The Myth of Islamic Tolerance

1. The myth of Islamic tolerance contradicts historical reality

"The uncritical attitude toward Islam and the genesis of the myth of Islamic tolerance must be seen against the more general intellectual background of Europe's first encounter with non-European civilizations, especially in the sixteenth century—the age of exploration—when the notion of the 'noble savage' was first fully developed."

Myth vs. Reality. The widely promoted idea of historical Islamic tolerance toward religious minorities is largely a modern myth. In reality, non-Muslim populations in lands conquered by Islamic armies faced systematic discrimination, oppression, and gradual decimation over centuries. This myth gained currency in the 19th century, often promoted by European powers for political reasons related to Ottoman decline.

Historical Revisionism. The myth obscures the actual experiences of Christian, Jewish, and other non-Muslim communities under Islamic rule. It ignores the legal, social, and economic restrictions imposed on these groups, as well as periodic outbreaks of violence against them. By sanitizing this history, the myth impedes honest discussion of Islamic doctrines and practices related to non-Muslims.

Contemporary Implications. Uncritical acceptance of the Islamic tolerance myth in the West today hinders clear analysis of Islamist movements and their ideological roots. It also makes it more difficult to support reforms within Islam or to defend universal human rights standards against claims of Islamic exceptionalism.

2. Dhimmitude: A system of oppression for non-Muslims in Islamic lands

"The civilization of dhimmitude is based on two main elements: jihad— that is, a compulsory religious war of conquest that brings non-Muslim lands into the realm of Islam; and the subjugation of its native populations."

Legal Framework. Dhimmitude refers to the system of laws and social norms imposed on non-Muslim populations (dhimmis) in territories conquered by Islamic armies. This system was based on the Quranic concept of jihad and developed through Islamic jurisprudence over centuries.

Key Features:

• Payment of the jizya tax as a sign of submission
• Restrictions on religious practices and buildings
• Social and legal discrimination
• Vulnerability to violence and property confiscation
• Pressure to convert to Islam

Historical Impact. Dhimmitude led to the gradual erosion of non-Muslim populations across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. Once-thriving Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities were reduced to small, marginalized minorities or disappeared entirely in many regions.

3. The Qur'an and Hadith promote inequality between Muslims and non-Muslims

"The preponderance of Qur'anic testimony favors not tolerance and harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims, but just the opposite."

Quranic Verses. While some Quranic verses speak of tolerance, many others explicitly assert the superiority of Muslims over non-Muslims and call for their subjugation. Key verses include:

• Sura 9:29 - Fight non-Muslims until they pay the jizya with willing submission
• Sura 5:51 - Do not take Jews and Christians as allies
• Sura 3:110 - Muslims are the best of peoples evolved for mankind

Hadith Reinforcement. The hadith literature, which records the sayings and actions of Muhammad, further reinforces notions of Muslim supremacy and the inferiority of non-Muslims. Many hadith promote discriminatory treatment of dhimmis and restrictions on their rights.

Theological Basis. These scriptural sources provided the foundation for the development of Islamic law regarding non-Muslims. They continue to be cited by contemporary Islamists to justify discriminatory policies and attitudes.

4. Islamic jurisprudence codifies discrimination against dhimmis

"Joseph Schacht, the great Columbia University professor of Arabic and Islamics in the days before Edward Said and his followers politicized the field, sums up the general position of all the schools of Islamic law in terms that illustrate just how far the legal superstructure of dhimmitude is from the myth of Islamic tolerance."

Legal Schools. All four major Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) developed detailed rules governing the treatment of dhimmis. While there are some variations, they share core principles of Muslim superiority and dhimmi subjugation.

Key Legal Provisions:

• Dhimmis cannot testify against Muslims in court
• Blood money for a slain dhimmi is less than for a Muslim
• Dhimmis cannot hold positions of authority over Muslims
• Restrictions on dhimmi religious practices and buildings
• Distinctive clothing required for dhimmis

Modern Implications. While not fully implemented in most Muslim-majority countries today, these legal concepts continue to influence social attitudes and government policies. In some countries, aspects of traditional dhimmi laws have been revived or reinforced in recent decades.

5. Contemporary Islamism revives traditional concepts of jihad and dhimmitude

"Islamist groups aim to establish the Islamic Sharia, or 'Islamic way,' as the law of the land. They oppose existing regimes in Muslim countries that are rejected as un-Islamic. A second belief they share is that jihad is the best method for bringing this objective about."

Ideological Continuity. Modern Islamist movements draw heavily on classical Islamic doctrines of jihad and the treatment of non-Muslims. They seek to reimpose traditional Sharia-based restrictions on religious minorities and to expand Islamic rule.

Key Islamist Goals:

• Implementation of Sharia law
• Revival of the caliphate
• Subjugation or conversion of non-Muslims
• Destruction of Israel

Global Impact. Islamist ideology has fueled conflicts and human rights abuses in many regions. It poses challenges to religious freedom, women's rights, and democratic governance in Muslim-majority countries and beyond.

6. The Arab-Israeli conflict reflects broader Islamic attitudes toward non-Muslims

"The core of the Arab refusal and of the Charter of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is based on the very principle of the dhimmi condition: the refusal of Jewish sovereignty on its once-Arabized land."

Historical Context. The rejection of Israel's legitimacy by many Muslims is rooted in traditional Islamic concepts that deny non-Muslims the right to sovereign rule in lands once conquered by Islamic armies. This goes beyond mere territorial disputes to challenge the very idea of Jewish self-determination.

Dhimmi Paradigm. Arab opposition to Israel often reflects expectations that Jews should remain in a subordinate dhimmi status. The idea of Jews reclaiming political power in their ancestral homeland violates deeply ingrained Islamic assumptions about the proper social order.

Broader Implications. The intensity of Muslim hostility toward Israel reveals wider attitudes toward non-Muslim minorities and their rights. Similar patterns can be seen in the treatment of Christian communities in various Muslim-majority countries.

7. Western institutions increasingly accommodate Islamist demands

"The uncritical attitude toward Islam and the genesis of the myth of Islamic tolerance must be seen against the more general intellectual background of Europe's first encounter with non-European civilizations, especially in the sixteenth century—the age of exploration—when the notion of the 'noble savage' was first fully developed."

Academic Influence. Edward Said's concept of "Orientalism" has fostered an uncritical approach to Islam in Western academia. This has made it difficult to honestly examine problematic aspects of Islamic doctrine and history.

Political Correctness. Fear of being labeled "Islamophobic" has led many Western institutions to self-censor and avoid confronting human rights abuses justified in the name of Islam. This extends to government policies, media coverage, and academic discourse.

Concessions to Islamism:

• Acceptance of Sharia councils in some Western countries
• Special accommodations for Muslim religious practices
• Reluctance to criticize Islamic doctrines or practices

8. Human rights universalism clashes with Islamic exceptionalism at the UN

"The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CDHRI) establishes the Sharia law as 'the only source of reference' for the protection of human rights in Islamic countries, thus giving it supremacy over the UDHR."

Competing Frameworks. Islamic states have challenged the universality of human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). They argue for culturally relative interpretations based on Sharia law.

Key Conflicts:

• Religious freedom vs. Islamic apostasy laws
• Gender equality vs. Sharia-based discrimination
• Freedom of expression vs. blasphemy concepts

UN Battleground. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has pushed for UN resolutions against the "defamation of religions," which could restrict criticism of Islam. This represents a broader effort to inject Islamic legal concepts into international human rights discourse.

9. Antisemitism and Judeophobia persist in the modern Muslim world

"Judeophobia—under the guise of 'anti-Zionism'—is now generally recognized as endemic in the Arab/Muslim world, being nourished by a general 'culture of hate' that is creeping into Europe and beyond."

Historical Roots. While Jews faced periods of relative tolerance under Islamic rule, traditional Islamic texts contain numerous anti-Jewish themes. These have been revived and amplified in modern times, often fused with European antisemitic tropes.

Contemporary Manifestations:

• Conspiracy theories about Jewish world domination
• Holocaust denial and distortion
• Demonization of Israel and Zionism
• Attacks on Jewish communities in Muslim countries

Global Spread. Antisemitic ideas originating in the Muslim world are increasingly influencing discourse in the West, particularly among Muslim immigrant communities and some leftist circles.

10. Critical examination of Islamic doctrines is needed for genuine reform

"To heal these societies one must first diagnose the evil and not mask it under the excuse of 'poverty' and 'underdevelopment.' Terrorism is not a consequence of poverty."

Confronting Root Causes. Addressing human rights issues in the Muslim world requires honest examination of Islamic doctrines that justify discrimination and violence. Simply blaming economic or political factors is insufficient.

Reform Challenges:

• Entrenched religious authority structures
• Lack of free theological debate in many Muslim countries
• Fear of accusations of apostasy or blasphemy

Paths Forward. Genuine Islamic reform will require:

• Reinterpretation of problematic scriptural passages
• Historicization of Islamic law
• Embrace of universal human rights principles
• Separation of religion and state

Supporting Muslim reformers and fostering open dialogue are crucial for long-term progress in human rights and interfaith relations.

Last updated: February 4, 2025