Islamic Tolerance:
[Taken from a brochure published by the Islamic Cultural Center in Tempe, AZ, USA]
Muslims are unequivocally prohibited from forcing non-Muslims to accept Islam. Muslims believe that humans have been given free will and must make their own choices regarding personal beliefs.
There is no historical proof that Islam was "spread by the sword". Even non-Muslim scholars now admit that this is nothing more than a vicious myth which cannot be substantiated by historical fact. Within a Muslim state, the Muslims must protect non-Muslims from any oppression.
Islamic Law permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts to implement family and religious laws drawn up by the minorities themselves. Islamic Law also permits non-Muslim minorities to take part in activities that are prohibited for Muslims. For example, if the Christian faith has ceremonies which include the consumption of alcohol, then the Islamic government must allow the Christians to consume alcohol for such a ceremony even though it is prohibited in Islam.
History bears witness that non-Muslims under Muslim rule have enjoyed unprecedented freedom of religion. For example, during the Spanish Inquisition, Jews escaped to safety in Muslim North Africa after seven centuries of Islamic rule in Spain (under which Muslims, Christians and Jews had lived together in peace). The Jews also fled Nazi persecution to the safety of Muslim countries such as Turkey, Syria and North Africa.