Tolerance is "the ability to let go of anger and
resentment and the ability to forgive oneself and others."
Tolerance includes respecting the beliefs of others, or what is
known as religious tolerance; not being prejudiced towards ideas and respecting
the etiquette of dialogue and communication, or what is known as intellectual
and cultural tolerance; adopting the principle of consultation (Shura) and
guaranteeing individual and collective political freedoms, or what is known as
political tolerance; and accepting others despite their differences in origin
or race, and rejecting racial discrimination, or what is known as racial
tolerance. In reality, only those whose hearts are free from malice can be
tolerant. It is natural to feel anger and resentment when someone wrongs you,
but dwelling on these negative feelings will cause you harm, pain, and damage
and make your life difficult. However, tolerance does not mean befriending
those who wronged you and disrupted your peace of mind, but rather letting go
of anger and resentment towards those who wronged you. Suppressing anger can
affect your physical and mental health.
Islam has emphasized the importance of forgiveness and pardon,
stating that these are among the qualities of the righteous, as God Almighty
says: “And march forth in the way
(which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are
the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqun (the pious—see V. 2:2).” *
Those who spend [in Allah's Cause—deeds of charity, alms, etc.] in prosperity
and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves
Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” (Surat Al Imran: 133-134). And
He made the reward of the one who pardons the one who wronged him and makes
reconciliation with God, and what a great reward it is that every Muslim longs
for and desires in His Almighty’s words: “The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever
forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He
likes not the Zalimun (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.).”
(Surat Ash-Shura: 40). The Qur’an warned against yielding to the illegitimate
demands of spouses and children, not with harshness and punishment, but with
caution, forgiveness, and pardon because of the countless benefits it contains,
as the Almighty said: “O you who believe!
Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you (i.e.,
they may stop you from the obedience of Allah); therefore, beware of them! But
if you pardon (them) and overlook and forgive (their faults), then verily,
Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surat At-Taghabun:
14). The Quran also commands forgiveness and pardon for the ignorance of many
of the People of the Book who wish to turn the believers back to disbelief out
of spite and envy, even after the truth of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and
blessings be upon him) has become clear to them, until God's judgment comes
upon them by fighting them, as God Almighty says: "Many of the people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians) wish that they could turn you away as disbelievers after you have
believed, out of envy from their own selves, even, after the truth (that
Muhammad, peace be upon him, is Allah's Messenger) has become manifest unto
them. But forgive and overlook till Allah brings His command. Verily, Allah is
able to do all things.” (Surat Al-Baqarah: 109) He also
commanded forgiveness for the Jews' mistreatment and pardon for them, for they
and their ancestors were people of treachery and betrayal, except for a few of
them, as God Almighty said: "So
because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their
hearts grow hard. They change the words from their (right) places and have
abandoned a good part of the message that was sent to them. And you will not
cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them. But forgive them and
overlook (their misdeeds). Verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (good-doers—see V.
2:112).” (Surat Al-Maidah 5:13)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged us
to forgive, saying, “Charity does not decrease wealth, and Allah only increases
a servant in honor through forgiveness, and no one humbles himself for the sake
of Allah except that Allah raises him in status.” (Narrated by Abu Hurairah;
Source: Sahih Muslim)
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