The Principle of Peaceful Coexistence with Non- Muslims in Islam

The divine religions have legislated compelling laws to procure coexistence. The religion of Islam has obligated the Muslims to interact peacefully with their doctrinal opponents and exercise justice in this regard. However, if the non-Muslims commit treason and do hostile actions against Muslim's life, wealth, honors, women and children, then the lawful policy is based on the repellence of aggression and punishment of betrayers. Focusing on the verses on the war, neglecting the verses on the peace and coexistence, and neglecting the Holy Prophet's practical conducts have led some people to consider the Islamic policy about the non-Muslim nations as based on the war and regard the reason of the progress of Islam in the early centuries as based on sword force.Using a theoretical and documentary approach and referring to the genuine Islamic recourses, the present paper proves that the principle of interaction with non-Muslims is based on peace and coexistence, and Islam is the inspirer of religious coexistence with the followers of other religions.