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There is no compulsion in [accepting] religion. The right course has become clear from error." (The Quran 2: In fact, Islam through the course of its history has granted the people of other faiths the highest degree of tolerance by allowing them to follow their way, although some of their practices might have been in conflict with the religion of the majority. It was this degree of tolerance that the Muslims adopted towards their non-Muslim citizens. There is another aspect of this matter which cannot be found in the written laws, nor can it be enforced by courts or governments: it is the spirit of tolerance which underlies upright attitudes, benevolent dealings, respect for one's neighbors, and all the sincere sentiments of piety, compassion, and courtesy. Execution and report of such attitudes are required of every Muslim and cannot be obtained through constitutional legislation or court jurisdiction. Many Quranic teachings have emphasized dealings with non-Muslims with justice and respect, especially those who live in peace with the Muslims and do not raise enmity against them. "Allah does not forbid you concerning those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes from being righteous towards them and acting justly towards them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly." (The Quran 60:8) "And they give food in spite of their love for it to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, [Saying]: We feed you only for the acceptance of Allah. We wish neither from you reward nor gratitude." (The Quran 76: 8,9) Although Muslims might disagree with other ideological systems and religious dogmas, it should not prevent them from demonstrating the correct manner of discussion and interaction with non-Muslims: "And do not argue with the People of the Scripture (Christians and Jews) except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say we believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him." (The Quran 29: 46) In this context, it seems appropriate to raise the question: Is tolerance of other religions as preached by Islam a matter left to the Muslims to decide about? As a matter of fact, tolerance in Islam has ideological basis in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, and it is not subject to any human interference. Therefore, it is a constant Islamic principle that does not change over time or place. According to the Quran, every human being is to be honored as Allah has honored him/her: "And we have certainly honored the children of Adam, and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created with [definite] preference." (The Quran 17:70) Islam is the final revelation of Allah the Almighty and it is the religion of universal truth for all mankind. All of its doctrines can withstand any challenge. Therefore, the existence of various religions--man-made or supposedly revealed religions--is only to allow the human intellect to choose. The following excerpts of the Quran emphasize these principles: "Allah witnesses that there is no deity except Him, and [so do] the angels and those of knowledge - [that He is] maintaining [creation] in justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam." (The Quran 3:18-19) Islam spread to all part of the world in order to transcend and elevate humanity above racism, ignorance, superstitions and injustice. Therefore, there was no need for forced conversion to the true religion of God. It is basically up to people to use the intellect with which God has bestowed them and make their choice. This is the reason as to why hundreds of thousands of people keep reverting to Islam as soon as they find out the truth about it. People embrace Islam by their own free will and without any seduction or compulsion. Many among them are scientists, politicians, lawyers, evangelists and even people of fame: Cat Stephen (now Yusuf Islam), the former famous pop singer; M. Hoffman, the German Ambassador to Morocco; who has recently written an eye-opening book titled, Islam is the Alternative; Morris Bucaille, the well known French scientist accepted Islam after his long research in science and religion that is summarized in his book, The Bible, The Quran and Science; Mr. Olson, the Danish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia who declared in a radio interview that : "If the people know the reality of Islam, millions will embrace it" . The list of those who have sought the truth of Islam is too long to be mentioned here. It includes people from all walks of life In his article “When the Moors Ruled Spain”, Thomas J. Abercrombie (The National Geographic staff writer), revealed many facts about the contributions with which Muslims had presented the West. He also alluded to the justice of the Islamic rule and tolerance: where Jews, Christians and Muslims lived peacefully side by side for more that seven centuries. Then he shifted 180 degrees to talk in brief about atrocities committed by the Catholic Christians afterwards: It was here, long after Alfonso VI that the first victims of a growing Christian bigotry perished at the stake. In 1469 Prince Ferdinand of Aragon wed Princess Isabella of Castile. While waging war against the Moors to the south, they would view as a threat the Muslims and Jews in their own lands. In 1480, they established the Spanish Inquisition. Before it was over, three centuries later, thousands of Muslims and Jews had died; an estimated three million people were driven into exile. Short of its leading businessmen, artists, agriculturalists, and scientists, Spain would soon find itself victim of its own cruelty. Women Position in Islam! God created both females and males from one origin, and one soul. {It is He Who created you from a single person and made his mate of like nature in order that he might dwell with her (in love)} (A’raf 189) Adam appreciated Eve’s worth and they lived together practicing all the meanings of love, kindness, respect, and appreciation. Then as years passed new generations were brought up away from God’s Law, not guided by Him and their lives not brightened by His message, which led to recurring disasters. For a long time, women have suffered disrespect to the extent that in some religions, parents have prayed to be blessed with male children. Then if a girl was born, this meant shame, misery and bitterness for the parents which could only be taken away by burying the daughter alive. If she survived, then the misery survived with her and she lived as a negligible object which could be owned and never own, with no freedom in her actions, hopeless and dispirited.& Some religions even allowed her to be sold like a cow is sold, or if they were kind to her, they rented her for a limited period. In societies where statues were worshipped, if many girls had been borne to a family and they couldn’t support them, they would leave them in fields to be killed by wild animals or die from the night frost without feeling any regret or remorse. With all of that in mind, what would you expect about educating and culturing them? Even when it was time for her to be married, she was married to someone she didn’t want, and by the form of Shughar Marriage (which is a form of marriage without a dowry) or exchanged or traded (where a husband may send his wife to another man for the purpose of having a male child) or sold.& Then what would the price of the woman be in these societies?& It would be the number of bulls being given to her dad. Then how can she live with the man who bought her for the price of bulls? She has to work as a servant, fetching water from the rivers, carrying out the house keeping and with no objections to also helping her husband in his trade. Then if he gets angry for any reason and leaves her, she becomes suspended, neither a wife nor able to remarry. What a bitter life she’s living, away from God’s Law following human decreed laws such as the one written by one of those who had gone astray “The man is the lord, he has to order. The woman is the follower, she has to obey”. What an unfair judgment. And if this is the situation of married women, then what about those who are forced into prostitution? Your forgiveness God, for those who have no respect for God. And you can imagine a woman from one of the societies sitting and waiting to be burned alive and the crime that she committed is nothing but that her husband has died and she has to follow him with dutiful acceptance, until they buried around 6000 women in 10 years. All these wrongdoings were asked to be stopped by God’s messengers whenever they were sent because God doesn’t like wrongdoers.& And those wicked people who changed God’s Law, did not stop sullying the women with their dirty tricks but also changed the first testimony, adding in that women were something to be ashamed of, all of which God’s Law is totally innocent of.& The same thing also happened in changing the bible and even in the 5th Century when the Makony Group, whom Christians believe are holy, gathered to discuss the origin of the Woman.& They discussed whether she is a body with no soul, or whether she has a soul just like men, and the decision was that she does have a soul. Thank God for that, but the matter hadn’t finished yet! They decided that she had a wicked soul which will not escape punishment with the exception of Jesus’ mother for she is the only woman whom they believed would escape Hell-fire. O how much suffering have women had to bear?!& Until God permitted Islam’s light to brighten the earth by God’s Law and His light and His guidance. Look and you will see believers (both men and women), and Muslims ( both men and women), near Al Kaaba facing it and prostrating towards it, all together. {And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: “Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members, one of another”} (Al-i-‘Imran 195) Yes, duties to God are for both men and women, with the reward of Heaven, and so men and women are equal. {The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey God and his Apostle.& On them will God pour his mercy: for God is exalted in power, Wise. * God hath promised to his Believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss.& But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of God: that is the supreme felicity.} (Tauba 71/72) God is great, His Law which he layed down to people is all light and all goodness. {Should He not know, -He that created? And He is the One that  understands the finest mysteries (and) is well acquainted (with them)} (Mulk 14) God’s Law made man and his sister, the woman, equal in many duties and responsibilities for you are all carers and you are all responsible for those in your care. And also, God’s Law makes the woman and her brother, the man, completely equal in both rewards and punishments {whoever works evil will be requited accordingly.& Nor will he find, besides God, any protector or helper* If any do deeds of righteousness, - be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven and not the least injustice will be done to them.}(Nisaa 123/124). Islam gave women rights in this life: human; social; economic and legal rights.