an instruction to his appointed ruler of Egypt, Malek-e Ashtar, wrote: “People are within two groups. They are either your religious brethren, or equal with you in creation. As you like God Almighty to treat you with kindness and forgiveness, be highly kind toward them.”

So, the divine religion of Islam aims for, and values peace and peaceful coexistence of people, with different views.

MR/SS