Art. #17:  DOES ISLAM TOLERATE OTHER BELIEFS?  The Qur’an says: “God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just.”  (Qur’an, 60-8)

It is one function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and this is why non-Muslims places of worship have flourished all over the Islamic world.  History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance towards other faiths; when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious communities in the city.  Islamic law also permits non-Muslims minorities to set up their own courts, which implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves.

REBUTTAL:  Of the entire booklet, the above lies are the MOST OUTRAGEOUS!   In  all Muslim countries, it is extremely dangerous to worship outside of Islam and hundreds of non-Muslims are killed daily!  Remember that the booklet we are critiquing was produced and published by Saudi Arabia, the most repressive society of the entire Muslim world, perhaps of the entire earth!  Today, there is not a single Jewish synagogue or Christian church in that entire country and the persecution of Christians and Jews is standard there and in all of Islam!

History does provide a few cases of temporary Muslim tolerance towards other faiths, but none that were long lasting.  That of Caliph Omar lasted only a short while until he had solidified his power base.  Islamic Law, the Shari’a, allows no courts other than those of Islam and all infidels are judged under Islamic Law!  Note that in the Koranic verse above, Allah (Muhammad) does not specifically forbid Muslims from dealing fairly with peaceful infidels, but, He (Allah / Muhammad) does not specifically enjoin them to do so; there is a considerable difference