How do people of different faiths coexist?

How do people of different faiths coexist?

As a Muslim, The question should be how couldn’t they coexist.

Many people view the historical relationship between Muslims and Christians (as an example to the question) as a relation of nonstop struggle, fighting, and competition, which couldn’t be any further from the truth.

This view is due to the competitive relationship between the Islamic civilization and Europe, ignoring the fact, that Europe does not equal Christians.

The west in the past and even now, assumes that they are Christianity, ignoring the fact that for a huge period of history, the majority of the world's Christians were living in among the Muslims, not in Europe

Check these two 7 min video for more details if you want.

When Christians First Met Muslims | Prof. Michael Penn

The Scientist Pope | Nancy Marie Brown

The nature of the relationship between Muslims and Christians (and non-Muslims in general) was Coexisting throughout our history (most of the time, we are humans, and humans can be a$$holes sometimes)

Since the days of the prophet-peace be upon him- till this day, people of the book (Christians and Jews) have been part of Muslim families, The Prophet -Peace be upon him- married a Jewish woman,

Many of his companions -may God rest their souls- married Christians/Jews.

Many of Islamic figures across all fields of life were born to Christian/Jews mothers, from scholars to scientists, from hero soldiers to poets, from politicians to judges and even heads of state, from Khalifs to Sultans.

Throughout our history, the only position a non-Muslim couldn’t hold is the head of the state, Other than that, they could occupy any position depending on their skills, from translators to state administrators, from soldiers to generals, from teachers to scientists, from advisors to the grand minister (second in command).

During the Fatimat Era in Egypt, the khalifa was depending heavily on Christians and Jews to run the state to the degree the Muslims started to feel discriminated against!!

Of course, it wasn’t always this rosy, but it was the norm, coexistence was (and still) the norm.

Today, the oldest-running churches and synagogues are in the middle east

in this picture you can see the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem facing the mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab -may God rest his soul-, they are one street apart, and they have been facing each other for more than 1300 years.

Not only that, a Muslim family (house of Judah) are the custodians of the church of the Holy Sepulchre for over the past 800 years

Check this 2 min video if your like

And by the way… my Wife is Christian, and not only Christian but also Greek, while I am Palestinian.

we almost have nothing in common, religion, language, culture, political views, or types of entertainment.

Nothing!!

and we are together for the past 15 years, true sometimes I want to kill her and she wants to twist my head off … but it is working.

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Now, Your question is how that was achieved?!

1. It is a creed for us Muslims that there is NO compulsion in Religion (way of life)
2. ( 256 ) There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong….. [Al Baqarah-256]
3. ( 272 ) Not upon you, [O Muhammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. [Al Baqarah-272]
4. ( 99 ) And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers? [Youns-99]
5. Clear sets off boundaries, rights, and responsibilities from everyone towards everyone.
6. ( 46 ) And do not argue with the People of the Scripture 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." [Al-Ankabout-46]
7. ( 1 ) O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts…. [Al-Ma’edah-1]
8. (2)…..And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty….. [Al-Ma’edah-2]
9. ( 8 ) … and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. ….[Al-Ma’edah-8]
10. ( 1 ) Say, "O disbelievers, ( 2 ) I do not worship what you worship. ( 3 ) Nor are you orshippers of what I worship. ( 4 ) Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. ( 5 ) Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. ( 6 ) You have your religion, and I have mine." [Al-Kaferoon]
11. Justice Justice and more Justice